Matzo Bark

Sweet yet healthy matzo bark made with homemade date and peanut butter toffee, silky vegan chocolate, and sea salt – a quick, easy, moreish Passover treat!

Sweet and Salty Vegan Matzo Bark Recipe

Whether you call it matzo bark, matzah crack, matzo toffee, or matzo brittle, this is a delicious sweet, salty, crunchy, chocolatey treat made by layering toffee and chocolate over matzo crackers. It’s perfect for Passover (and all year!) – now made healthier, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly with a moreish homemade date ‘toffee’ inspired by The Colorful Kitchen.

The combination of peanut butter (a nut-free option is available) and caramel-like dates makes a healthy yet surprisingly satisfying and delicious vegan toffee layer. Better yet, this healthier recipe is even easier to make than the traditional version (no simmering required!) and uses just 5 ingredients and a few minutes of hands-on time.

Plus, you can customize it with all your favorite toppings! Looking for more of our Passover favorites? Try our matzo ball soup and/or charoset!

The Ingredients and Substitutes

• Matzo crackers: (matzah/matzoh) We like to use unsalted matzas, though lightly salted would also work. If necessary, use gluten-free. Saltine crackers will work, too.
• Dates: We prefer Medjool dates, which are naturally sticky and have a caramel-like flavor (in fact, we use them to make vegan caramel sauce). However, other dates (like Deglet Noor) or raisins will work in a pinch.
• Peanut butter: Use creamy or chunky peanut butter. Almond butter would work, too, or for a nut-free option, try sunflower seed butter.
• Plant-based milk: Use any. i.e., soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, etc.
• Vegan chocolate: Use high-quality dairy-free semi-sweet (like us) or bitter-sweet chocolate chips or a bar chopped into small pieces.
• Sea salt: Coarse salt, like Maldon (optional), can be sprinkled over the top to bring out the various flavors.

You can optionally flavor the date toffee with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, and chili/cayenne powder.

Topping Ideas

• Chopped nuts (raw or toasted peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, etc.)
• Shredded coconut (unsweetened for texture and flavor – or coconut flakes)
• Pretzels (Use kosher for Passover pretzels for salty, crunchiness to contrast sweet)
• Dried fruit (e.g., raisins, cranberries, cherries, chopped apricot, etc.)
• Candied ginger (finely chopped to add a spicy zing of flavor)
• Freeze-dried fruit (like strawberries, raspberries, etc.)
• Orange (add orange zest or candied orange peel for a bright citrusy flavor)

How to Make Matzo Bark

• First, soak the pitted dates for 30 minutes in piping-hot water to plump them.

If you’re running low on time, gently boil them for 10 minutes instead.

• Then, drain the water and add the dates, peanut butter, and plant milk to a food processor. Process into a smooth paste.

• Meanwhile, melt the vegan chocolate either using a double boiler or in a microwave-safe bowl (in 20-second increments, stirring between). Then, spread that over the top of the date blend.

• Carefully spread the pureed mixture over the matzo crackers.

Alternatively, place the crackers across a foil-lined dish/tray that spans the size of the crackers and pour the vegan chocolate over the top, using an offset spatula to spread.

• Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of coarse salt and/or the toppings of your choice over the vegan chocolate matzo bark, then leave the dairy-free chocolate to set in the fridge for about 20 minutes (or in the freezer for several minutes).

• Finally, break the matzo bark into large, uneven pieces (or slice them) – Enjoy!

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Use good-quality ingredients: For the best flavors, use high-quality Medjool dates, peanut butter, matza crackers, and vegan chocolate.
• To break the bark: Use a knife for even-sized pieces or break it roughly into large shards.
• Check labels: If you’re keeping kosher, make sure to check the labels of your chosen ingredients to ensure they bear an OU symbol.
• To gift it: Stack a few within cellophane and wrap with a ribbon.

Storage Instructions

Store the prepared vegan matzo chocolate bark in an airtight container in layers separated by parchment paper and store it in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

You can also freeze this matzo dessert in an airtight container for up to 3 months, though the crackers could become a little chewy upon thawing. However, you can enjoy them in a semi-frozen state, too.

More Related Recipes

• Chocolate peanut butter bark
• Chocolate chickpea bark
• Vegan peppermint bark
• Peanut butter cracker sandwiches
• Peanut butter stuffed dates

Photos by Alfonso Revilla