Chocolate Toffee Matzo Crack

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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.

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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.

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Comments

  • Matza when in groups is not called “Matzos” it is called “Matzot”. (No “S” put “T” instead).

    Besides spelling the dish is amazing!

    • — Lexi on September 30, 2023
    • Reply
  • The foil lining is enough – do not top it with parchment paper as stated in the recipe. Why? because the toffee can get under the parchment paper and ruin the layering. Other than that this is the BEST!

    • — Gez on May 3, 2023
    • Reply
  • I made it and loved it! We left off the nuts, but it worked out amazing!

    • — Elana on April 9, 2023
    • Reply
  • The recipe does not consistently result in toffee. Counting 3 minutes from boiling doesn’t work. You get a grainy brown sugar/butter mixture instead of toffee which not only is a less desirable texture but also can lead to the chocolate and toppings not staying attached to the matza. It seems from the photos that you ma need to wait until the mixture expands significantly in order to ensure the full transformation. Sadly, we have just made yet another batch of grainy not-quite-crack….

    • — J L A on April 9, 2023
    • Reply
  • My husband looks forward to having this every Passover. I get many requests for the recipe.
    This is indeed very hard to stop eating! It’s so yummy and easy to make! 🙂

    • — Cathy J on April 9, 2023
    • Reply
  • Got these from a friend and I am obsessed! This is going to be my signature treat, hey – why not all year round???

    • — Susan on April 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • This was the best matzah crack I have made! It was perfect and outrageously delicious! Followed the exact recipe and it was perfect! Thank you!

    • — Lynne on April 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • Thank you! Everyone loved this. I followed the recipe with the exception of adding salt to the top. I’m making another batch now and will include flaked salt on top of half.

    • — Marilynn M. on April 7, 2023
    • Reply
    • How far ahead can this be made? For serving Monday night at first Seder

      • — Kathy on April 14, 2024
      • Reply
      • Hi Kathy, you can make this several days ahead and store it in the fridge. Hope everyone enjoys!

        • — Jenn on April 15, 2024
        • Reply
  • This is delicious. My only suggestion after losing most of the pecans because of not adhering to the chocolate is next time, when I scatter them is to try and press them down into the chocolate. Hopefully that will help them to not fall off. Otherwise delish!

    • — Lisa on April 5, 2023
    • Reply
  • Just made this for the first time and followed the instructions to a T. The result is delicious, of course…but when I cut it, the matzo came apart from the toffee/chocolate/topping on many of the pieces. I was left with some very yummy candy, not attached to matzo, and some plain matzo that tasted good on its own – but still, I’m wondering why the separation happened. Any suggestions?

    • — Lisa on April 4, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Lisa, I’m sorry you had a problem with this – that’s a bit of a head-scratcher! Did you leave it in the fridge for longer than 45 minutes? What brand of matzo did you use? I have really good luck with Streit’s.

      • — Jenn on April 4, 2023
      • Reply
      • I’m guessing she did not let it reach room temp before she put into the fridge. If you do that it causes condensation and it separates.

        • — Suzanne Katsman on April 17, 2024
        • Reply

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