Little Book of Jewish Sweets

by Leah Koenig, Linda Pugliese (Photographer)

Beloved cookbook author Leah Koenig brings us the sweetest installment yet in her Little Book series, this time focusing on cookies, cakes, and all manner of sweet Jewish treats. With delectable photography and 25 tasty recipes—from Orange-Chocolate Rugelach and Mocha Black-and-White Cookies to Fig Baklava and Cinnamon-Almond Babka—this slim collectible features traditional Jewish desserts with a modern twist. The year-round recipes are perfect for the home baker of any skill level looking to expand their repertoire. A lovely thank-you or holiday gift on its own, this scrumptious book can also be packaged with its two companion volumes (featuring Jewish appetizers and feasts) to round out any meal.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food and Wine

136 pages, Hardcover

Published July 23, 2019

Reviews

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect beginner’s book for those who are new to the Jewish kitchen or to sweet treats generally. If one is not a novice, it doesn’t have much new to offer.

I tried the recipes for halvah, stuffed dates, challah pudding, and the angel food cake, and all turned out well when made as directed. (Although, angel food cake beginners could probably use slightly more explicit instruction for making sure nothing falls!) The layout is cute and has little extras in sidebars and interstitials. There are little twists on the classics without straying too far from the roots of the recipes, and the book covers a surprisingly broad spectrum of diasporic sweet traditions.

Again, if you’re already a Claudia Roden, Uri Scheft, or Shannon Sarna devotee, this book is unlikely to offer you anything new or notable, but it’s a wonderful starting place for curious newcomers.