Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (2024)

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Noodle Kugel or Noodle Pudding is a dish commonly served at Jewish holidays or events. I love making my sweet noodle kugel recipe each year for Hanukkah because it is so darn delicious. Plus, if I’m being honest, I enjoy the splurge of calories with all the yummy ingredients like noodles, sugar, butter and eggs that go into making it. If you can’t indulge like this over the holidays, when can you?!?!

It’s the second night of Hanukkah and I’m making my sweet noodle kugel recipe along with some delicious potato latkes as my side dishes for dinner. I’m pretty much counting down the minutes until dinnertime, folks!

Unless you’re Jewish, I’m sure there’s a pretty big chance that you have never heard of noodle kugel. Let me give you a quick lesson about this easy and delicious side dish before I share the recipe with you below. It’s a must try for anyone and everyone!

Kugel, pronounced either koo-gull or kuh-gull, is somewhat similar to a noodle casserole. The preparation is basically the same. You cook some noodles in boiling water, stir together your wet ingredients in a bowl, and then combine the noodles with the wet ingredients before placing it all in a casserole dish and putting it in the oven to bake.

You won’t notice the main difference between noodle kugel and a noodle casserole until it cooks. The consistency of the two is completely different. While a noodle casserole will still be a little wet and runny when cutting into it, noodle kugel is made of a custard filling that holds perfectly together.

Most noodle casseroles also tend to be savory. Noodle kugel can be made savory, but in our family, we go for the sweet variety instead. I’m not exactly sure why, but if I had to guess, it’s probably because there are more calories found in the sweet version.

My family is infamous for going towards the “least unhealthy route” when cooking…a blessing and a curse all at one time!

Sweet noodles might sound a little odd at first, but I promise that you’ll be in love with this dish after one single bite. The flavors of sugar and cinnamon will hit your tongue right away and you’ll be a Kugel Fan, forever. Trust me on this! Have I steered you wrong yet?

The preparation of this recipe is SUPER EASY! If you can boil water and stir ingredients together, you can make this side dish. It takes about 10 minutes to whip everything together and an additional 40 to 45 minutes to cook. You can even prep the noodle kugel ahead of time and cook it off later in the day when you’re ready for dinner.

So what do I need to make this Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe?

12 oz. package of Wide Egg Noodles, 6 eggs, 16 oz. sour cream (try to stay away from Fat-Free), 16 oz. cottage cheese, ½ cup of raisins, ½ cup of sugar (additional to sprinkle on for the topping),1 teaspoon of Cinnamon (additional to sprinkle on for the topping), ¼ cup of melted butter

Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (2)Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees.

Spray a 9×13 casserole dish and put it aside.

Cook your egg noodles in a pot of boiling water for about 4 minutes. Note:This is less than the recommended cooking time on the package.

After 4 minutes, strain the noodles from the water.

Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (3)Place all your other ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (4)Give all the wet ingredients a good stir.

Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (5)Once the wet ingredients are all combined, add your strained noodle to the bowl and mix everything together.

Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (6)Grab your casserole dish and pour your noodle mixture inside of it.

Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (7)Sprinkle the top of the noodle kugel with some cinnamon and sugar.

Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (8)Place the noodle kugel in your preheated 375-degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes. The custard should be set and the top golden brown when done.

Whether you’re Jewish or not, this recipe is a keeper and a must-try! My sweet noodle kugel recipe is so addicting you’ll still find yourself eating it WAY after you’re stomach tells you to stop. It’s just too hard to stop when something tastes this delicious.

I hope I’ve convinced you to try this sweet noodle kugel recipe for yourself. You and your family will love it! And if you want to go all out, may I suggest trying it with these potato latkes and this crockpot brisket from the blog.

Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (10)

Yield: 9x13 Casserole Dish

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

This Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe is the perfect addition to your Hanukkah meal! This easy Chanukah side dish takes only 10 minutes to prepare. Made with egg noodles, sugar, butter, raisins, cinnamon a few more ingredients that will leave you begging for more!

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. package of Wide Egg Noodles, 6 eggs, 16 oz. sour cream (try to stay away from Fat-Free), 16 oz. cottage cheese, ½ cup of raisins, ½ cup of sugar (additional to sprinkle on for the topping),1 teaspoon of Cinnamon (additional to sprinkle on for the topping), ¼ cup of melted butter

Instructions

  1. Begin by preheating your oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish and put it aside.
  3. Cook your egg noodles in a pot of boiling water for about 4 minutes. Note:This is less than the recommended cooking time on the package.
  4. After 4 minutes, strain the noodles from the water.
  5. Place all your other ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  6. Give all the wet ingredients a good stir.
  7. Once the wet ingredients are all combined, add your strained noodle to the bowl and mix everything together.
  8. Grab your casserole dish and pour your noodle mixture inside of it.
  9. Sprinkle the top of the noodle kugel with some cinnamon and sugar.
  10. Place the noodle kugel in your preheated 375-degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes. The custard should be set and the top golden brown when done.

