Doughnuts for Chanukah – Good Any Time of Year
Sweet Traditional Cakes for Jewish Festival of Light
Sep 27, 2009
Chanukah (also spelled Chanuka or Hannukah and other variations) is probably the most popular of all Jewish festivals. In the Jewish calendar it begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev, some time during December. Because the Jewish calendar is lunar-based the date will vary each year.
What Does Chanukah Celebrate?
Chanukah celebrates two things:
- firstly, the victory of the Judeans over the Syrian-Greek army who attempted to destroy Judaism in the second century B.C.E., and,
- secondly, while the Maccabees were under siege in the Temple they had enough oil for their holy lamp for one day. In the event, the oil actually burned for eight days. This is commemorated each year by the lighting of the Chanukiah, a nine-branched candelabrum.
Lighting the Chanukah Candles
At sunset on the first evening of the festival one candle is lit. On the second, two candles, and so on, until all eight candles are alight. The ninth candle is the servant (shamash) who lights the other eight. The lighting ceremony is accompanied by blessings and singing and the whole atmosphere is joyful.
In some parts of London (and other cities around the world) Jewish communities place a king-sized Chanukiah on the streets and freshly-fried hot doughnuts are handed out to passers by.
Many other traditions are associated with this festival. In some families every child receives a small gift of money on each of the eight days of the holiday.
Recipes for doughnuts vary around the world but the following is straightforward, sweet and tasty.
Ingredients for Doughnuts:
- ½ cup plus 2 tbsp milk
- ½ cup plus 2 tbsp water
- 1/3 cup unsalted margarine, cut into small chunks
- 5 cups all-purpose flour – do not sift
- 2 packets active dry yeast
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 2 large eggs
- Oil for frying – preferably vegetable oil
- 1 cup jam – usually strawberry jam, but any flavour is good
- Icing sugar, granulated sugar, or granulated sugar mixed with the cinnamon
How to Make the Doughnuts:
- Mix the milk, water and margarine together in a small saucepan. Heat gently until very warm but do not boil. The fat does not need to melt.
- Put two cups of the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, salt, nutmeg (if chosen) and yeast. Mix these ingredients together.
- Add the milk and margarine mixture and blend until smooth. Then, using an electric mixer beat for 2 minutes at the lowest speed.
- Add ½ cup of flour plus the eggs and beat well.
- Slowly add 1½ cups of flour and stir gently to form a soft dough.
- Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured board. Knead until smooth and elastic. This will probably take about 8 minutes. If the dough is sticky add very small amounts of the remaining flour. Take care not to add too much.
- Thoroughly grease a large bowl and place the dough in it. Cover and put in a warm place for approximately 1 to 1½ hours, until it has doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough. Knead for about a minute to remove air bubbles. Cover with an inverted bowl and leave to rest for 15 minutes.
- Roll out the mixture until it is ¼-inch-thick. Using a 3-inch cutter cut out dough rounds.
- Place on a lightly greased baking tray. Lightly brush with oil and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm place for about 45 minutes until doubled in size.
- Fill a deep fryer with oil, at least 1½ inches deep and heat to 375 degrees F. Fry the doughnuts, two or three at a time, until golden brown. Remove and drain on absorbent paper.
- When cooked, make a small slit in the side of each doughnut and, using a pastry bag or a small spoon, inject a small amount of jam inside each doughnut.
- Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, dip into granulated sugar, or sugar mixed with cinnamon.
Enjoy these tasty treats at any time of year.
More Traditional Jewish Recipes
Other traditional Jewish recipes, not specifically reserved just for Chanukah, but popular all year round, are Sweet Carrot Tzimmes and Cheesecake.
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