Chocolate Matzo Crunch Recipes

CHOCOLATE COVERED MATZO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; spray with cooking spray.
• Arrange matzo to fit into pan; break boards if necessary.
• Combine butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until boiling; boil for about 3 minutes.
• Pour butter mixture evenly over matzo.
• Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and immediately reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) if the matzo are smoking too much.
• Remove baking sheet from oven and sprinkle matzo with chocolate chips. Let stand to melt chocolate, 5 minutes.
• Spread the melted chocolate over matzo. Place in refrigerator until chilled and set. Break into pieces when cooled.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE MATZO CANDY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with nonstick spray. Arrange the matzo crackers in a single layer on the foil, breaking them as necessary to fit. (Depending on their size, you may not need to use all of the crackers.)
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the sugar and kosher salt and bring to a full boil; the mixture should be bubbling all over, not just on the edges. Continue to boil for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally so the sugar and butter caramelize evenly. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the mixture over the top of the matzo. Using a rubber spatula, quickly spread the toffee mixture to coat the matzo. (It does not have to be perfect; the oven will even it out). Bake until the toffee is bubbling, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot toffee in an even layer. Let sit until the chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Use an offset spatula to gently spread out the chocolate, then sprinkle with the sea salt, if using. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for another hour to set completely.
• Break into pieces and serve, or store in an airtight container at cool room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

NUTTY CHOCOLATE MATZO CRUNCH

Steps:

• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and top with a wire rack. Place matzos on top of rack. Drizzle chocolate over matzos until almost covered. Immediately sprinkle evenly with chopped nuts and salt. Transfer to refrigerator and chill until set, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces. If chocolate softens, return to refrigerator until set. Matzo crunch is best eaten the day it is made.

AMAZING PASSOVER CHOCOLATE TOFFEE MATZO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line baking sheets with foil and pinch the edges into a lip to contain drips. Grease the foil well with butter. Place the matzos onto the baking sheets, breaking them in half if needed.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan with the brown sugar over medium heat; bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer the mixture until thickened, about 5 minutes. Ladle the hot sugar mixture over the matzos, spreading the mixture over the matzos with a rubber spatula.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the sugar mixture is bubbling and thick, about 20 minutes. Set aside to cool until the toffee coating is firm, about 15 minutes.
• Place the semisweet chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on Low until the chips are just melted (do not let the chocolate overheat or scorch). Spread the melted chocolate over the toffee-coated matzos; sprinkle chopped pecans on top. Place the baking sheets into the refrigerator until the treats are cold, about 30 minutes. Remove the matzos from the foil, break up into pieces, and store in an airtight container or plastic bags in refrigerator or freezer.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL MATZO TOFFEE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13-by-18-inch rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, allowing it to go up and over the edges of the pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment. Arrange matzo over parchment in an even layer, breaking pieces to fit as necessary.
• In a medium pot over medium-high heat, bring butter and sugar to a boil, whisking, until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes. The mixture may separate, and that is O.K. Stir in vanilla and salt. Quickly pour mixture over matzos. Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until bubbly, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Sprinkle chocolate evenly over caramel and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Use an offset spatula to spread chocolate smoothly over surface of toffee. If you've used different kinds of chocolate, you can swirl them together decoratively.
• Immediately sprinkle melted chocolate with desired topping. Transfer baking sheet to refrigerator and chill toffee 1 hour to set chocolate. Break matzo toffee into large pieces for storing and serving.

CRUNCHY CHOCOLATE MATZO BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange 2 oven racks in the center of the oven.
• Cover 2 baking sheets with a tight layer of aluminum foil, then place an additional sheet of foil on top. Spray the foil with nonstick spray as a precaution. Spread 2 pieces of matzo in a single layer on each of the baking sheets.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring, until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves and becomes smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. Bring the mixture to a boil, then shut off the heat.
• Use a large spoon to spread the brown sugar mixture over the matzo, coating the tops of all the squares. Bake until the sugar bubbles and browns, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven.
• In a double boiler or microwave, gently melt the chocolate. Let the matzo cool 10 minutes, then use a rubber spatula to gently spread the melted chocolate over the brown sugar layer.
• While the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle evenly with the pumpkin seeds, apricots, sprinkles and salt, if using. Cool in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden.
• Use a serrated knife to "saw" the bark into neat squares or break the matzo into pieces. I like to serve this treat from a cookie tin or a little basket to make it even more fun to eat.

