The afikomen (the word means "dessert") is a half a piece of matzah that the leader sets aside at the beginning of the seder to be eaten at the end of the meal. The leader of the seder hides the afikomen, and the children hunt for it. When they find it, the leader asks for it back, and the children bargain for a treat before they return it.

 

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No one knows how this part of the seder began. Some believe its purpose, like much of the seder, is to keep the children awake and curious thoughout the evening. Others find deeper meaning to the hide-and-seek game. The hidden afikomen is like the mysterious order of the universe, waiting to be uncovered.

The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays