( or , ; : , Hebrew: , , or in Yiddish ) is a round

jelly doughnut A jelly doughnut, or jam doughnut, is a doughnut with a fruit preserve filling. Varieties include the German ''Berliner (pastry), Berliner'', the Polish ''pączki'', the Jewish ''sufganiyot'', the Southern European ''krafne'' and the Italian '' ...

eaten around the world during the

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

festival of

Hanukkah Hanukkah (, ; ''Ḥănukkā'' ) is a Jewish holidays, Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd ce ...

. The doughnut is deep-fried, injected with

jam Fruit preserves are preparations of fruits whose main preserving agent is sugar and sometimes acid, often stored in glass jars and used as a condiment or spread. There are many varieties of fruit preserves globally, distinguished by the meth ...

custard Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on sweetened milk, cheese, or cream cooked with Eggs as food, egg or egg yolk to thicken it, and sometimes also flour, corn starch, or gelatin. Depending on the recipe, custard may vary in con ...

, and then topped with

powdered sugar Powdered sugar, also called confectioners' sugar and icing sugar, is a finely ground sugar produced by milling granulated sugar into a powdered state. It usually contains between 2% and 5% of an anti-caking agent—such as corn starch, potato ...

. The doughnut recipe originated in Europe in the 16th century, and by the 19th century was known as a

Berliner Berliner is most often used to designate a citizen of Berlin, Germany Berliner may also refer to: People * Berliner (surname) Places * Berliner Lake, a lake in Minnesota, United States * Berliner Philharmonie, concert hall in Berlin, Germany ...

in Germany and a

Religieuse A religieuse () is a French pastry made of a small choux pastry case stacked on top of a larger one, both filled with , commonly flavoured with chocolate or mocha. Each case is topped with a ganache of the same flavour as the filling, then at ...

in France.

Polish Jews The history of the Jews in Poland dates back at least 1,000 years. For centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most significant Jews, Jewish community in the world. Poland was a principal center of Jewish culture, because of the long pe ...

, who called it a '' ponchki'', fried the doughnut in

schmaltz Schmaltz (also spelled schmalz or shmalz) is rendered (clarified) chicken or goose fat. It is an integral part of traditional Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, where it has been used for centuries in a wide array of dishes, such as chicken soup, l ...

rather than

lard Lard is a Quasi-solid, semi-solid white fat product obtained by rendering (animal products), rendering the adipose tissue, fatty tissue of a domestic pig, pig.

due to

kashrut (also or , ) is a set of Food and drink prohibitions, dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to halakha, Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed ko ...

laws. The ''ponchik'' was brought to

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

by Polish Jewish immigrants, where it was renamed the based on the

Talmud The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...

's description of a "spongy dough".

Background

On Hanukkah,

Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

observe the custom of eating fried foods in commemoration of the

miracle A miracle is an event that is inexplicable by natural or scientific lawsOne dictionary define"Miracle"as: "A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divi ...

associated with the

Temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a place of worship, a building used for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. By convention, the specially built places of worship of some religions are commonly called "temples" in Engli ...

oil. The tradition of eating deep-fried pastries on Hanukkah was considered ancient even in the time of the 12th-century rabbi

Maimonides Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (, ) and also referred to by the Hebrew acronym Rambam (), was a Sephardic rabbi and Jewish philosophy, philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah schola ...

, whose father, Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef, wrote that "one must not make light of the custom of eating ''sofganim'' ritterson Chanukah. It is a custom of the ''Kadmonim'' he ancient ones. These ''sofganim'' were likely syrup-soaked fried cakes, akin to modern '' zalabiya'' in the

Arab world The Arab world ( '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, comprises a large group of countries, mainly located in West Asia and North Africa. While the majority of people in ...

