Matzoh Crack Recipes

MATZAH CRACK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375º Line a large cookie sheet completely with foil. Cover the bottom of the sheet with parchment paper - on top of the foil since this mixture carmelizes in the oven, this helps to prevent adherence to the aluminium foil. Line the bootom of the cookie sheet with the matzohs. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the butter and the brown sugar. Cook over medium heat until the mixture comes to a small boil. Then boil on a slow boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and pour over the matzoh, covering it completely. Place the baking sheet in the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 350º. Bake for 15 minutes, checking regularly to make sure that it's not burning or dripping over the sides. If it's browing too quickly, reduce the heat to 325º. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate over the carmelized matzoh. Let stand for a couple of minutes and then spread the melted chocolate over the matzoh with a spatula. While still warm, break the chocolate covered matzoh into squares or odd shapes (thus the crack!) Then chill the entire thing including the pan in the freezer until set. Dare to keep your hands off it. (You don't have to add chocolate and it tastes yummy, too and this would be great on top of some baked sweet potatoes!) Some people add nuts like almonds or pecans instead of or with the chocolate, but we can't...so just go with your own tastes. Also, if it's not Passover, I would try this on graham crackers instead of matzoh!!!!

EASY MATZO

Steps:

• With the racks positioned the top third and middle, heat oven to 500 degrees.
• In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to stir together all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and kosher salt. Add in 1/2 cup water and the 1/4 cup oil, and stir until a pliable dough forms, adding more water if the dough seems dry.
• Lightly flour a work surface, and knead dough briefly until it becomes smooth. Cut dough into 4 even pieces. Re-flour your work surface, if necessary, and use a rolling pin to roll out 2 pieces as thinly as you can, about 6 to 8 inches in diameter. (They should be almost translucent.) Aim for rounds, but don't worry if they are oblong.
• Transfer each matzo to a separate cookie sheet, and prick each one all over with a fork. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if you like. Bake until golden all over and lightly browned in spots, about 7 to 12 minutes. (Timing will depend on how thinly you rolled the dough.) Transfer matzos to a wire rack and let cool.
• While first batch is baking, roll out remaining dough. If you have enough baking sheets, transfer the rolled dough onto another two sheets. If not, use the warm sheet trays you used in the first batch, being careful while transferring and pricking the dough with a fork. Bake and cool.

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE MATZO CRACK

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil, making sure the foil goes up and over the edges, and top with sheet of parchment paper.
• 3. Cover baking sheet with matzos, cutting and piecing together as necessary to fill the entire pan.
• 4. Make toffee: Combine butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan.
• 5. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk, until mixture comes to a boil. (If it looks like it's separating, just keep stirring; it will come together.).
• 6. Once mixture comes to a boil, continue cooking and stirring for another 3 minutes until foamy and thickened. (Be extra careful -- toffee will be very hot!).
• 7. Immediately pour toffee over matzos and, using a spatula, spread into an even layer.
• 8. Put the pan into the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the toffee topping is crackled and bubbling all over.
• 9. Remove pan and place on wire cooling rack on the counter. Immediately scatter chocolate chips evenly over top.
• 10. Wait 3-5 minutes for the chips to soften, then use a thin spatula to spread chocolate into an even layer.
• 11. Sprinkle with pecans and sea salt. Note: If you can only find regular salted matzos, cut back or omit the sea salt.
• 12. 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.
• 13. Lift foil overhang to transfer matzo crack onto a large cutting board. Using a large sharp knife, cut into 2-inch squares.
• 14. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and serve cold.

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.

MATZAH

Steps:

• Move an oven rack near the top of oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Preheat a heavy baking sheet in the oven.
• Dust a clean work surface and a rolling pin with 1 teaspoon flour, or as needed. Place 1 cup of flour into a mixing bowl; set a timer for about 16 minutes (18 minutes maximum). Start the timer; pour the water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, into the flour. Stir the water and flour together with a fork until the dough forms a rough ball, remove the dough to the prepared work surface, knead rapidly and firmly until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Divide the dough into four equal pieces; cut each piece in half again to get 8 pieces total. Swiftly roll each piece into a ball. Roll each piece of dough out into a 5-inch pancake, dusting the top and rolling pin with flour as needed. Gradually roll the pancakes out to a size of about 8 inches, increasing the size of each by about 1 inch, then letting the dough rest for a few seconds before rolling again to the finished size. Roll from the center out. The bread rounds should be very thin. Using a fork, quickly pierce each bread about 25 times, all over, to prevent rising. The holes should go completely through the bread. Flip the bread over, and pierce each piece another 25 times with the fork.
• With at least 5 minutes left on the timer, remove the hot baking sheet from the preheated oven, and place the rounds onto the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet onto the rack near the top of the oven, and bake for 2 minutes; turn the breads over and bake an additional 2 minutes, until the matzot are lightly browned and crisp.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Lightly anoint each matzah with olive oil, using a brush, and sprinkle generously with salt.