Go Back

Matzoh House

Jewish Holidays
Author: Beverly
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • Newspaper or plastic drop cloth
  • Rectangular piece of cardboard (about 12 by 24 inches)
  • Aluminum foil
  • Kitchen scissors
  • Pastry bag or resealable plastic bag
  • Toothpicks

Ingredients

  • 2 cups peanut butter or soy butter
  • 5 sheets matzoh
  • 1 cup matzoh meal
  • matzoh crackers
  • Assorted kosher-for-Passover candies and chocolates, such as fruit slices, marshmallow twists, and jelly rings

Instructions

Create the Base

  • Before you start crafting, cover your work surface with newspaper or a plastic drop cloth to protect it from spills.
  • Wrap the cardboard base in aluminum foil to make a nice, clean foundation for the house.
  • Spread a thin, even coat of peanut butter on the surface of the foil.

Construct the House Walls

  • Fill a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag with about 1 cup of peanut butter (or soy butter) and snip off the tip to form a quarter-inch opening.
  • To begin building, stand two pieces of matzoh, with the edges forming a right angle to one other, upright on the cardboard base.
  • Using the pastry bag, pipe a line of peanut butter (or soy butter) along the seam where the two pieces of matzoh meet.
  • Repeat with two more pieces of matzoh to form a square.
  • Pipe peanut butter (or soy butter) into the inside corners and along the inside of the base to reinforce the structure.
  • With the four walls intact, sprinkle the matzoh meal on the peanut butter (or soy butter) surrounding the house, to create the appearance of sand.
  • Carefully transfer the entire structure into the refrigerator to chill and set for 1 to 2 hours.

Assemble the Roof

  • Place a sheet of matzoh on a plate (for easy transfer to the fridge at the end of this step).
  • Spread the matzoh with a thin layer of peanut butter (or soy butter), then place your choice of chocolates or candies on top of the peanut butter (or soy butter) to fashion the roof"tiles." We opted for chocolate-covered marshmallow twists, but you can use other kosher candies or create a shingled look by layering matzoh crackers.
  • Refrigerate the roof for 1 hour until it's chilled and set. If your roof is particularly heavy, you can build some extra support into the house structure. In that case, remove the house from the refrigerator briefly and place an additional support sheet of matzoh vertically inside the square base, securing it in place with additional peanut butter (or soy butter).
  • The house does not need to be refrigerated again and the roof can be placed securely on top of the structure.

Decorate the House

  • Take your pick of the suggestions below, or let your imagination run wild as you customize the appearance of your abode:
    Windows: Cut round, flat, kosher jelly candies into squares to create four-pane windows; attach them to the sides of the house using peanut butter (or soy butter). Alternately, create circular windows by attaching chocolate-covered jelly rings to the house walls.
    Door: Create the perfect entryway by placing two chocolate-covered marshmallow twists vertically, side by side, on the front of the house.
    Fence: Pipe a line of peanut butter (or soy butter) along the outer edge of the base and place jelly fruit slices, cut side down, on top of it.
    Path: Secure two matzoh crackers with peanut butter (or soy butter) to the base as a walkway to the door.
    Flowering bush: Place small, green jelly fruit slices in a cluster and adorn them with cut-out pieces of red and purple jellies.
    Palm tree: Stack about 10 round jellies on top of one another, securing them with a toothpick to hold the trunk of the tree together. Using toothpicks, attach green fruit slices to the top of the trunk to form leaves. Anchor the palm tree to the base in front of the house with additional toothpicks.
  • Once you've finished adding the decorations, return the house to the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours to chill and set.

Notes

Some denominations of Judaism forbid consuming peanuts and peanut products during Passover. Feel free to swap in another variety of nut butter, such as cashew or almond, or make an inedible version of this matzoh home using craft glue.
Attribution:  https://www.epicurious.com/holidays-events/make-your-own-matzoh-house-article