Salted Peanut and Caramel Matzo Brittle

Published April 6, 2022

Salted Peanut and Caramel Matzo Brittle
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
30 minutes, plus cooling
Rating
4(140)
Comments
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This is a more advanced version of the popular chocolate matzo toffee, but it’s still easy to make: A layer of caramel bakes on top of then soaks into the unleavened bread, which next gets slathered with peanut butter and topped with crunchy peanuts. For those with peanut allergies — or those who do not eat peanuts at Passover — you can substitute any creamy nut butter and nuts. You can also use tahini and halvah; add snipped, dried apricots or dried cranberries for color; or keep it simple and stick with chocolate — preferably dark, to counter the caramel’s sweetness — as in the original recipe by baker Marcy Goldman in her book “A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking” (Doubleday 1998). Be aware: This dish is addictive. —Joan Nathan

Featured in: A Matzo-Based Brittle for the Modern Age

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 12 servings
  • 4square matzos
  • 1cup/227 grams unsalted butter, cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
  • 1cup/220 grams firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 1cup/200 grams smooth peanut butter
  • ¾cup/105 grams roasted, salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
  • ½teaspoon flaky sea salt
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

472 calories; 34 grams fat; 14 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 13 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 38 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 24 grams sugars; 8 grams protein; 149 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 375 degrees and line a rimmed 11-by-17 or 12-by-18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper, covering the pan and extending over the sides.

  2. Step 2

    Lay 2 matzo squares in the pan, positioning the concave side up to best retain the caramel. Then, like a puzzle, fit the remaining matzo onto the baking sheet, carefully breaking pieces to fill the entire baking pan in one layer. (Don’t worry if they are not perfect; the brittle will be cut up later.)

  3. Step 3

    In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil, about 6 minutes. Boil just until very bubbly, another 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from heat and pour over the matzo, covering completely. Working quickly, spread the caramel using a heatproof spatula, then spoon it on top if it spills between the cracks in the matzo.

  4. Step 4

    Place the baking sheet in the oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, checking to make sure the edges and top are not burning.

  5. Step 5

    Once the matzo is almost done baking, heat the peanut butter in a microwave until slightly warmed and easily pourable, about 20 to 30 seconds on high.

  6. Step 6

    Remove the matzo from the oven and drizzle the warmed peanut butter on top, then sprinkle with the peanuts, then the salt. Cool, break into pieces then transfer to a lidded container. Brittle is best — and at its snappiest — when chilled. Refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes or freeze for 15 until peanut butter firms up. Brittle will keep up to 1 month frozen; let it thaw for about 10 minutes before serving.

Ratings

4 out of 5
140 user ratings
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Comments

Would both name-brand and natural peanut butter work?

I decided to make this with some stale matzos from a friend who celebrates Passover. I omitted the peanut butter (the only nut butter I had was almond which had seized over the course of a couple months). I instead took some creative freedom and topped it with chopped roasted peanuts, 100% unsweetened chopped chocolate, and pistachios. I also added the 1/2 tsp salt to the caramel itself instead of sprinkling it on top, and I felt that this gave a more uniform savory flavor throughout brittle.

I had high expectations when I read this recipe in the newspaper. However, I found that the result was very disappointing. Were I to try it again, I would cut down on the amount of brown sugar and peanut butter while increasing the amount of chopped nuts. But it probably makes more sense to try a different matzoh crunch recipe.

I'd love to kake this as a change from the regular chocolate matzoh brittle I usually make, but I don't have a microwave. Any idea on how to get the almond/cashew/hazelnut butter (no kitniyot in our home) to the desired state of liquidity? Would heating in a bain-marie, a.k.a. water bath, be good?

Recommend using natural peanut butter (I like Nuts to You Nut Butter). Also recommend just using a high quality Carmel spread or dulce de léché (such as Bon Maman) rather than making caramel from scratch. Lower effort and yet, turns out extraordinary.

very easy to burn - would lower heat

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Credits

Adapted from Marcy Goldman

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