Sufganiyot (Orange-Scented Jelly Doughnuts) Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Claudia Roden

Adapted by Julia Moskin

Sufganiyot (Orange-Scented Jelly Doughnuts) Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour, plus chilling and rising
Rating
4(516)
Notes
Read community notes

Some Jewish foods take a lifetime to love. It can take years of practice to truly enjoy the baby food flavor and clammy texture of gefilte fish. And as festive desserts go, the dry honey cakes baked for the Jewish New Year are hardly alluring. This may explain why American Jews have enthusiastically embraced a Hanukkah treat popular in Israel, sufganiyot, or, as we know them, jelly doughnuts. Fragrant with sugar and jam, sufganiyot (the plural of sufganiya) have become a sweeter symbol of the holiday, especially for children. —Julia Moskin

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Ingredients

Yield:12 doughnuts

  • ¼cup lukewarm milk or water
  • 1teaspoon dry yeast
  • 3tablespoons sugar
  • 1whole egg plus 1 egg yolk
  • 3tablespoons sour cream or vegetable oil
  • ¼teaspoon salt
  • ¼teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Freshly grated zest of ½ orange
  • 1⅔cups flour, more as needed
  • ½cup thick raspberry or strawberry jam
  • Vegetable oil for deep-frying
  • Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (12 servings)

143 calories; 2 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 27 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 11 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 63 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Sufganiyot (Orange-Scented Jelly Doughnuts) Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Place milk or water in small bowl. Sprinkle yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar over milk. Set aside until frothy, about 10 minutes.

  2. Step

    2

    In a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat remaining sugar with egg and egg yolk. Add sour cream, salt, vanilla extract, orange zest and yeast mixture, and mix well. With mixer running, gradually add flour. Mix until dough is soft, smooth and elastic, adding flour if dough seems very sticky, 3 to 5 minutes. Do not add more than an additional 3 tablespoons flour; dough will be somewhat sticky, but will firm up in refrigerator. Place in an oiled bowl, cover, and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.

  3. Step

    3

    On a floured surface, roll out dough to ½-inch thickness. Use a biscuit or a cookie cutter to cut out 2-inch rounds, placing them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Reroll scraps and cut again. Let rise in a warm place 30 minutes.

  4. Step

    4

    In a heavy pot, heat 3 inches of oil to 365 degrees; when hot enough, a small piece of dough will brown on bottom in 30 seconds. If too hot, doughnuts will brown outside before cooking through. Working in batches, fry doughnuts until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels and dust with sugar while still warm. Let oil come back to 365 degrees between batches.

  5. Step

    5

    If you have a pastry bag, fit with a small round tip and spoon jam into bag. When doughnuts are cool enough to handle, use tip of bag (or pointed tip of a serrated knife) to make a hole in bottom of doughnut. Squeeze or use a small spoon to nudge ½ teaspoon jam into hole. Repeat with remaining doughnuts and serve immediately. Dust again with powdered sugar.

Ratings

4

out of 5

516

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Lynnette

I made these two nights in a row. They are awesome and delicious. I doubled the warm milk and yeast, mostly because every other jelly donut recipe I read called for a whole packet of yeast. I used closer to 2 cups of flour. The dough was really pretty sticky, but rolled out with flour just fine. I made the dough a night before, which was fine too. I just gave plenty of time to rise added cutting rounds. They were delicious. A new Chanukah tradition in our home! Piped nutella and raspberry jam!

Brian

I use a squeeze bottle (like old fashioned diner ketchup) to fill them so even the kids can help fill them. You can find empty ones at any cooking store. Also, try lemon curd as filling. Yum

Al

I rolled them too thin and got tough, dry balls of bread. Do it like Lynette: more yeast, etc.

Kate

Made these smaller than specified in the recipe: they were one-and-a-half-inch rounds, which resulted in cute little balls when they fried up. I used my deep fryer. Finished them with vanilla sugar. They were very yummy and the perfect end to a Hanukkah meal.

Melissa

I made these today exactly as written. The dough was so soft that it almost looked like a batter, but it firmed up in the fridge just as promised and it rolled out beautifully. You don’t need extra yeast for these. The dough may not look like it has risen much, but when they hit hot oil, they puff out just gorgeously. And the orange zest gives them such a beautiful scent,Trust the recipe. It’s excellent. And so easy.

Jfrish

It would be very helpful to have weights.

JMWD

Made as instructed without modification and they turned out great. Used King Arthur all purpose flour and weighed out 200 grams. Added 1 tbsp of flour in the final mixing step, which I did on medium speed for around 4 and a half minutes. Note the dough didn’t pull away from the sides of the bowl into a bowl. Made 6 strawberry and 6 dulce de leche.

Pamela

These were absolutley delicious! I live in israel and sufganiot are every where but nothing compares to homemade. The orange zest adds a great taste. The dough was nice and light. We made small ones with lots of raspberry jam. They were gobbled up before they as soom as they were ready. It is well worth the effort.

