How to Make Dulce de Leche Matzo Toffee

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!

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Why You'll Love This

Toffee is a beloved candy, especially during the holidays, but it's a delightful year-round treat. This recipe adds a twist to traditional toffee, featuring homemade dulce de leche, crunchy gluten-free matzo, and rich dark chocolate. It’s easy to make and sure to impress—your family will be asking for seconds and may even make it a new holiday tradition!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This
• What is Dulce de Leche?
• The Basics of Toffee
• Why This Matzo Toffee Recipe is Best
• Ingredients
• Substitutions & Variations
• Equipment
• Instructions
• Storage
• FAQ
• Pairings
• Similar
• Dulce de Leche Matzo Toffee

What is Dulce de Leche?

Dulce de Leche, meaning "sweet milk" in Spanish, is a creamy confection made from just milk and sugar, slowly heated to a thick consistency. Originating in Latin America, it’s also found in French and Polish cuisines. While similar to caramel, which is made from water and sugar, dulce de leche has a richer, creamier texture and is easier to work with. For this toffee recipe, we’ll use homemade dulce de leche instead of traditional caramel.

The Basics of Toffee

Let's start with butterscotch, a caramelized blend of butter and brown sugar that forms a soft-crack candy. Toffee is essentially butterscotch cooked longer, resulting in a harder, brittle texture.

Toffee often pairs well with ingredients like chocolate, caramel, and nuts, creating delightful treats. Popular variations include caramel apples, toffee bars, and chocolate candies, which are commonly found in assorted candy boxes.

Why This Matzo Toffee Recipe is Best

Matzo is an unleavened bread from Jewish cuisine, made from wheat flour, water, salt, and sometimes olive oil. A gluten-free version uses tapioca or potato starch. Rolled thin and baked quickly at high temperatures, matzo resembles a giant water cracker and is typically made in under 18 minutes. For reference, I use this brand for my gluten-free Matzo!

In the Jewish community, matzo holds significance during Passover, especially at the Seder meal, symbolizing the end of slavery and the haste of the Jewish people's escape from Egypt.

This brings us to why matzo pairs perfectly with dulce de leche in this recipe. The matzo provides a neutral flavor and essential crunch that complements the softness of the dulce de leche. This unique, easy-to-make recipe uses fewer than 10 ingredients, combining rich history, sweetness, and crunch for a delightful treat!

Ingredients

This recipe is very straightforward and simple with ingredients! Here is everything you need to know to set yourself up for success.

Ingredients for the Dulce de Leche

• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Provides rich, creamy sweetness and caramel flavor.
• Water: Ensures the right consistency for smooth caramelization.

Ingredients for the Toffee

• Gluten-Free Matzo: Offers a crisp base that balances the dulce de leche's sweetness.
• Dark Chocolate Chips: Adds a rich, slightly bitter flavor that enhances the overall texture.
• Coconut Oil: Improves chocolate smoothness and melting for a better mouthfeel.
• Crushed Pecans: Adds crunchy texture and nutty flavor for depth.
• Sea Salt Flakes: Enhances sweetness and richness, balancing the overall taste.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements!

Substitutions & Variations

Whether you're missing a few of the above ingredients, or just looking for simple modifications, these tips below can help you adjust the recipe!

• Add Caramel: Drizzle caramel on top of the chocolate or spread it beneath for extra flavor. For a healthier twist, try a date-based caramel recipe!
• Make it Non-GF: If gluten-free matzo isn't available, use regular matzo instead.

Instructions

Here is everything you need to know!

Starting on Dulce de Leche

You can make dulce de leche at home in two ways: from scratch with milk and sugar or faster using sweetened condensed milk. The latter, which is milk with water removed and sugar added, caramelizes quickly.

To use sweetened condensed milk, remove the label from a can and place it in a slow cooker, covering it with water. Cook on low for 8 hours—ideal for overnight cooking. Afterward, carefully remove the hot can and let it cool to room temperature.

Homemade dulce de leche allows for better control over sweetness and tastes better than store-bought, plus it’s a great conversation starter!

Combining the Two

To make matzo toffee, start by covering a large baking sheet with parchment paper and laying gluten-free matzo on top, breaking pieces as needed. Then, pour warm dulce de leche over the matzo and use a spatula to spread it evenly in sections for consistent coverage.

Adding the Chocolate and Toppings

Melt 2 cups of dark chocolate chips with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a microwave-safe dish for 70 seconds total, stirring after the first 35 seconds until smooth. Pour the melted chocolate over the dulce de leche and spread evenly. Top with 1 cup of crushed pecans (or almonds/walnuts) and finish with flaky sea salt to enhance the flavor.

Storage

After adding the final ingredients, freeze the matzo toffee for at least one hour or refrigerate overnight to set the toffee and chocolate for that perfect breakable texture. Once set, break it apart and enjoy!

For any leftovers, store them in the fridge to maintain the toffee's integrity. You can use an airtight container or a sandwich bag to keep it fresh—just make sure to keep it refrigerated!

FAQ

Pairings

Toffee is delightful any time of year, but it pairs especially well with Hanukkah and Passover. Here are three great dishes to serve alongside matzo toffee:

While this toffee recipe is a modern treat, it’s important to honor the traditional significance of matzo during these holidays. For more information, visit this website.

Similar

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