Latke Cookies

It is Day 6 of Chanukah 2022, and I have made precisely ZERO latkes so far during this holiday week. Eaten, yes; cooked, nope. I am planning to this weekend, but since my winter break from school started very late this year (today!), I haven’t gotten to the mess of grating and frying just yet. […]

Black Cocoa Halva Israeli Swirl Cookies

For Chanukah this year, I was mulling over what to bake, probably some kind of rugelach? Or maybe I’d try black-and-white cookies finally? But then Shannon Sarna’s Modern Jewish Comfort Food arrived, and all of that went right out the window because her beautiful new book includes a recipe for “Israeli Swirl Cookies” with two […]

Black Sesame Coconut Rugelach Spirals

I’ve always been one to dabble in different cultures. I was born in Israel, raised in California, studied in Boston and Paris, and I travel as much as I possibly can in my adult life. I’ve always connected best with others who have a connection to another culture or language. It’s such a vast world, […]

S’mores Rugelach Smash Cookies

Sometimes it just depends how you look at things. What might seem like a disaster at first is actually a gift of serendipity. I was trying to make s’mores rugelach for Chanukah, and I ended up with a shambles of flattened, messy, busted-up puddles. But… OMG THEY TASTED SO GOOD. I didn’t have the heart […]

Chocolate-Halva Babka

As much as I love contemporary baking like layer cakes, cupcakes, and pastries, there are few baked goods that conjure childhood nostalgia like babka. Aside from my mom’s birthday cakes shaped in the number of my age each year, the most memorable and most loved cake that she made (and the most labor-intensive) was her “ugat-sh’marim”, or yeast […]

Hanukkah Roll Call: Chocolate Pistachio Nutella Rugelach

It’s Hanukkah this week, which means it’s time for rugelach, people. I really can’t say why I don’t eat rugelach much during the rest of the year; there’s no actual reason not to, and a host of reason to eat them. But for some reason, I relegate these cookie rolls primarily for the Jewish Festival of Lights. And […]

When Winter Holidays Collide: Gingerbread Speculoos Rugelach

I grew up celebrating Chanukah, and frankly all things Christmas were discouraged in our home… but secretly, I always thought Christmas was beautiful… and delicious. The brightly colored sugar cookies, swirly candy canes, and gingerbread soldiers always looked so tempting, and I made a point of partaking whenever possible. Fortunately, there was no shortage of […]