Cheryl

Made with sour cream instead of milk. Didn't have a thermometer so watched it closely so they wouldn't burn. Turned out great with hazelnut-chocolate filling. Delicious and worth the effort, even for a non-donut eater.

Lynda

Could I use an "hot air fryer" for these?

Kate

Can these be made ahead? They sound like the kind of thing that needs to be eaten the day they are fried; but it would be lovely to make them the day before.

Neomi

My guess is that you used too much flour. A cup of all purpuce flour is 4 1/4 oz. If you pack your cup it will be way more, resulting in bas dough.

elle

Fried dough is in every culture. Zeppoli in Italy, funnel cake, it's all over.

Amy

I added the maximum flour called for and let it sit in the fridge longer than required and the dough was still crazy sticky. Next time will make with more flour!Little hack: after cutting and resting on parchment, cut each donut on its own piece of parchment and transfer directly to the oil, ON the parchment. The parchment will peel off on its own thanks to the oil, even if still super sticky!

Zoe

I followed Lynette’s suggestion about adding more yeast, it definitely needed that and more flour. I probably didn’t add as much as I should but still close to 2 cups. It was really sticky and the donuts came out a bit misshapen because of it. Still delicious though! It was a huge hit.

Davida Mone

my mom, God rests her soul, filled them with a thick creme patisiere! delicious!

Joe P

The dough I made with this recipe was amazing. I followed the recipe very closely, but used extra orange zest. My family absolutely loved the doughnuts.Would love to hear if anyone tried using or modifying the recipe to use convection oven (or any other way of cooking without frying in oil)…

Pamela

These were fantastic! I also doubled yeast and milk (oat milk) and was so excited by the results. I used avocado oil and only heated 2 inches at the most, and the frying went swimmingly. Very excited to try lemon curd inside (actually just made some mango curd, so will use this in our New Year's Eve donuts!) I never imagined I would/could make donuts, so this is a wonderful culinary development in my kitchen :)

Maman Canadienne

This goes without saying, but try the recipe as written first before making any alterations! I followed others’ advice and doubled the milk and yeast. I did get very light and fluffy sufganiyot- but the raw dough, even after overnight chilling in the fridge was still very soft & tricky to work with. They fried up nicely, if not slightly misshapen, with a great texture, but tasted overly proofed. It needed more sugar - probably because I doubled the yeast. I should have just trusted the recipe!

LG

Made this recipe 2x at altitude. 1st as is, 2nd:- took advice of 2x the milk and yeast (milk at ~105ish degrees. stir in sugar then sprinkle yeast. wait 10)- 2 tbsp white sugar- 2 tsp brown sugar- 1/3 orange zest- 3x vanilla Confirming dough is extremely sticky. Use A LOT of flour before rolling. Took advice and cut the parchment into squares. It does separate in the oil. I used a lower heat and flipped by watching for browning. Filled w raspberry jam folded into whipped cream!

betsy b

My first effort with deep fried dough-y treats and I’ll give myself a B Flavor was delightful and I trusted all these comments that the very sticky dough (batter?) would gain more structure overnight in the fridge and it did, my question ….. size? I cut 2 inch diameter rounds and they were like little balls. And I got like 20 of them. Does 2 inches refer to sone other geometric configuration that I’m missing?Good learning ….: I’ll keep at it!

Abigail

The sufganiyot pictured are definitely not cut from “2 inch rounds”. Perhaps they meant 2 inch radius?I followed instructions to the T, they turned out lovely but will definitely be cutting them into 4 inch rounds next time…

Leah

I have not found the right answer for which jelly to buy. Each I have tried wasn't the answer. Which do you recommend?

Zoe

I followed Lynette’s suggestion about adding more yeast, it definitely needed that and more flour. I probably didn’t add as much as I should but still close to 2 cups. It was really sticky and the donuts came out a bit misshapen because of it. Still delicious though! It was a huge hit.

Bess

Double this recipe!! Don't be like me and have guests spilling jelly over themselves as they try to split the last one :). Use less sugar than recommended; the filling (I used quality raspberry jam) and sugar dusting will make it sweet enough and anything more would overpower. For textural reasons, I wish I'd followed the recipe's temperature directions more faithfully — maybe next time!

danny k

Made this tonight for a chanukah gathering and they went over great! One note i’d share is on yield– following the recipe as directed only yielded me eight donuts. i cut them with the rim of a cup, maybe 2.25 inches, so I know it wasn’t exactly according to recipe, but i was still surprised by how little dough it produced. otherwise seemed to rise and cook as expected, and came out nice!

JMWD

Made as instructed without modification and they turned out great. Used King Arthur all purpose flour and weighed out 200 grams. Added 1 tbsp of flour in the final mixing step, which I did on medium speed for around 4 and a half minutes. Note the dough didn’t pull away from the sides of the bowl into a bowl. Made 6 strawberry and 6 dulce de leche.

Sophie

Used peach/rhubarb and strawberry jam. Strawberry was a little too chunky for the pastry nausle.

