Hanukkah jelly donuts are a popular traditional staple of Jewish celebrations during the eight-day festival of Hanukkah. Usually prepared as a fried doughnut filled with jelly, Hanukkah jelly donuts (or sufganiyot, their Hebrew name), have been a cherished religious or cultural symbol of the feast since its celebration following the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE. The jelly in the donuts symbolizes a miracle that occurred in a Temple where consecrated jars of oil burned for nearly eight days instead of just one, supposedly granting the Maccabees sufficient time to obtain sufficient amounts of fresh oil for the celebration.
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Although jelly donuts are enjoyed around the world, they hold a special place in Jewish tradition.
The tradition of eating jelly donuts during Hanukkah dates back centuries, and the recipe for making them has changed accordingly. Originally, Hanukkah jelly donuts were made with a dough composed of flour, sugar, yeast, and eggs, fried in oil, and flavored with cardamom. Nowadays, donuts are more commonly filled with not only jelly but also chocolate or custard, and flavored with orange or rose water.
Types of Jelly Donuts
The Classic Jelly Donut (Sufganiyot)
The classic jelly donut is is made of a denser dough than regular donuts, and is filled with a generous portion of jelly. The jelly is usually raspberry, but may come in other flavors such as strawberry, blueberry, or apricot, and often contains a dried fruit filling such as raisins, dates, figs, or prunes. The dough is typically flavored with a hint of vanilla, lemon or orange, or with cardamom or more exotic spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.
The Chocolate-Filled Donut (Shokolach)
The chocolate-filled donut is similar to a traditional jelly donut, but is filled will a ganache of dark chocolate and heavy cream instead of jelly. This type of donut is a favorite of many children and sweets-lovers, but is less traditional.
The Custard-Filled Donut (Krembo)
The custard-filled donut is a favorite of many adult sweeth tooths. It is made from a lighter dough, fried in vegetable oil, and filled with a sweet custard cream and covered in a chocolate-y coating. Custard-filled donuts also come in a variety of flavors, such as coconut, caramel, and even tiramisu!
No matter which type of Hanukkah jelly donut you choose, you can experience the delectable sweet treat as part of a time-honoured celebration. Contemporary Hanukkahs bring mourning, hope, and light together. And it is through the miracle of the oil, symbolized by the filling of jelly donuts, that takes part in this ancient miracle.
Today jelly donuts are enjoyed by Jews all around the world during Hanukkah celebrations and are also widely available during the holiday season in supermarkets and bakeries. Whether it’s a traditional raspberry-filled sufganiyot, a chocolate-filled shokolach, or a contemporary custard-filled krembo, Hanukkah jelly donuts provide a delicious tradition that will be cherished for centuries to come.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.