Ritz Cracker Christmas Ornaments

Every December, my kitchen transforms into a little Christmas workshop, filled with sprinkles and the sweet smell of chocolate. It’s a tradition I absolutely adore, and one of my favorite things to make are these adorable, no-bake Ritz Cracker Christmas Ornaments. They bring back so many happy memories of holiday crafting and are just the cutest little bites of festive cheer!

Why You’ll Love This Ritz Cracker Christmas Ornaments

• So Easy to Make: No baking required! Just a little melting and dipping, perfect for all skill levels.
• Festive & Fun: They look like tiny ornaments and are absolutely charming for holiday parties or edible gifts.
• Sweet & Salty Perfection: The classic Ritz cracker provides that irresistible salty crunch against the sweet peanut butter and chocolate.
• Great for Gifting: Package them up in a cute box, and you’ve got a homemade gift everyone will love.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Creamy Peanut Butter: I love using a classic creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy here. It holds its shape well and provides that familiar, comforting flavor. Avoid natural, runny peanut butters as they can be too oily.
• Ritz Crackers: The star of the show! Their buttery, salty crunch is essential for that amazing flavor contrast.
• Wilton Red Candy Melts: These are perfect for getting that vibrant, festive red color without needing to temper chocolate. They melt smoothly and set up beautifully.
• Wilton Vanilla Candy Melts (or Ghirardelli Vanilla Melting Wafers): These give you a lovely white drizzle for decorating. Either brand works wonderfully for a smooth, easy melt.
• Holiday Sprinkles: Red, green, and white sprinkles really make these look like tiny ornaments. Get creative with your favorite festive mix!
• Rolo Candies: These add a delicious caramel chew and make the perfect “cap” for our ornaments. Make sure they’re unwrapped!
• Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: Another perfect little “cap” ingredient, bringing in more of that beloved peanut butter flavor. Unwrap these too!

How to Make Ritz Cracker Christmas Ornaments Step by Step

First things first, let’s get organized! Grab a large baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. This makes cleanup a breeze and ensures your beautiful ornaments won’t stick. Now, for the base of our ornaments: take 30 Ritz crackers and spread about 2 teaspoons of creamy peanut butter onto each one. Then, simply sandwich them with the remaining 30 crackers. This creates a lovely little peanut butter cracker “sandwich” that we’ll dip.

Next, it’s time for the vibrant red coating. Melt your red candy melts according to the package instructions. This usually involves microwaving in short bursts and stirring until smooth. Don’t worry if it seems a little thick at first; just keep stirring gently. Now, carefully place one of your cracker sandwiches onto a fork and dip it into the melted red chocolate, making sure it’s fully coated. Gently tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to let any extra chocolate drip off. Transfer it back to your prepared baking sheet and let it start to set.

While the red chocolate is still a little wet, use some of that leftover melted red chocolate to “glue” a Rolo and a mini Reese’s peanut butter cup to the top of each ornament. These will be the cute little “caps” for our ornaments. Let those set up. Once they’re mostly firm, melt your white vanilla candy melts and transfer them to a piping bag or a plastic bag with a tiny corner snipped off. Drizzle that lovely white chocolate over your red cookies and immediately sprinkle with your festive holiday sprinkles before the white chocolate sets. You can let them harden at room temperature, or pop the baking sheet in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes to speed things up. And just like that, you’ve made the cutest Ritz Cracker Christmas Ornaments!

My Top Tips for Success

• Use a good quality creamy peanut butter: In my experience, classic brands like Jif or Skippy work best because they are thicker and less oily, which helps the cracker sandwiches hold together.
• Don’t overheat your candy melts: Trust me on this one, overheating can make them seize and become clumpy. Melt in short intervals, stirring well between each.
• Work quickly with the sprinkles: The chocolate sets fast, especially if you’re working in a cool kitchen. Have your sprinkles ready to go right after drizzling the white chocolate.
• Use a fork for dipping: This allows excess chocolate to drip off easily, preventing puddles around your ornaments.
• Chill to set faster: If you’re in a hurry, popping the baking sheet in the fridge for 10-15 minutes will firm them up quickly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overheating candy melts: This can cause the chocolate to become thick and unworkable. If this happens, try stirring in a tiny bit of vegetable shortening (like Crisco) to smooth it out, but be careful not to add too much.
• Using natural peanut butter: Natural peanut butter can be too oily and runny, making the cracker sandwiches slide apart or the oil seep into the crackers. Stick to creamy, processed varieties for this recipe.
• Not tapping off excess chocolate: If you don’t gently tap the fork after dipping, you’ll end up with thick, messy bases on your ornaments. A quick tap makes them look much neater.
• Forgetting to add sprinkles before setting: Once the chocolate hardens, the sprinkles won’t stick. Be ready to sprinkle immediately after drizzling the white chocolate.

How to Store Ritz Cracker Christmas Ornaments

• Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Let them come to room temperature for a few minutes before serving for the best texture.
• Freezer: Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container or bag for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different types of crackers?

While you can experiment, Ritz crackers are truly best for their buttery, slightly salty flavor that complements the sweet peanut butter and chocolate so well. Other crackers might not give you the same classic taste.

Do I have to use candy melts?

Candy melts are recommended because they melt smoothly and set up firm without needing to temper. You could try using tempered chocolate, but it’s a bit more involved.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Absolutely! These Ritz Cracker Christmas Ornaments are perfect for making a few days or even a week in advance. They hold up very well when stored properly.

What if my candy melts are too thick?

If your candy melts are too thick, you can stir in a small amount of paramount crystals or a tiny bit of vegetable shortening (like Crisco) to thin them out. Add just a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

I hope these Ritz Cracker Christmas Ornaments bring as much festive joy to your kitchen as they do to mine. They’re such a simple, fun, and delicious treat for the holidays. If you make them, I’d love to hear how they turned out!

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