Filling your table with delicious treats is an essential part of celebrating any holiday, especially one as joyful as Hanukkah. Alongside the traditional brisket, latkes, and matzo soup, it’s hard to resist adding a plate full of mouthwatering Hanukkah cookies to the menu. This festive season, known as the Festival of Lights, is a time-honored celebration that commemorates one of the most remarkable miracles in Jewish history.
If anything deserves a sweet treat, it’s certainly this incredible holiday! So why not make some cookies ahead of time to save yourself the stress and chaos on the big day? Two classic Hanukkah recipes are must-haves: rugelach and Mandel bread. However, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and try out new, unique recipes that will make this year’s Hanukkah celebration truly unforgettable. With a little creativity, you can turn this special time into an even more memorable one.
Rugelach
Keeping in mind the simplicity of this pastry dough, it’s no wonder why I’ve been making rugelach for as long as I can remember. These sweet treats are renowned for their delicate texture and satisfying crunch, which pairs perfectly with a generous helping of buttery goodness. The versatility of rugelach lies in its ability to accommodate a wide range of fillings, from the classic combinations of fruit and nuts to decadent chocolate options.
With such ease, the dough comes together in mere minutes using a food processor, requiring only a few swift pulses to combine the ingredients. Once prepared, it’s essential to let the dough chill in the fridge before rolling it out and filling it with your chosen accompaniments. One of the most appealing aspects of rugelach is that they don’t require perfection when it comes to rolling or cutting; in fact, their rustic appearance adds to their homemade charm.
Bubbie Ruth’s Mandel Bread
Making a Mandel bread is similar to baking biscotti, as both share the same shape and texture characteristics. Both require double baking, although this version can be softer if you prefer a more tender crumb. Unlike regular cookie dough, which is easily pliable and smooth to handle, this dough has a much softer and stickier consistency, requiring it to chill in the fridge for two hours before it can be molded into its signature log shape.
After that, it’s ready for baking: first at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) for 25 minutes, then cut into portions, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and baked again at a lower temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit (120°C) until golden brown.
Hazelnut Gelt Cookies
Wrapped in festive spirit, gelt cookies are a delightful treat that often features chocolate coins for kids to enjoy. The cookie’s base can be either almond or hazelnut, but it’s essential to include chocolate as well. This specific recipe utilizes a lovely light hazelnut shortbread, subtly infused with orange zest.
A crucial step in preparing the hazelnuts is toasting them before blitzing to help release their natural oils, which not only enhances the flavor but also fills the kitchen with an incredible aroma. Feel free to top these cookies with chocolate coins if you have them on hand; if not, a simple circle of chocolate paired with gold sprinkles will suffice.
Dreidel Surprise Cookies
Getting creative in the kitchen can be a real treat for kids! These fun, surprise-filled cookies are sure to delight them, but be warned: they do take a bit more time and effort to make. While it’s true that you’ll need two and a half pieces of dough per cookie, making a large batch is definitely manageable, especially with the help of a mixer.
Once you’ve rolled out the dough, you can cut each cookie into three separate pieces – use the top and bottom pieces as is, but be sure to carefully cut out the middle section for the filling. Use frosting as glue to hold everything together, and watch as these adorable treats fly off the plate!
Star of David Hanukkah Cookies
Piping star-shaped cookies can be a bit more forgiving than making individual stars from scratch, although it still requires some skill to achieve a clean and even design. Pre-baking and cooling the cookie sheets helps with this process, as you can then dip them in icing without having to worry about piping on a fragile or warm surface. This approach not only saves time but also yields a neater finish.
Furthermore, using royal icing is highly recommended, as it provides an additional layer of protection against damage and breakage compared to regular icing.
Chocolate Glazed Donut Cookies
Honestly, I was initially hesitant to share a dessert alternative when it comes to traditional holiday treats like donuts. However, after some experimentation, I’ve come across a clever solution – making cookies that resemble donuts instead! As much as I adore the real thing, they can be quite finicky and time-consuming to prepare. Not only do they require prolonged baking times, but they also need to be fried in hot oil, which can be intimidating for some home bakers.
Furthermore, they tend to lose their texture and appearance when stored for an extended period. But, I suppose that’s just part of the charm – consuming them on the same day as preparation is truly the way to go! Given our busy holiday schedules, it’s not always feasible to dedicate a whole day to baking and decorating donuts. That’s why these adorable cookie ‘donuts’ are an excellent compromise.
Kichel (Jewish Bow Tie Cookies)
Creating these traditional German treats is a delightful experience, as they offer a perfect balance of simplicity and flavor. Characterized by their unique texture, which lies somewhere between that of cookies and crackers, Kichel are a true delight. Like the Mandel bread, this dough will exhibit a high level of stickiness once it’s prepared, but don’t worry – it’s entirely normal.