Etymology

The Hebrew word ''sufganiyah'' is a

neologism In linguistics, a neologism (; also known as a coinage) is any newly formed word, term, or phrase that has achieved popular or institutional recognition and is becoming accepted into mainstream language. Most definitively, a word can be considered ...

for pastry, based on the

ic words ''sofgan'' and ''sfogga'', which refer to a "spongy dough". The word is built on the same root as the Modern Hebrew word for sponge (, ''sfog''), which is derived from .

Sfenj Sfenj (from the Arabic word , meaning sponge) is a Maghrebi doughnut: a light, spongy ring of dough fried in oil. Sfenj is eaten plain, sprinkled with sugar, or soaked in honey. It is a well-known dish in the Maghreb and is traditionally made and ...

, a Moroccan doughnut, comes from the same root. A popular Israeli folktale holds that the word "''sufganiyah''" comes from the Hebrew expression "''Sof Gan Yud-Heh''" (""), meaning "the end of the Garden of the

Lord Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power (social and political), power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the Peerage o ...

" (referring to the

Garden of Eden In Abrahamic religions, the Garden of Eden (; ; ) or Garden of God ( and ), also called the Terrestrial Paradise, is the biblical paradise described in Genesis 2–3 and Ezekiel 28 and 31.. The location of Eden is described in the Book of Ge ...

). According to the legend, when

Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...

were cast out of the Garden by the Lord, He cheered them up by feeding them ''sufganiyot''. No known commentator on the

Tanakh The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
. ''

History

According to food historian

Gil Marks Gilbert Stanley Marks (; May 30, 1952 – December 5, 2014) was an American food writer and historian noted for his reference and cookbooks on the subject of Jewish food. He was the founding editor of ''Kosher Gourmet'' magazine. He moved to Isra ...

, the recipe for a filled jelly doughnut was first published in a 1485 cookbook in

Nuremberg Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...

. The "Gefüllte Krapfen" consisted of "a bit of jam sandwiched between two rounds of yeast bread dough and deep-fried in lard". This doughnut became popular in northern European countries from Denmark to Russia during the 16th century. In 19th-century Germany it began to be called a

or a Bismarck, after German Chancellor

Otto von Bismarck Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (; born ''Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck''; 1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898) was a German statesman and diplomat who oversaw the unification of Germany and served as ...

. Among

, the jelly doughnut was fried in oil or

rather than lard, due to

laws. In Poland, these doughnuts were known as '' ponchkis''. Polish Jewish immigrants to

Mandatory Palestine Mandatory Palestine was a British Empire, British geopolitical entity that existed between 1920 and 1948 in the Palestine (region), region of Palestine, and after 1922, under the terms of the League of Nations's Mandate for Palestine. After ...

brought along their recipe as well as the tradition of eating them on Hanukkah. In

, however, they took on a new name—''sufganiyot''—based on the Talmud's description of a "spongy dough" (see the Etymology section).

Description

The ''ponchik''-style ''sufganiyah'' was originally made from two circles of dough surrounding a jelly filling, stuck together and fried in one piece. Although this method is still practiced, an easier technique commonly used today is to deep-fry whole balls of dough, and then inject them with a filling through a baker's syringe (or a special industrial machine). Modern-day ''sufganiyot'' in Israel are made from sweet yeast dough, filled with plain red jelly (usually strawberry, sometimes raspberry), and topped with powdered sugar. Fancier versions are stuffed with

dulce de leche ''Dulce de leche'' (), caramelized milk, milk candy, or milk jam is a confection commonly consumed after slowly heating sugar and milk over several hours. The substance takes on a spreadable, sauce-like consistency and derives its rich flavour ...

, chocolate cream, vanilla cream, cappuccino,

halva Halva (also halvah, halwa, halua, and other spellings; ) is a type of confectionery that is widely spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, Central Asia, and South Asia. The name is used for a broad va ...

, creme espresso,

chocolate truffle A chocolate truffle is a French chocolate confectionery traditionally made with a chocolate ganache center and coated in cocoa powder, coconut, or chopped nuts. A chocolate truffle is handrolled into a spherical or ball shape. The name der ...

