Toffee is tasty, but this gluten-free matzo toffee with dulce de leche is addicting! This recipe only uses seven ingredients to yield an amazing outcome!
Jump to RecipeA Delicious Twist on Toffee!
Toffee is a very well known candy that is enjoyed primarily around the holidays. However, it is a year round treat! Toffee is a great dessert for those who enjoy a good crunch with layers of chocolate and caramel. In this recipe, we will be taking traditional toffee and twisting it to create an even more delicious sweet treat!
This recipe is very easy to follow, and yields a result unlike any toffee you've had before! This recipe features homemade dulce de leche, crunchy gluten-free matzo and rich dark chocolate. One bite, and your family will be raving about your matzo toffee and going back for seconds! I can guarantee this recipe will be requested by everyone who tries it, and just might become your next holiday tradition.
What is Dulce de Leche?
Dulce de Leche is the Spanish translation of sweet milk. It involves just two simple ingredients, milk and sugar. Also known as milk candy or milk jam, dulce de leche is essentially caramelized milk and sugar. The milk and sugar are slowly heated together over several hours to create a very thick consistency. This confection is most known in Latin America, where it originated. However, it is also found in French and Polish cuisines.
You might be thinking... this sounds pretty similar to caramel. You aren't too far off actually; however, there are slight differences between the two. Caramel is the caramelization of water and sugar. Dulce de leche uses milk and yields a more creamy consistency. As well, it is much easier to manipulate than caramel. For this toffee recipe, we will be using dulce de leche in place of the traditional caramel. But not just any dulce de leche, homemade dulce de leche!
How to Make Dulce de Leche at Home
Making dulce de leche at home can go two ways. You can either truly start from scratch using milk and sugar. Or you can fast forward a bit by using sweetened condensed milk to get a head start. But what is sweetened condensed milk? Well, condensed milk is cow's milk where the water has been removed. It then becomes sweetened when sugar is added. This saves us time when making dulce de leche at home because the milk and share are already melted down. However, they still need to be caramelized.
So, how do you caramelized sweetened condensed milk? Start by removing the label from one can of sweetened condensed milk. Then, place the can in a slow cooker and add water until the water covers the can. Cook on low heat for 8 hours. This is the part that takes the longest out of the entire recipe, I promise, but you can do it overnight. This portion also does not require babysitting, as it will slowly caramelize inside the can while in the slow cooke.
After those 8 hours, turn off the slow cooker. Carefully remove the can with a pair of tongs as it will be very hot. Then, open and allow to sit at room temperature until cooled. This will allow the dulce de leche to settle in before using it later in this recipe. At this point you may be wondering why we didn't just buy premade dulce de leche. First, you have more control over the sweetness. Second, conventions made from scratch are always the better option compared to premade alternatives. Finally, homemade dulce de leche simply tastes better. Not to mention the bragging rights!
The Basics of Toffee
I think we have to start first at butterscotch, and you'll see why. Butterscotch is a caramelized butter and brown sugar confection that creates a soft-crack candy. Now, how does this relate to toffee? Toffee is basically butterscotch that is just cooked for a longer period of time. Toffee is also made from butter and brown sugar; however, it has a longer cook time so that its texture becomes more brittle (hard-crack candy). If you are curious about the confection and others in the same family, this blog here does an amazing job of breaking it all down!
Toffee is used with many other ingredients that are often found together in different variations. Such ingredients include chocolate, caramel, nuts, and more. This grouping of ingredients all go very well together and always creates enjoyable treats. Some variations of treats using these ingredients include caramel apples, toffee bars, some cookie variations, and many other chocolate candies. You'll most likely see all of these ingredients used in a chocolate candy assortment box!
Why This Matzo Toffee Recipe is Best
You might be curious as to what Matzo is. Matzo is an unleavened bread that originates from Jewish cuisine. It is typically made of wheat flour, some water, salt, and sometimes olive oil for more flavor depth. Matzo also has a gluten-free option that uses tapioca or potato starch as a replacement! For reference, I use this brand for my gluten-free Matzo! This bread is rolled very thinly and cooked at a high temperature quickly. This bread traditionally takes no more than 18 minutes from start to finish to bake. This thin and crunchy bread often resembles a giant water cracker.
What is the importance/significance of Matzo in the Jewish community? Matzo or matzah is always consumed during Passover. More specifically, it is a dish that is the highlight at a Seder, which is the ceremonial meal that is held at the beginning of Passover. The Matzo symbolizes the end of Jewish people's enslavement and exit from Egypt. The swiftness of making this bread resembles the haste in which the Jewish people fled. So, there is a lot rooted in the history of this thin and crispy bread!
So, after some brief history about Matzo, let's tie it all together on why this is the best matzo toffee recipe. Matzo and dulce de leche make a fantastic pairing. The Matzo provides a nice neutral foundation, in terms of flavor, however its main contribution is the crunch! With the sweetness and softness of the dulce de leche, it lacks a crunch. That's where the Matzo amplifies this recipe! Also, note that this recipe is unique, easy to make, and uses less than 10 ingredients! It has all the makings you could want. Some deep and rich history, sweetness, crunchiness, and happiness!
