Here's where to get sufganiyot or Israeli jelly donuts this Hanukkah in New Jersey
Hanukkah comes early this year – it starts at sundown on Thursday, Dec. 7 and ending the night of Friday, Dec. 15.
The eight nights represent the eight days in which a small amount of oil kept the menorah in Jerusalem's holy Temple lit. To commemorate that miracle, foods fried in oil are served for the holiday. Latkes, of course. And on the sweet side: Sufganiyot.
They're often filled with jelly, but with each holiday season, bakers are getting more creative, introducing remixed fillings like custard and dulce de leche, and toppings like Oreos.
Check out these New Jersey bakeries, shops and restaurants serving mouth-watering sufganiyot:
The Baker's Grove, Shrewsbury
This bakery will be making a flavor of sufganiyot for each day of Hanukkah, including brambleberry jam and custard, passion fruit cream, double chocolate cream, hazelnut cream, spiced apple and more. Pre-order (call or email), or visit the shop to try some.
Go: 524 Broad St., 732-243-3249, [email protected], thebakersgrove.com.
Butterflake Bakeshop, Teaneck
This bakery has a massive Hanukkah selection from traditional sufganiyot (filled with jelly, caramel or just plain; both mini and full-size), other donuts like chocolate brownie and churro, jelly donut challah bread, Menorah-shaped challah, latkes and more. See the complete list of offerings at shopbutterflake.com/collections/chanuakh.
Go: 448 Cedar Lane, 201-836-3516, shopbutterflake.com.
Donuts Time Cafe, Hamilton Square
There are plenty of Hanukkah donuts to chose from here, including the traditional jelly, vanilla or chocolate with Hanukkah-themed blue and white sprinkles, and donuts decorated with a frosting Menorah or Star of David.
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And if donuts aren't enough, how about a donut-shaped cake that feeds 8-10 people? This can be decorated with phrases like "Happy Chanukah/Hanukkah," as well as drawings of the Menorah and Star of David.
Go: 1280 Route 33, 609-838-7976, donutstimecafe.com.
Evergreen Kosher Grocery Store, Lakewood
Considering this is an entire kosher grocery store, you can find tons of goodies to help you celebrate Hanukkah this year, from popular boxed candies and golden coins, to fresh donuts.
Hanukkah donuts come in varieties like blueberry, jelly, vanilla with sprinkles, cinnamon and more. There are also packaged donut fillings like jelly and custard, so you can make your own.
Go: 945 River Ave., 732-370-4500, shopevergreenkosher.com.
Fred and Murry's Kosher Delicatessen, Freehold
This traditional kosher deli is keeping it just that, traditional, for Hanukkah.
Offerings include authentic jelly donuts, as well as the popular latkes (a.k.a. potato pancakes) for the holiday.
Go: 4345 Route 9/Pond Road Plaza, 732-462-3343, fredandmurrysdeli.com.
Gelbstein's Bakery, Lakewood
This kosher bakery has been serving Lakewood since 1934. It offers a wide variety of donuts for Hanukkah including popular types like the classic jelly, custard with chocolate icing, chocolate or vanilla icing with sprinkles, and Oreo. Place orders the week before Hanukkah to ensure availability.
Go: 415 Clifton Ave., 732-363-3636, gelbsteinsbakery.com.
Jerusalem Pizza, Livingston
This kosher-certified Mediterranean restaurant will be making sufganiyot during Hanukkah, with options like powdered sugar filled with jelly, chocolate custard and vanilla custard. Large orders should be placed 2-3 days in advance by phone.
Go: 99 Route 10, 973-533-1424, jerusalemlivingston.com.
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Montclair Bread Co., Montclair
This popular bakery started offering authentic jelly-filled sufganiyot this past weekend, with its first flavor: strawberry. Towards the end of the week, more flavors will be released.
Go: 16 Label St., [email protected], rabblerise.com.
Mordy's Kosher Bakery and Cafe, Highland Park
This kosher bakery has countless authentic Jewish treats, like Hamantaschen (triangular shortbread cookies filled with fruits, nuts or poppy), bourekas (cheesy pastries), and of course, sufganiyot. Try donut flavors like chocolate and vanilla ring, Boston cream, jelly, caramel, and plain decorated with frosting to your liking. For large orders, place by phone a day or two in advance.
Go: 15 North 4th Ave., 732-296-6777, Instagram, Facebook.
Patisserie Florentine, Englewood and Closter
Both locations offer sufganiyot from Dec. 1 through Dec. 17. Flavors include plain, raspberry, dulce de leche, Nutella, and vanilla custard.
Go: For Englewood: 10 South Dean St., 201-408-4890; For Closter: 242 Closter Dock Road, 201-660-8296; patisserieflorentine.com.
Salomon Bakery, Manalapan
This kosher bakery is known for countless Jewish goods, like challah bread, Mandel bread, rugelach (similar to a crescent) and more. While most of the sufganiyot the bakery makes are the traditional jelly, they can also be filled with chocolate, vanilla, dulce de leche and lemon. Place orders by phone to ensure availability.
Go: 300 Gordons Corner Road, 732-536-4500, facebook.com/SalomonsBakery, Instagram.
Sundae Donuts, Long Branch
This is a regular donut shop, not a kosher bakery, but they have a kosher-certification and a whopper of donut box for Hanukkah. Try a dozen decorated with Hanukkah symbols for $40, a half dozen jellies ($25) or full dozen ($45), or a mini donut box of 24 assorted ($45).
Go: 15 Morris Ave. Suite 118 in Pier Village, 732-851-8484, sundaedonutspv.com.
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Super Duper Bagels, Livingston
This bagel shop makes hundreds of sufganiyot every year, with flavors like jelly, custard, plain and mini jelly. Place orders by phone.
Go: 498 South Livingston Ave. Suite 3, 973-533-1703, superduperbagels.com.
Top That! Donuts, Point Pleasant Beach
Another regular donut shop that's getting in on the Hanukkah fun. Try a half dozen decorated blue and white Hanukkah donuts for $25.99 of half for $15.99. Pre-order only.
Go: 210 Ocean Ave. North, 732-899-2552, topthatdonuts.com.
West Orange Bake Shop, West Orange
This popular spot for sufganiyot makes classic flavors like jelly, custard, caramel and chocolate and vanilla glaze.
Go: 480 Pleasant Valley Way, 973-243-1300.
Zadie's Kosher Bake Shop, Fair Lawn
Hanukkah is celebrated in two waves here. Starting this Sunday, Dec. 3, pre-orders for traditional sufganiyot (filled with jelly, custard or caramel) will begin; order them as soon as possible. The shop also makes what they call a jelly donut meltaway, which comes in a pie tin and is made with actual jelly donuts, covered in powdered sugar and drizzled with icing.
But next Wednesday, Dec. 6 is when the party starts. Available first come first serve, in store only, the bake shop will put out zany donut flavors like caramel apple, S'mores, brownie, cookies and cream, and lemon meringue.
Go: 19-09 Fair Lawn Ave., 201-796-6565, zadiesbakeshop.com.
Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Where to get sufganiyot for Hanukkah in New Jersey