, or '' araq'', and topped with various extravagant toppings, from coconut shavings and tiny vials of liquor to

meringue Meringue ( , ) is a type of dessert or candy, of French cuisine, French origin, traditionally made from Whisk, whipped egg whites and sugar, and occasionally an acid, acidic ingredient such as lemon, vinegar, or potassium bitartrate, cream of t ...

and fruit pastes. In 2014 one Jerusalem bakery produced ''sufganiyah'' dough saturated with flavored

vodka Vodka ( ; is a clear distilled beverage, distilled alcoholic beverage. Its varieties originated in Poland and Russia. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impurities and flavourings. Traditionally, it is ...

. File:Deep-frying sufganiyot.jpg, A baker deep-fries ''sufganiyot'' at the

Mahane Yehuda Market Mahane Yehuda Market (), often referred to as "The Shuk" (), is a marketplace (originally open-air, but now partially covered) in Jerusalem. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the market's more than 250 vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetable ...

, Jerusalem. File:Sufganiyot at Mahane Yehuda shuk.jpg, Powdered and iced sufganiyot for sale in Jerusalem before Hanukkah 2014 File:Sufganiyot-roladin.jpg, Sufganiyot from Roladin, an Israeli bakery chain

Mini sufganiyot

In 2016, Israeli bakeries began downsizing ''sufganiyot'' to appeal to health-conscious consumers, following an anti-junk food campaign by Health Minister

Yaakov Litzman Yaakov Noach Litzman (; born 2 September 1948) is an American-born Israeli politician and former government minister. A follower of the Ger Hasidic dynasty, he heads Agudat Yisrael, part of the United Torah Judaism alliance, in the Knesset. He ...

. The usual size, packing 400 to 600 calories (1,700 to 2,500 kJ), now appears in size with different fillings and toppings, earning the name "mini".

Popularity

In Israel

Until the 1920s, ''sufganiyot'' and

latkes A latke ( ''latke''; sometimes romanized ''latka'', lit. "pancake") is a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah. It is commonly eaten in Israel and the Jewish diaspo ...

were of comparable popularity among Jews in

during the Hanukkah holiday. The

Histadrut Histadrut, fully the New General Workers' Federation () and until 1994 the General Federation of Labour in the Land of Israel (, ''HaHistadrut HaKlalit shel HaOvdim B'Eretz Yisrael''), is Israel's national trade union center and represents the m ...

, Israel's national labor union, formed in 1920, pushed to replace the homemade latke with the ''sufganiyah'' as Israel's quintessential Hanukkah food to provide more work for its members. Commercial bakeries began selling ''sufganiyot'' days and weeks before Hanukkah began, lengthening the employment period. Their effort was successful, and ''sufganiyot'' became the most popular food for Hanukkah in Israel. By the 21st century, more Israeli Jews report eating ''sufganiyot'' on Hanukkah than fasting on

Yom Kippur Yom Kippur ( ; , ) is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei, corresponding to a date in late September or early October. For traditional Jewish people, it is primarily centered on atonement and ...

. Today ''sufganiyot'' are sold by Israeli bakeries as early as September. Angel Bakeries, the largest bakery in Israel, reportedly fries up more than 25,000 ''sufganiyot'' every day during the eight-day Hanukkah festival itself. Each batch uses of dough and makes 1,600 ''sufganiyot''. Local newspapers add to the excitement by rating the "best ''sufganiyah'' in town". The Ministry of Defense buys upwards of 400,000 ''sufganiyot'' for its soldiers each Hanukkah. As the troops overwhelmingly prefer jelly-filled doughnuts, the Defense Ministry purchases 80% with jelly filling and 20% with chocolate filling. File:PikiWiki Israel 46141 Sarona Market.JPG, ''Sufganiyot'' for sale at a stall in the Sarona Market File:Safed Jewish Boy.jpg, A

haredi Haredi Judaism (, ) is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that is characterized by its strict interpretation of religious sources and its accepted (Jewish law) and traditions, in opposition to more accommodating values and practices. Its members are ...

boy eats a ''sufganiyah'' in the old city of

Safed Safed (), also known as Tzfat (), is a city in the Northern District (Israel), Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of up to , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and in Israel. Safed has been identified with (), a fortif ...