After allowing the dough to rest for a brief period, you’ll transfer it to a piece of parchment paper coated with sugar, where you can then gently roll or pat it out until it reaches an even thickness of about 1/4 inch. Finally, top the dough with additional sugar and carefully lift and twist each Kichel into beautiful bows before baking them until they’re puffed up and golden brown.
Chocolate-Filled Hamantaschen
Fresh from the oven, these traditional triangular-shaped cookies are steeped in history and tradition, often made during the Jewish festival of Purim to commemorate the story of Haman’s downfall. The distinctive shape is believed to be a nod to Haman’s triangular hat, a clever reference that adds depth to this sweet treat.
Typically, you’ll find them filled with a tangy apricot jam, but in this version, we’ve taken it up a notch by filling each cookie with an almost brownie-like center that bakes into a rich, fudgy middle, begging to be paired with a drizzle of dark chocolate.
Chocolate Rugelach
Rugelach dough’s simplicity makes it an ideal candidate for experimentation with multiple flavors at once. To differentiate between the various options, consider shaping each into a unique form, much like how the crescent-shaped cookies are distinct from the chocolate-infused treats that resemble mini cinnamon rolls. While dark chocolate is my preferred choice, semi-sweet chocolate also works well; however, milk chocolate might be too sweet and overwhelming.
This versatility allows you to create a variety of rugelach flavors in a single batch, catering to different tastes and preferences without excessive effort.
Gluten Free Duvshaniot {Israeli Honey Cookies}
Renowned for their unique flavor profile and delicate texture, honey cookies are often associated with traditional baking. Relying on the sweetness of pure honey as a primary ingredient, these confections typically incorporate warm spices to enhance their character.
Recent advancements in gluten-free flours have enabled a more authentic taste experience, allowing this version to closely approximate its traditional counterpart without the need for a sweet glaze, instead opting for a subtle cracked powdered sugar coating that adds an elegant touch.
Tahini Cookies
Underlying the richness of these cookies is the unique flavor profile of tahini, which adds a light, nutty taste that’s surprisingly savory. Unlike traditional peanut butter, tahini lacks a subtle sweetness, but it shares a similar thick texture that makes it easy to substitute in recipes. The absence of eggs in this recipe gives the cookies a more shortbread-like consistency, while the addition of mini-chocolate chips contributes to their rich, buttery flavor.
Red Velvet Rugelach
Most importantly, when it comes to these treats, aesthetics aren’t a major concern. The vibrant deep red hue that they display is quite striking, isn’t it? This specific recipe incorporates cream cheese into the dough, lending a subtle tanginess and an abundance of moisture to the overall texture. I always emphasize the use of gel food coloring in baking, but it’s particularly crucial when working with red velvet.
Gel coloring allows for more precise control over the color intensity without overpowering the other ingredients, which is essential here. Otherwise, you’d need far too much liquid-based coloring to achieve a deep enough shade, potentially impacting the final texture and consistency of your baked goods.
Easy Hanukkah Cookies
Decorating for Hanukkah just got a whole lot easier! If you’re short on time, these stunning blue, white, and silver sprinkles will instantly add a festive touch to any celebration. The best part? This recipe requires minimal effort, thanks to the convenience of using a pre-made box cake mix. Simply blend the dry cake mix with oil and eggs, portion it onto a baking tray, and bake for 8-10 minutes.
Once the treats have cooled down, you can get creative by spooning over some blue icing and topping them off with your favorite sprinkles.
5-Ingredient Chewy Coconut Macaroons
Bearing in mind that coconut macaroons are a fantastic gluten-free cookie option, it’s essential to prepare them carefully when you’re looking for something sweet and chewy without using any flour or nuts. Begin by beating egg whites until they achieve stiff peaks. If the egg whites are not whipping up as expected, try re-whipping them after ensuring that the mixer bowl is thoroughly cleaned, as even a small amount of oil on the surface can hinder the process.
To rectify this, give the bowl a quick wipe with lemon juice or white vinegar to ensure it’s completely clean and free from any residue.
Rainbow Menorah Cookie Pizza
Joining in on the fun of feeding a crowd with cookie pizzas is a great idea, as they not only look impressive but are also simpler to decorate compared to individual cookies. The most challenging aspect might be crafting the menorah, although it’s an enjoyable task that won’t feel like work at all due to its fun nature. To achieve the tie-dye effect, simply combine various colors of fondant and then roll them into cylindrical shapes before twisting.
I utilized bowls to obtain clean lines and opted for a small petal-shaped cookie cutter.
