Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies

These Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies turn simple buttery crackers into festive, no-bake holiday treats. With creamy peanut butter (or your favourite spread) sandwiched between crackers, dipped in chocolate (or candy melts) and finished with colourful red & green sprinkles, they’re crunchy, sweet, salty and perfect for holiday dessert trays or gifting.


Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy and no‐bake: minimal effort, maximum holiday cheer.
  • Sweet + salty combo is always a winner—crisp cracker, creamy filling, smooth coating.
  • Kids and adults alike will love making and eating them.
  • Gorgeous holiday presentation—great for cookie exchanges or gift boxes.
  • Customisable with different spreads, coatings and toppings.

Recipe Details

  • Prep Time: ~15-20 minutes
  • Chill/Set Time: ~10-15 minutes
  • Total Time: ~25-35 minutes
  • Yield: ~30 cookies (depending on size and number of crackers)
  • Category: Dessert / Cookie / No-Bake
  • Method: Assemble, dip, decorate
  • Diet: Vegetarian (contains dairy/chocolate; adapt as needed)
  • Keywords: Ritz cracker cookies, no bake Christmas cookies, holiday snack cookies

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • 2 sleeves (≈ 60 pieces) plain buttery round crackers (e.g., Ritz)
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter (or other nut/seed butter)
  • 3 cups white chocolate chips or white candy melts (or milk/dark chocolate as preference)
  • 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil (optional, to smooth coating)
  • ¼ cup festive holiday sprinkles (red & green or colour of your choice)
  • Flakey sea salt for finishing (optional)

Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set out ~30 crackers (rounded side up).
  2. Spread ~1 teaspoon of peanut butter on each cracker. Top with a second cracker to make a sandwich. Press gently to spread filling evenly.
  3. If the sandwiches are too soft, chill in the refrigerator for ~5-10 minutes to firm up.
  4. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate/candy melts (and coconut oil if using) in 20-second bursts, stirring between until smooth and glossy.
  5. Using a fork, dip each cracker sandwich into the melted coating, tap off excess chocolate, and place onto the prepared parchment sheet.
  6. Immediately sprinkle holiday sprinkles on top (before coating sets) and sprinkle sea salt if using.
  7. Chill in the fridge for ~10-15 minutes (or until coating is firm).
  8. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled; store in an airtight container.

You Must Know

  • Using plain buttery crackers (not flavored) gives the best sweet/salty balance.
  • If nut butter is very loose, the filling may ooze—chill briefly before coating to stabilize.
  • Melted chocolate should be smooth and fluid; adding a small amount of coconut oil helps with dipping and setting.
  • Decorate before the coating fully sets so sprinkles adhere properly.
  • Because these are no-bake and chilled, serving at slightly cooler temperature helps maintain coating texture.

Storage Tips

  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature if coating is candy melts; if using milk/dark chocolate, store in the fridge to keep coating firm.
  • Best if consumed within ~5 days.
  • Can be frozen: layer between parchment sheets and freeze for up to ~2 months; thaw at room temperature ahead of serving.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Swap peanut butter for almond butter, sunflower seed butter or cookie butter for a twist.
  • Use dark chocolate or milk chocolate instead of white candy melts; optionally drizzle white for contrast.
  • Use gluten-free buttery crackers to make the recipe gluten-friendly.
  • For nut-allergy friendly: use seed butter and ensure chocolate/candy melts are nut-free.

Serving Suggestions

  • Stack on a festive platter with other holiday cookies for a cookie-exchange spread.
  • Package in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon for gifts.
  • Serve alongside hot cocoa, eggnog, or coffee for a sweet-salty snack station.
  • Add crushed candy-cane sprinkles or edible gold stars for extra holiday flair.

Pro Tips

  • Use a cookie scoop or measured amount of filling to ensure consistent size and easy stacking.
  • Tap the fork gently after dipping to remove excess coating for cleaner look.
  • If coating begins to harden while working, re-warm briefly in microwave (~10 seconds) to reset.
  • Use parchment paper to set cookies; once firm, lift by the edges to avoid cracking coating.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes — they’re perfect for make-ahead. Assemble and chill; they hold well and are ready when guests arrive.
→ Why did my coating crack or look dull?
Possible reasons: chocolate overheated, cooled too fast, or filling too cold when dipped. Use smooth melted coating and let cookies sit at room temperature briefly before serving.
→ Can I use a different cracker?
Yes — plain, lightly salted buttery crackers work best. Avoid strongly flavored or herb-crackers which may clash with sweet coating.
→ Why did my filling ooze out?
Filling may be too soft or warm. Chill briefly before dipping and ensure filling is thick enough to hold shape under coating.


✨ These Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies are simple, fun and full of festive flavour—a perfect addition to holiday baking, snack trays or sweet gift bundles.

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Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies


  • Author: Linda
  • Total Time: 25–35 minutes
  • Yield: 30 cookies 1x

Description

These Ritz Cracker Christmas Cookies transform simple buttery crackers into festive, no-bake holiday treats. Creamy peanut butter (or your favorite spread) is sandwiched between crisp crackers, dipped in silky melted chocolate or candy melts, and finished with bright holiday sprinkles. Sweet, salty, crunchy, and oh-so-easy, these treats are perfect for cookie exchanges, holiday dessert trays, or edible gifts.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 sleeves (≈ 60 crackers) buttery round crackers (Ritz)

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter)

  • 3 cups white chocolate chips or white candy melts

    • or swap for milk/dark chocolate

  • 12 tbsp coconut oil (optional, helps with smooth dipping)

  • ¼ cup festive red & green sprinkles

  • Flaky sea salt (optional)


Instructions

1. Prep the Cookies

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

  2. Lay out ~30 crackers, rounded side up.

  3. Spread ~1 tsp peanut butter on each.

  4. Top with another cracker and gently press to make a sandwich.

  5. If soft, chill sandwiches 5–10 minutes to firm them.

2. Melt the Chocolate

  1. Add chocolate (and coconut oil, if using) to a microwave-safe bowl.

  2. Heat in 20-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth and glossy.

3. Dip & Decorate

  1. Dip each cracker sandwich using a fork, letting excess drip off.

  2. Place on parchment.

  3. Immediately add sprinkles and flaky sea salt.

4. Set & Store

 

  1. Chill 10–15 minutes or until chocolate sets.

  2. Store in an airtight container.

  3. Serve room temp or slightly chilled.

Notes

  • Use plain buttery crackers, not flavored.

  • If using runny peanut butter, chill before dipping so it doesn’t ooze.

  • Coconut oil helps melted chocolate stay smooth and dip-able.

  • Add sprinkles while the coating is still wet or they won’t stick.

  • Keeping cookies slightly chilled helps keep the coating snappy and clean.

  • Prep Time: 15–20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10–15 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 410kcal
  • Sugar: 10g
  • Sodium: 110mg
  • Protein: 2g

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