. File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - 2011 Hanukkah Celebrations.jpg, Israeli soldiers enjoying ''sufganiyot'' as part of their Hanukkah festivities

In other Jewish communities

Sufganiyot are a relatively recent introduction to the United States, where

are the traditional Hanukkah food. According to

, latke was still the dominant choice in American Jewish homes in 2012. Rabbi Levi Shemtov in 2019 said, "Latkes used to dominate in the U.S., while doughnuts dominated in Israel. Now, I think both are equally popular in the U.S." The ''sufganiyah'' was introduced by American Jews who had visited or studied in Israel, and by Israeli Jews who had settled in the U.S. While ''sufganiyot'' were not commercially available in the United States before the 1970s, today bakeries in many Jewish communities sell ''sufganiyot'', as do non-kosher bakeries. The doughnut chains

Dunkin' Donuts DD IP Holder LLC, doing business as Dunkin', and originally Dunkin' Donuts, is an American multinational coffee and doughnut company, as well as a quick service restaurant. It was founded by Bill Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 19 ...

and

Krispy Kreme Krispy Kreme, Inc. (previously Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.) is an American multinational doughnut company and coffeehouse chain. Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph (1915–1973), who bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans ch ...

purvey ''sufganiyot'' in their kosher-certified outlets. ''Sufganiyot'' are also sold in kosher shops in Europe. Smaller Jewish communities in Russia and Ukraine organize special "community bakes" to prepare ''sufganiyot'' for school and kindergarten parties.

Savory varieties

Savory ''sufganiyot'' also exist. In 2018, ''

The Jerusalem Post ''The Jerusalem Post'' is an English language, English-language Israeli broadsheet newspaper based in Jerusalem, Israel, founded in 1932 during the Mandate for Palestine, British Mandate of Mandatory Palestine, Palestine by Gershon Agron as ''Th ...

'' reported on a new trend of savory ''sufganiyot'' in

Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...

eateries, in which the dough is filled with chicken

schnitzel Schnitzel () is a thin slice of meat. The meat is usually thinned by pounding with a meat tenderizer. Most commonly, the meat is breaded before frying. Breaded schnitzel is popular in many countries and is made using veal, pork, Chicken as foo ...

, lamb bacon, liver, or pastrami. Other savory varieties include: *''

Panzerotti Panzerotti, also known as panzarotti, are Italian savory bread product, originating in the Apulia region, which resemble small calzones, both in shape and in the dough used for their preparation. The term usually applies to a fried turnover ra ...

'' in Italy, filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce. * ''Lachmazikas'' in Spain, filled with everything from lamb and mushrooms to whitefish, ricotta, peppers, and herbs. * '' Sambusa''-inspired savory ''sufganiyot'', filled with lentils and peas, are popular among

Iraqi Jews The history of the Jews in Iraq (, ', ; , ) is documented from the time of the Babylonian captivity . Iraqi Jews constitute one of the world's oldest and most historically significant Jewish communities. The Jewish community in Mesopotamia, kn ...

in Israel.

Gallery

File:Mini sufganiyot.jpg, Elegantly-styled "mini" ''sufganiyot'' File:Sufganiyah-Roland.jpg, Fancy sufganiyot File:Sufganiyot at Jerusalem Central Bus station.jpg, Sufganiyot from a bakery in

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

Notes

References

External links

Making non-traditional sufganiyot
: a demonstration video with Phyllis Glazer
Sufganiyot – The Best

The best Hanukkah sufganiyot in Israel
{{Doughnut Doughnuts Hanukkah foods Hanukkah traditions Israeli desserts Jewish baked goods Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine Hebrew words and phrases Christmas food