Doughnuts in Cardamom Syrup
These doughnuts, from Esther Sabach, Rachel Klein's boyfriend's mother, are a nod to Sephardic Jewish tradition.
GO TO RECIPEToffee Matzo
This fast, genius dessert uses store-bought matzo as the instant base for homemade toffee.
GO TO RECIPESweet Noodle Kugel with Dried Cherries
Noodle kugel is a traditional Jewish recipe served for dessert or as a side dish. Although it's made with cottage cheese, it develops a custardy texture as it bakes slowly in a ceramic dish. Here, Grace Parisi uses corn flakes and pecans to make a crunchy topping.
GO TO RECIPEEkmek Kadayif (Cream-Filled Doughnuts with Pistachios)
These Turkish doughnuts have become a staple on the Arazis' Hanukkah table. The fried doughnuts, which are denser than traditional American doughnuts, are soaked in a sugar syrup for 6 hours, then sliced and filled with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
GO TO RECIPERaspberry Rugelach
Using a family rugelach recipe, chef Jenn Louis combines tart raspberry jam and crunchy almonds in a rich, flaky cream cheese dough.
GO TO RECIPEDunked Dulce de Leche Doughnuts
Dulce de leche, a sweet, caramelized milk, flavors both these gluten-free doughnuts and their glaze.
GO TO RECIPEHalvah-Stuffed Challah
Blogger Molly Yeh fills this braided bread with a mix of halvah (the confection made with crushed sesame seeds and honey) and tahini. Yeh recommends using an extra-smooth, pourable tahini (Whole Foods' 365 brand is a good bet), but if your tahini is cakey and thick, she advises mi it with warm water until spreadable.
GO TO RECIPESweet Potato Doughnuts
Baking the doughnuts and tossing them with a little butter, cinnamon and sugar makes them healthier than fried doughnuts. The sweet potato in the dough adds a lovely, earthy flavor. Instead of slowly baking the potato in the oven, microwave it for just 10 minutes.
GO TO RECIPECoconut Macaroons
These sweet and chewy two-bite macaroons have only five ingredients (not including the delicious bittersweet-chocolate drizzle). Baker Danny Cohen, a.k.a. Danny Macaroons, doesn't think all macaroons have to be round." Make whatever shape you want," he says. "There are no rules."
GO TO RECIPESfinj (Moroccan Doughnuts)
These luscious doughnuts are crispy on the outside and very fluffy and airy on the inside. They're usually served dipped in sugar or honey, but Leetal and Ron Arazi love to serve them with a saffron and cardamom syrup.
GO TO RECIPEChocolate Babka
This amazing chocolate babka from pastry chef Melissa Weller at Sadelle's in New York City gets extra flavor in the swirl from chocolate cookie crumbs. As a bonus, the tender-crumbed babka is topped with a thick and luscious chocolate glaze.
GO TO RECIPEDoughnut Holes with Raspberry Jam
Chef-owner Ginevra Iverson of Restaurant Eloise in Sonoma County, California, serves her light, crisp, sugared doughnut holes with sweet-tart raspberry jam. She won't send any imperfect doughnut holes into the dining room; misshapen ones, she says, become snacks for the kitchen crew: "They get slathered with jam and devoured by whomever gets to them first."
GO TO RECIPEAlmond and Carrot Cake
Because it's not overly sweet or rich, this dessert--a cross between a coarse-textured flourless nut cake and a carrot cake--would be perfect with a glass of sweet wine.
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