Passover Treat–Matzo Toffee

This recipe is a family tradition for Passover. So far on the blog, I’ve shown treats and eats from other Jewish and secular holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and general holiday treats. Here’s one more to add to the list.

This holiday commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. This year, it starts on Monday night with a family seder and goes on for about a week. Many foods are not permitted this week, including anything that rises, like breads, crackers, cereals and oats. Corn (including anything with corn syrup) and legumes (didn’t know about peanut butter and green beans before) are also no-nos. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of improvising!

There are a lot of traditions that go along with the holiday and the meal we eat as a family or community. Popular foods are meats, fruits and vegetables and special “kosher for Passover” food items like matzo and special candies.

This matzo toffee is kosher for Passover and can be made ahead and frozen. Whereas regular toffee would use a cracker or flour-based crust, this one uses matzo.

Matzo Toffee

Ingredients:

• 2 throw away foil baking sheets
• about 8 squares of matzo
• 2 sticks of butter
• 1 C brown sugar
• 2 C chocolate chips
• 1 C chopped nuts (I didn’t chop mine enough)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 400*.
• In a small pot, melt butter and brown sugar together and bring to a rapid boil. Let boil for four minutes, stirring frequently.

• While mix is melting, spray foil baking sheet with Pam and lay out matzo crackers. Fill all crevices with matzo pieces tightly.

• When mixture is melted and thickened, pour over baking sheets and spread with back of a spoon. Bake for five minutes on 400*.

• Remove from oven and sprinkle on chocolate chips, about one cup per baking sheet. They will melt from the heat, so you spread them with a spatula until completely melted and covered.

Press pecans onto chocolate so they stick to the chocolate. Freeze for a few hours or overnight.

Break into pieces by hand. Store in Ziploc in the freezer until ready to serve.

This is one of the messiest desserts I make all year. It’s the only dessert where I use throw away baking sheets, and your hands will get sticky and chocolaty. But it’s worth it when you can’t eat just any cookie or dessert for over a week!

These are crowd pleasers every year. Matzo smothered in butter, sugar and chocolate makes up for the bland taste of matzo. It’s the best way to eat it.

What’s your favorite Passover dish if you celebrate?

I also like charoset (apples, nuts, cinnamon soaked in wine).