Want to remember this? Post this Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe to your favorite Pinterest board!

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Sweet Noodle Kugel Recipe | Lake Life State of Mind (2024)

FAQs

Why do Jews eat noodle Kugel? ›

As Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz once said, “Jews eat lots of lokshen on Shabbat because noodles are symbolic of the unity of the people of Israel: They are so tangled that they can never be separated.” Noodle kugel may not actually be eaten by all Jews, but it has clearly reached far beyond mere Ashkenazi cuisine.

Why does my noodle Kugel fall apart? ›

Make Sure to Cool Your Kugel

Once it's baked, a kugel needs to cool, otherwise it will fall apart when slicing. Give it at least an hour to cool and set up, then slice and serve it warm or at room temperature.

What does kugel symbolize? ›

And then I read in The Jewish Kitchen: Recipes and Stories from Around the World of a Hasidic rabbi, Pinchas of Koretz (in Galicia), who claimed that lokshen kugel itself symbolizes Jewish unity, since the noodles are all tangled together and are really inseparable, just like the unified Jewish people.

What is the tradition of kugel? ›

Kugels are a mainstay of festive meals in Ashkenazi Jewish homes, particularly on the Jewish Sabbath and other Jewish holidays or at a tish. Some Hasidic Jews believe that eating kugel on the Jewish Sabbath brings special spiritual blessings, particularly if that kugel was served on the table of a Hasidic Rebbe.

What does kugel mean in Yiddish? ›

The name of the dish comes from the Yiddish word kugel meaning 'sphere, globe, ball'; thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round balls of dough that were placed in the center of the cholent, a traditional Shabbat stew, to cook alongside it and absorb its flavors for its later use as a side dish ...

What do Orthodox Jews eat for dessert? ›

There are plenty of desserts that orthodox Jews eat like babka, Lekach, sufganiyot, rugalach, etc.

Is noodle Kugel better hot or cold? ›

Kugel is traditionally served as a side dish alongside something meaty like brisket or roast chicken. In this case it would normally be served warm, but it can also be refrigerated and eaten cold the next day. Sweeter versions can also be eaten hot or cold, and taste great with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.

Is kugel always sweet? ›

And even once you get into the category of noodle kugel (a.k.a. lokshen kugel), you'll find some are sweet, some are savory, and some are in limbo (Jerusalem kugel, for example, is flavored with lots of black pepper and caramelized sugar).

Can you eat noodle Kugel cold? ›

Do You Eat Noodle Kugel Hot or Cold? While noodle kugel should be removed from the oven and cooled for at least 30 minutes after baking, it can be eaten at any temperature.

What is a German kugel? ›

The kugel is the earliest form of German glass Christmas decoration, its predecessor being the “witch ball”, an unsilvered glass sphere hung from windows to ward off evil spirits (supposedly repulsed by round shapes).

Why is kugel eaten at Hanukkah? ›

It commonly makes an appearance on the dinner table during Shavuot (along with bourekas), when it's traditional to consume dairy foods, and Shabbat because it's said that kugel resembles the manna that fell from heaven. It's the perfect side dish for a Hanukkah latke party, adding some richness to the meal.

Is kugel eaten at Hanukkah? ›

Even though kugel is a baked dish, there are multiple reasons for its inclusion on the table on just about every Jewish holiday you can think of. Not only is it often present during Hanukkah celebrations, it is often served on the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and is a staple for Shabbat meals.

How long will kugel last? ›

Potato kugel keeps well in the refrigerator for four to five days, as long as it's covered. You can eat a cold slice right out of the fridge, or reheat it in a 350 F oven, uncovered so the top can crisp, until hot. Kugel will also freeze well.

How long does kugel stay good? ›

This kugel can be baked up to two days before serving; reheat it in a 300 F oven for 15 minutes or so. You also can make the kugel and refrigerate it unbaked for up to a day, then bake it just before serving.

What is a South African kugel? ›

South African slang (usually derogatory). A type of wealthy young (Jewish) woman, characterized as being shallow and materialistic.

Why do Jews eat egg noodles? ›

History. "Jews eat lots of lokshen on Shabbat because noodles are symbolic of the unity of the people of Israel: They are so tangled that they can never be separated."

Why do Jews eat gefilte? ›

Jewish. Among religiously observant Jews, gefilte fish has become a traditional Shabbat food to avoid borer, which is one of the 39 activities prohibited on Shabbat outlined in the Shulchan Aruch.

When should I eat noodle Kugel? ›

Noodle kugel is one of those hearty casseroles you'll want to dive into any time of day. One of many styles of kugel, a baked pudding or casserole in the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, sweet noodle kugel is typically the one seen most often on the table during weekly Shabbat or holidays like Rosh Hashanah or Shavuot.

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