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Kichel
Kichel (קיכל): crisp, airy bow-tie egg cookies sprinkled with sugar
At kiddush in Ashkenazi synagogues, from Bnei Brak to the old shuls of Haifa, plates of kichel sit beside pickled herring and a small glass of something, and children quietly fill their pockets. The dough is barely sweet, rich in eggs, rolled out on sugar and twisted into bow-ties that puff up hollow and shatter when you bite them. They are good with tea, or with salty herring the traditional way. The common mistake is underbaking: they must dry right through and turn golden, or they go soft and chewy within a day. Chef's tip: roll the dough directly onto a layer of sugar so the crystals press in and caramelise underneath.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup sunflower oil
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- 8 oz plain flourplus extra if needed
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 2 ⅛ oz granulated sugarfor rolling
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line two trays with baking paper.
Step 2: Beat 3 eggs, ¼ cup sunflower oil, 1 tbsp caster sugar and ¼ tsp salt with an electric whisk for 3 minutes until frothy.
3 minStep 3: Stir in 8 oz plain flour and ½ tsp baking powder to a soft, slightly sticky dough. Knead briefly on a floured surface until smooth, adding a little flour only if needed.
Step 4: Scatter half of 1 ¼ oz granulated sugar over the worktop and roll the dough on it to 3 mm thick. Sprinkle the rest of ⅞ oz granulated sugar on top and press in lightly with the pin.
Step 5: Cut into 3 x 7 cm strips, twist each once in the middle to make a bow-tie, and space them on the trays.
Step 6: Bake for 20–25 minutes, until puffed, golden and completely dry; one broken open should be hollow and crisp, not doughy.
22 minStep 7: Cool on a rack and store in an airtight tin for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 25 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kichel take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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