Emily in France

I made half of the recipe and they were great! In my family we just put sugar on top and don’t bother with the jam.

Melissa

I made these today exactly as written. The dough was so soft that it almost looked like a batter, but it firmed up in the fridge just as promised and it rolled out beautifully. You don’t need extra yeast for these. The dough may not look like it has risen much, but when they hit hot oil, they puff out just gorgeously. And the orange zest gives them such a beautiful scent,Trust the recipe. It’s excellent. And so easy.

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Sufganiyot (Orange-Scented Jelly Doughnuts) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between sufganiyot and Jelly Donuts? ›

There's no technical difference between a sufganiyah and any other jelly donut, except in name. And while I tend to prefer a brioche-based donut, this version from Uri is lovely. It's lighter than brioche, with less butter and eggs, and the dough is flavored with orange juice and zest and brandy.

What is sufganiyot made of? ›

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.

What is the secret for soft doughnuts? ›

There's only one way to make doughnuts even softer and fluffier and that is by scalding some of the flour. Scalding is a technique used to not only make bread softer, but also to make it stay soft for longer. You can use it for pretty much any recipe you like.

Why do Jews eat sufganiyot? ›

Called sufganiyot in Hebrew, this confection is a Chanukah treat throughout the Jewish world. Deep-fried jelly doughnuts recall the oil that burned miraculously for eight days in the second-century BCE Temple in Jerusalem.

What are jelly donuts called in the Midwest? ›

The Central Pastry Paczki

Every year just before Mardi Gras — also known as Fat Tuesday— people in the Midwest begin crying out for jelly doughnuts. The tradition is Polish, but it's honored in many different communities all around the world.

What flavor jelly is in donuts? ›

jelly donuts. We absolutely LOVE using Bonne Maman's preservers for these classic jelly donuts (strawberry or raspberry are my favorite), but you can really use whatever kind you like! I do recommend using something that isn't too chunky to avoid any blockages in your piping when you are filling your donuts!

What is a German jelly donut called? ›

Krapfen

What are Polish jelly donuts called? ›

Pączki are very rich donuts, deep fried and then filled with fruit or cream filling and covered with powdered sugar or icing.

What is the best flour for donuts? ›

Use real cake flour – not DIY cake flour!

DIY substitutions don't really cut it, and AP flour will not create doughnuts with that same soft texture. Also, bleached cake flour will work best. Unbleached (like King Arthur Baking) won't absorb as much moisture, and you may end up with doughnuts that crumble while frying.

What is the best oil for donuts? ›

Vegetable oil is the go-to choice for many good reasons. Besides being cheap and easy to find, it has no problem handling high temperatures with a smoke point of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit — well above temperatures needed to brown donuts.

What makes Krispy Kreme donuts so fluffy? ›

A batch of original glazed starts with Krispy Kreme doughnut mix, water and yeast, the same single-cell fungi used to make bread rise. The yeast is what makes the original glazed so light -- it puffs the dough up with air, so it's not dense like a cake doughnut (more on this later).

What's the difference between paczki and sufganiyot? ›

Sufganiyot vs Paczki

While paczki are fried in lard, sufganiyot are fried in schmaltz (clarified chicken fat) as lard does not follow the kashrut laws of Judaism. Plus, sufganiyot are usually served on Hanukkah, while paczki are saved for Fat Tuesday or Tlusty Czwartek.

What does sufganiyot mean in Hebrew? ›

They were trying to come up with foods and traditions that were distinctly Israeli. And Nathan imagines those guys sitting around and just spitballing new customs, like sufganiyot. It means sponge because doughnuts soak up oil.

Why do Jews eat potato pancakes on Hanukkah? ›

These potato pancakes (called latkes) are meant to symbolize the miracle of Hanukkah, when the oil of the menorah in the ransacked Second Temple of Jerusalem was able to stay aflame for eight days even though there was only enough oil for one day. The symbolism comes in the form of the oil in which latkes are fried.

What is the connection between Hanukkah and Jelly Donuts? ›

These deep-fried delicacies have become popular in Israel as a way to symbolize the miracle of the oil lamps that burned one day's supply of oil for eight days in the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

What's the difference between paczki and Jelly Donuts? ›

The difference between paczki and donuts is the ingredients in their dough. Paczki uses an extra amount of enriching ingredients, yeast, grain alcohol, and high-gluten flour. Together, these create a richer-than-brioche dough, but far chewier with little to no crumbs.

What is another name for a jelly filled donut? ›

A jelly doughnut, or jam donut, is a doughnut with a fruit preserve filling. Varieties include the Polish pączki, the German Berliner, the Israeli sufganiyot, the Southern European krafne and the Italian bombolone.

What is the difference between the two types of doughnuts? ›

The Obvious Difference

Yeast doughnuts, as the name clearly spells out, are made from dough leavened with yeast (think brioche), whereas cake doughnuts are traditionally made from a kind of cake batter that uses a chemical leavener (i.e. baking powder or baking soda).

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