MY TRADEMARK, MOST REQUESTED, ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT CARAMEL MATZOH CRUNCH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a large (or two smaller) cookie sheet completely with foil. Cover the bottom of the sheet with baking parchment - on top of the foil. This is very important since the mixture becomes sticky during baking.
• Line the bottom of the cookie sheet evenly with the matzohs, cutting extra pieces, as required, to fit any spaces.
• In a 3-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the butter or margarine and the brown sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil (about 2 to 4 minutes). Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and pour over the matzoh, covering completely.
• Place the baking sheet in the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 350°. Bake for 15 minutes, checking every few minutes to make sure the mixture is not burning (if it seems to be browning too quickly, remove the pan from the oven, lower the heat to 325°, and replace the pan).
• Remove from the oven and sprinkle immediately with the chopped chocolate or chips. Let stand for 5 minutes, then spread the melted chocolate over the matzoh. While still warm, break into squares or odd shapes. Chill, still in the pan, in the freezer until set.
• This makes a good gift.
• Variation:
• You can also use coarsely chopped white chocolate (or a combination of white and dark), and chopped or slivered toasted almonds (sprinkled on top as the chocolate sets). You can also omit the chocolate for a caramel-alone buttercrunch.

CARAMEL MATZOH CRUNCH

Steps:

• Cover two rimmed baking sheets completely with foil.
• Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of each pan and place it on top of the foil.
• Line the bottom of each cookie sheet evenly with the matzo, breaking extra pieces, as required, to fit any spaces.
• In a 3-quart, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine butter and brown sugar.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil (about 2 to 4 minutes).
• Boil for 3 minutes (use a timer; this is important), stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and pour over the matzo, covering completely.
• Place the baking sheets in a preheated 375-degree oven and immediately reduce the heat to 350 degrees.
• Bake for 15 minutes, checking every few minutes to make sure the mixture is not burning (if it seems to be browning too quickly, remove the pan from the oven, lower the heat to 325 degrees and replace the pan).
• Remove pans from oven and sprinkle immediately with the chopped chocolate or chips.
• Let stand five minutes, then spread the melted chocolate over the matzo with an offset spatula or knife.
• While still warm, break into squares or odd shapes.
• Place pans in freezer to chill until set.
• Remove and store in airtight container for up to a week.

CHOCOLATE CHILE BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar and chile powder on medium-low speed until smooth and well combined, about 2 minutes.
• Increase the speed to medium. With the mixer running, add the eggs, 1 at a time, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed, then add the vanilla extract. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute.
• Turn the speed to low and, with the mixer running, add the flour mixture a little at a time. Continue mixing until the dry ingredients are almost incorporated, scraping the bowl as needed, then add the cashews and chocolate chips all at once. Keep mixing until the cashews and chocolate have integrated and a thick dough has formed.
• Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a 12-inch log. (You can use a sheet of wax or parchment paper to help roll the dough evenly, or dust with extra flour if the dough is sticky.) Place both logs on a half-sheet pan lined with parchment paper, then flatten both logs with your palms until about 1-inch thick. Sprinkle each with a little granulated sugar to evenly coat.
• Bake until the logs lose their sheen, 20 to 25 minutes. There should still be some softness in the middle of each log when gently pressed. Be careful not to overbake, as the logs may break when sliced later.
• Turn off the oven, take out the biscotti and let cool on the sheet pan for a few hours. (The longer they rest, the easier they will be to slice without breaking.)
• For the second bake, heat the oven to 300 degrees. (The temperature is lower for gentler, more even baking.)
• Using a serrated knife, slice each log at an angle into ½-inch slices. You may trim and discard the ends or bake them along with the other slices - they taste just as good. Place the slices, cut sides down, on the same parchment-lined half-sheet pan. (You don't need to be careful about spacing them out.)
• Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the biscotti are no longer soft to the touch. They will harden a little further after cooling. Remove from the oven and cool completely on the pan. The biscotti will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature.