Sufganiyot, the traditional Chanukah donut, have been around for thousands of years. Lucky for us, Israelis are an innovative bunch, re-imagining this classic treat with very 2019 toppings (including chocolate syringes!), fillings and flavors. In Israel, the classic sufganiya means a simple fried donut with fruit jam and powdered sugar - but our favorites are anything but classic.
Chanukah at in Israel means boxes upon boxes of these delectable donuts at the office, pop-up stands around the country, and special websites/catalogs from bakeries dedicated to their donut offerings alone!
Tel Aviv is the perfect place to test the limits of culinary creativity when it comes to these donuts. Here are 6 of our favorites in Tel Aviv (see two outside-of-Tel Aviv picks at the bottom)
Biscotti
While not as ubiquitous as Roladin’s sufganiyot, Biscotti’s flavors hold their own and deserve recognition. With changing flavors every year, Biscotti pushes the envelope with sweet-and-salty offerings like Bamba and Pretzel, and even includes a special Krembo flavor.
Hayarkon 67, Bnei Brak
Sweet Box
Sweet Box doughnuts (check out those pretzels on top!) waiting to be devoured
Sweet Box, one of Tel Aviv’s few dedicated American-style bakeries, has classic donuts all year round (think chocolate with sprinkles!) and are known for their special products around holiday time - they even had Halloween cookies and pumpkin pie for Thanskgiving! Best of all, Sweet Box offers a top-notch goodie box delivery service, meaning you won’t have to brave the cold and rain to get your fix.
Ha-Khalutzim St 6, Tel Aviv
Showroom Bakehouse
Photo: Showroom Bakehouse
One of Tel Aviv’s best place to get daily donuts in non-Hanukkah season, the Brooklyn-style Bakehouse wins in creativity, with flavors like cereal milk and beautiful decorations that accompany delectable donuts with changing themes, like last year’s whimsical Alice in Wonderland. 2019’s theme is Spongebob Squarepants. Not to be missed!
Locations across Tel Aviv
Light and fluffy sufganiyot courtesy of Milk Bakery.
Milk Bakery
Milk Bakery offers a unique brioche dough that is light, fluffy and simply delicious. The Milk Bakery’s sufganiyot fillings are creamy and smooth with classics, as well as the praline or lemon custard insides. Be sure to order in advance, as they only make a limited number of these goodies.
Beit Eshel 5, Jaffa
A sneak peek at Shemo’s 2019 collection.
Shemo
This refined bakery from celebrity baker Miki Shemo brings us syringe-toting sufganiyot with shiny layers of pecans and Amarena cherry cheesecake flavors. The strawberry-vanilla, with fresh strawberries (these are a winter fruit in Israel!) is a fabulous spin on the often too-heavy donuts,
Yehuda HaMacabi 60, Tel Aviv, as well as locations throughout the country
Roladin
Roladin’s pistachio sufganiyot in all their glory.
For many people in Israel, the word sufganiya has become synonymous with Roladin, and for good reason. The hype starts way before the holiday, with billboards on major highways and all around Tel Aviv. Roladin branches even set up special sections outside just for selling sufganiot. People wait in line for hours throughout the holiday to bring home boxes of these colorful, Instagram-friendly treats!
Locations throughout the city, including Dizengoff 49 and Azrieli Center
Outside of Tel Aviv
Special mentions to…
Shany Bakery in Haifa, offering both baked and fried donuts, plus a special millefeuille flavor - their catalog is available here in Hebrew
Cafe Kadosh in Jerusalem offers elegant sufganiyot in a beautiful setting at their classic Jerusalem cafe, including light fruit creams instead of heavy jam classics
The holiday hasn’t even started, and in true Delicious fashion, we are already in full sugar rush. Happy Chanukah!