Combining the Dulce de Leche and Matzo
Time to start on the matzo toffee! Take a large baking sheet and cover it with parchment paper. Lay the gluten-free matzo on top as evenly as you can. You may have to break some pieces to align all the matzo. Note that it does tend to break easily, so remember to work slowly. But if it does break, that's okay! It doesn't have to be perfect- it just has to taste good!
Once all of the baking sheet is covered with a layer of matzo, it's time for the dulce de leche. It should be warm enough to spread, but not too hot at this point. Pour the warm dulce de leche over the matzo. Use a spatula to spread an even layer. I recommend pouring the dulce de leche in sections, then spreading before moving onto the next section. This helps ensure you're spreading an even amount.
Adding the Chocolate and Toppings
Next, take two cups of dark chocolate chips and place in a microwave safe dish. Add two tablespoons of coconut oil, then melt in the microwave for 35 seconds. Stir, then melt again for another 35 seconds. Once smooth, pour the dark chocolate over the dulce de leche. Use a clean spatula to spread it evenly across the top. Using dark chocolate will bring balance to the sweetness of the dulce de leche! Lastly, sprinkle one cup of crushed pecans across the top of the chocolate. The pecans will add an extra crunch! You can substitute pecans for almonds or walnuts if you wish. Finally, finish with flakey sea salt! The salt here also helps to balance out the sweetness and brings the richness of the chocolate forward.
Why We Freeze It and How To Store
After finishing the last of the ingredients for the toffee, it is now time to freeze. Freeze the matzo toffee for at least one hour or refrigerate overnight. Freezing it will set the toffee and chocolate, so that we get that nice breakable texture we love from our toffee treats! Once your toffee has been in the freezer for an hour, or refrigerated overnight, you may now break it apart and enjoy!
If you wish to store any leftovers, I suggest storing in the fridge to keep the integrity of the toffee. We don't want it to melt! You may store the matzo toffee in an air tight container, or simply put in a sandwich bag broken into pieces. You really have all the creative freedom in how you store it, the main emphasis is just to store in the fridge.
When and What To Serve the Toffee With
In all honesty, toffee is great for any moment of the day, any day of the year. Toffee is always a good idea! However, if you are more interested in specific pairings or when to make this recipe, I've got a few notes. There are two times during the year that this sweet treat would be a delight to serve and this includes both Hanukah and Passover! Here are three dishes that would be a great pair to the matzo toffee:
- Latkes: The saltiness of these latkes would pair beautifully with the sweetness of the toffee. A little sweet treat paired with a more filling appetizer like latkes. These traditional latkes are such a simple and easy recipe to create when you are wanting something filling and satisfying. If you're looking for a latke that's a little more sweet than savory, try these Sweet Potato and Leek Latkes!
- Brisket: This holiday brisket makes the perfect main course for a Hanukkaah dinner. A wonderful recipe just waiting to be enjoyed by all. The tender beef yields a rich, deep flavor that melts in your mouth and pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables. Then, end your dinner with this matzo toffee for the perfect way to close out the night.
- Kugel: Pairing sweet with sweet is always a great idea! However, what works about this pairing is that they are two different types of "sweet". This kugel is a traditional Jewish pudding or casserole recipe made with egg noodles, and includes golden raisins for an added sweetness. Keep the fun going after eating a kugel with this matzo toffee!
While this toffee recipe is a delicious sweet treat to end the night, I'd like to note that it is a modern dessert and not traditional to holidays, such as Hanukkah or Passover. It is important to remember the significance of matzo to the Jewish people, especially during the respected holidays. For more information, please visit this website to learn more.
Dulce de Leche Matzo Toffee
Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy16
servings15
minutes8
HoursThis modern twist on toffee uses gluten-free matzo and homemade dulce de leche to create a delicious sweet treat!
Ingredients
- Ingredients for the dulce de leche
1 15oz can of sweetened condensed milk
4 cups water
- Ingredients for the toffee
1 10oz box of gluten-free matzo
2 cups of dark chocolate chips
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 cup pecans, crushed
Sea salt flakes, for topping
Directions
- Instructions for the dulce de leche
- To make the dulce de leech, take one can of sweetened condensed milk and remove the label. Place in a slow cooker, then add water until the water covers the can. Cook on low heat for 8 hours.
- After 8 hours, turn off the slow cooker. Carefully remove the can with a pair of tongs. Then, open and allow to sit at room temperature until cooled.
- Instructions for the toffee
- Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the gluten-free matzo on top as evenly as you can.
- Pour the warm dulce de leech over the matzo. Use a spatula to spread an even layer.
- Take 2 cups of dark chocolate chips and add to a microwave safe dish. Add two tablespoons of coconut oil, then melt in the microwave for 35 seconds.
- Stir, then melt again for another 35 seconds. Repeat until the chocolate is smooth.
- Pour the dark chocolate over the dulce de leech. Use a clean spatula to spread it evenly across the top.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of crushed pecans across the top of the chocolate. Then, finish with sea salt flakes.
- Freeze for at least one hour or refrigerate overnight.
- Break into pieces, then serve & enjoy!
Recipe Video
Notes
- Sore in the refrigerator in an air tight container to prevent the toffee from melting.
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