This year, more than ever, the sufganiyah has become a reflection of the supermarket shelf: prices haven’t gone up, you’re just getting less. Our annual test revealed a clear trend: prices remained similar to last Hanukkah, but at some bakeries the sufganiyot have shrunk. The result is paying full price for fewer bites, a quiet way to raise prices. At Shufersal, for example, mini sufganiyot are sold for 3.11 shekels apiece online, or just 1.5 shekels in stores.
Ahead of Hanukkah, in keeping with tradition, we conducted a taste test of a wide selection of sufganiyot from 21 bakeries across the country. The tasting panel included 54 participants — members of the security forces, municipal employees and families with children. In a blind taste test, we rated each sufganiyah for texture, filling, appearance, flavor and price. Of the dozens sampled, those with the highest overall scores passed the test. The title of best classic jelly-filled sufganiyah, evoking the taste of home, went to two winners: Micky Shemo’s sufganiyah, priced at 7 shekels, and Lehamim Bakery’s version, priced at 9 shekels (or 8 shekels without filling).
This year’s selection was especially impressive: classic sufganiyot with sweet fillings, meticulously crafted designs that looked like desserts from a high-end patisserie, and plenty of creativity. One standout once again was the savory sufganiyah collection from the Goldy's chain — a gimmick that debuted last year and turned into a major hit. Fillings include shawarma, schnitzel, pulled beef and liver, and tasters, including soldiers stationed at outposts, noted these could easily be served at the holiday table even before dessert.
Gluten-free sufganiyot were also put to the test this year. We sampled baked versions from three leading chains and were surprised to find that many tasters didn’t even realize they were gluten-free. They were slightly less airy but still flavorful. Prices, however, were steep: at Biga, a gluten-free sufganiyah filled with dulce de leche or strawberry jam sells for 45 shekels for a three-pack (15 shekels apiece); at MIMI Patisserie, a gluten-free chocolate sufganiyah costs 15 shekels; and at Gluten Bakery in Even Yehuda, a premium gluten-free version reaches 16 shekels.
At leading bakeries, the base price for a sufganiyah starts around 8 shekels, even without filling. A classic sufganiyah with strawberry or dulce de leche filling typically runs 8–9 shekels. The more elaborate creations range from 16 to 20 shekels, with some reaching 22 shekels apiece. Examples include: the “Queen Sufganiyah” from Haupt Deli, a baked sufganiyah filled with almond cream, mascarpone and berries; Casa Tua’s bomboloni; and Gutale’s St. Honoré sufganiyah with vanilla pastry cream, white chocolate Chantilly, caramel pepita and a caramel-glazed cream puff. The Goldy's savory sufganiyot series tops the chart, with prices starting at 25 shekels and up.
Asado and Shawarma Sufganiyah | Goldy's
Our take: Slow-cooked pulled beef or seasoned shawarma inside a sufganiyah. A savory twist that became the talk of the evening during the tasting panel.
Price: 25 shekels.
Honorable mention: The Dubai Schnitzel Sufganiyah — for those who like fusion (25 shekels)
Pink Lady Sufganiyah | Shany Bakery
Our take: Visually stunning, pink hues, flower petals, a strawberry-vanilla blossom and a strawberry cream filling. Sweet, delicate and instantly endearing
Price: 14.5 shekels
Biscotti Cake Sufganiyah | Haupt Deli
Our take: Filled with mascarpone-biscotti cream, chocolate and streusel. One of the sufganiyot the panel just couldn’t stop eating
Price: 15 shekels
Dubai Sufganiyah | Shemo
Our take: A rich pistachio cream with a coating of kadaif and chocolate — a combination that works beautifully. The pistachio is smooth, the kadaif is crunchy, and every bite feels carefully crafted.
Price: 14 shekels.
Honorable mention: Mimi’s chocolate sufganiyah (13 shekels).
St. Honoré Sufganiyah | Gutale
Our take: Vanilla pastry cream, white chocolate Chantilly, and a caramel-glazed cream puff. Layers of French classicism in a single sufganiyah — refined, impressive and precise.
Price: 22 shekels.
Honorable mention: Bread bakery & deli “Crème Diplomate” sufganiyah (12 shekels).
Black & White Maritozzo | Boutique Central
Our take: A buttery black brioche filled with vanilla Chantilly cream. Simple, elegant and every bit as delicious as it looks. Light and airy, it received particularly high marks.
Price: 12 shekels.
Honorable mention: Oren Meshi’s excellent hazelnut crunch sufganiyah (15 shekels).
Pistachio Crunch Sufganiyah | Pitzi Cafe – Chef Haim Cohen
Our take: A bold pistachio crunch filling, generous topping and distinct flavors. One of the panel’s overall favorites.
Price: 18 shekels.
Honorable mention: Chocolate sufganiyah with sprinkles (12 shekels).
Pistachio Gelato Sufganiyah | Biscotti
Our take: A striking pistachio-on-pistachio pyramid, with pastry cream and a crisp cookie base. Visually impressive and full of flavor — one that left a lasting impression.
Price: 16 shekels.
Honorable mention: The Sicilian sufganiyah from Vicino Fratelli (18 shekels).
Italian Bomboloni (Pistachio/Caramel/Vanilla/Chocolate) | Casa Tua
Our take: Exceptionally soft, large and generously filled. The standout bomboloni of the year — a classic Italian treat executed with a confident, expert hand.
Price: 22 shekels.
Lotus Sufganiyah with Lotus-Mascarpone Cream | G27
Our take: A filling that perfectly captures the flavor of the coffee-side cookie — creamy, precise and generous. One of the panel’s favorites, striking a spot-on balance between sweetness and comfort.
Price: 20 shekels.
Honorable mention: The fig sufganiyah from Haofim Haktanim (18 shekels).
Chocolate-Hazelnut Krembo Sufganiyah | Roladin
Our take: An absolute winner. Gianduja ganache, praline, French meringue and a chocolate coating — visually stunning with spot-on flavor. A hit.
Price: 20 shekels.
Oreo Sufganiyah | Neeman Bakery
Our take: Oreo cream inside and out, cookie crumble bits and an Oreo disk on top. Attractive, tempting and far tastier than expected.
Price: 14 shekels.
Honorable mention: Crème brûlée sufganiyah from Tel Yitzhak bakery (16 shekels).
