Chocolate Toffee Matzo Crack

Tested & Perfected Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.

With layers of matzo, crunchy toffee, chocolate, and sea salt, matzo crack is an absolute must for Passover!

Matzo Crack on and around a black plate.

If you like Heath bars, you’ll love this homemade chocolate toffee candy. It’s made with matzo, a Jewish cracker-like flatbread, and called crack because it’s so hard to resist. (Get it? Crack-ers.) Originally created by cookbook author Marcy Goldman of Better Baking, matzo crack is the Jewish version on crack candy (or Christmas crack), which is made from saltines. Both recipes have a crispy, flaky cracker layer topped with buttery toffee, melted chocolate, nuts, and sea salt. And the best part is that it’s easy to make – no candy thermometers, special equipment, or tempering of chocolate required.

Matzo crack is a dessert staple during Passover at our house, along with chocolate chip meringues, coconut macaroons, and flourless chocolate cake.

What You’ll Need To Make Chocolate Toffee Matzo Crack

ingredients for matzo crack

Step-By-Step Instructions

Begin by arranging the matzos in a single layer on a baking sheet.

matzo arranged on baking sheet

Make the toffee: Combine the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan.

butter and brown sugar in sauce pan

Bring to a boil.

Sauce pot of boiling toffee.

Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until foamy and thickened, about 3 minutes.

foamy boiling toffee

Pour the toffee over the matzos and spread into an even layer with an offset or rubber spatula. Be very careful – it’s very hot.

spreading toffee over matzo

Bake in the oven until bubbling all over, 8 to 10 minutes.

boiling toffee on matzo

While it’s still hot, scatter the chocolate chips over top and let sit for a few minutes to soften. Then, use a spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer.

spreading chocolate chips over toffee

Sprinkle with chopped pecans and sea salt.

sprinkling with nuts and salt

Refrigerate until firm, about 45 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board and cut into squares.

cutting matzo crack into squares

Eat and enjoy or give as gifts.

Matzo Crack on and around a black plate.

You May Also Like

Chocolate Toffee Matzo Crack

With layers of matzo, crunchy toffee, chocolate, and sea salt, matzo crack is an absolute must for Passover!

Servings: 35 2-inch squares
Total Time: 30 Minutes, plus 45 minutes to chill

Ingredients

  • 4-5 lightly salted matzos (preferably the Streit's brand - see note below)
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 (12-ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli)
  • 1 heaping cup chopped pecans (toasted if desired, for maximum flavor - see note below)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt flakes or kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil, making sure the foil goes up and over the edges, and top with a sheet of parchment paper.
  2. Cover the baking sheet with the matzos, cutting and piecing them together as necessary to fill the entire pan.
  3. Make the toffee: Combine butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk, until the mixture comes to a boil. (If it looks like it’s separating, just keep stirring; it will come together.) Once the mixture comes to a boil, continue cooking and stirring for another 3 minutes until foamy and thickened. (Be extra careful -- the toffee will be very hot!) Immediately pour the toffee over the matzos and, using a spatula, spread into an even layer.
  4. Put the pan into the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the toffee topping is crackled and bubbling all over. Remove the pan from the oven and place on wire cooling rack on the counter. Immediately scatter the chocolate chips evenly over top. Wait 3 to 5 minutes for the chips to soften, then use an offset spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer. Sprinkle with the pecans and sea salt. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm, about 45 minutes. Don't leave it in the fridge too much longer, otherwise it will be hard to cut.
  5. Lift the foil overhang to transfer the matzo crack onto a large cutting board. Using a large sharp knife, cut into 2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and serve cold.
  6. Note: I love Streit’s lightly salted matzos for this recipe but any brand will work. If you can only find regular salted matzos, cut back or omit the sea salt at the end. If you can't find matzos, substitute Saltine crackers and omit the salt. You'll need enough to cover the entire sheet pan.
  7. Note: It's a good idea to toast the nuts for maximum flavor but, truth be told, I never bother.
  8. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The toffee can be frozen for up to 3 months: Place the toffee in an airtight container. It can be eaten directly from the freezer or, if you’d like, remove the toffee from the container and let it come to room temperature.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (17 servings)
  • Serving size: 2 squares
  • Calories: 166
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated fat: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22 g
  • Sugar: 14 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Sodium: 36 mg
  • Cholesterol: 14 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

See more recipes:

Comments

  • Thank you for sharing this!
    I made this today with wheat crackers and it turned out wonderfully. I was sure my toffee wouldn’t work out but yours was perfect.

    • — Selina on June 3, 2024
    • Reply
  • So delicious and worked out perfectly! I used toasted sliced almonds instead of pecans. Put them in the freezer but they still didn’t last long!!

    • — Naomi on May 25, 2024
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn,
    I only have unsalted matzoh. Do u suggest I use salted butter instead? Or can I stick with ur recipe as is? TIA

    • — Doreen S on May 11, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Doreen, I’d just stick with the recipe. You may want to add a touch more of the sea salt. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on May 13, 2024
      • Reply
  • I made this recipe twice this year – once for the family (with gluten-free matzah for a celiac family member), and once for the office, and both times it was a HUGE hit. This recipe isn’t very difficult or time-consuming, so it’s great if you need a quick and easy Passover crowd-pleaser. Your pictures were also very helpful, especially for getting the correct toffee consistency. I’ll definitely have to make this one again.

    • — E on April 30, 2024
    • Reply
  • I tried this recipe for Passover and it was delicious!!! I didn’t include the nuts though. Definitely recommend!!

    • — Mallory on April 24, 2024
    • Reply
  • Great recipe!

    • — Myra S. on April 23, 2024
    • Reply
  • I never leave comments but this was so phenomenal, I have to. I changed this because I have to be gluten free and cane sugar free. I used the Yehuda Matzos brand of original gf matzo, and coconut sugar. I know from experience that I need a smidge more coconut than 1:1, so I did that. It all went exactly as said here and is so delicious!

    • — Kathryn smith on April 22, 2024
    • Reply
  • Disappointed. Way too much chocolate and would’ve preferred milk chocolate chips instead. Won’t make again

    • — Ann julia on April 21, 2024
    • Reply
  • Could I use light brown sugar instead of dark brown sugar? What changes will I have to make if I do? Thanks a lot!

    • — Amaranita on April 16, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Amaranita, I haven’t tried it, but think you can do that with no other modifications. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on April 16, 2024
      • Reply
  • Did I miss the original creator of this recipe, Marcy Goldman being credited?

    • — Judi Moneta on March 26, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Judi, Yes, I mention Marcy in both the intro and on the full recipe right under the title.

      • — Jenn on March 26, 2024
      • Reply
      • I made this for my students at school and they loved it. I also made a gluten free version using GF matzohs and they turned out great as well. Thank you for passing this along.

        • — Ellis on March 30, 2024
        • Reply

Add a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.