Recommendations for the best Jerusalem Sufganiyot.

Sufganiyot might have hit the market later than in previous years but the selection and creativity are just as impressive as always. The new flavor/trend for this year is blue & white or Israel-themed sufganiyot, to enforce the national solidarity and sentiment for Am Israel Hai!

I will continue to taste Sufganiyot around Jerusalem in the name of research, so follow me on Instagram or Facebook for more updates.

Debbest Jerusalem Sufganiyot 

Here is my pick of the best sufganiyot in Jerusalem, based on experience from this year, and previous years:

• Fika Bakery (Tzohar) makes incredible baked donuts. Flavors this year include apple crumble, chocolate,  raspberry, vanilla cream, Swedish princess cake, semla, and saffron – Fika products are sold in HaMiffal cafe in Jerusalem and can be ordered for collection.

• Gagou de Paris (Mehadrin) on King George has stepped up its game in the last few years and its selection of French baked goods is impressive. Pistachio & white chocolate was my favorite last year but all their flavors are great

• Haba Bakery on the corner of Machane Yehuda Street and HaAfarsek Street sells the best Sfinj I have tried so far. They are light and fluffy with a crunchy outside. The bakery does make other donuts that have good dough but cheap filings.

• La Patissiere (Mehadrin) has branches in Ramot, Rehavia & Givat Shaul. The donuts are nicely decorated,  generously filled, and have a French-style dough.  I have tried the pistachio, coffee, and chocolate and they were all very well flavored with a rich and silky filling. As well as the classic jam and dulce de leche, flavors include lemon meringue, St Honore (caramelized eclair & creme patissier), milk chocolate, hazelnut, wild berries, pistachio, and coffee. Prices range from NIS 7 to 14.

• Neeman Bakery makes the best sufganiyot of all the chain bakeries. The classic Moroccan Sfinj is always my favorite at Neeman, but the other donuts are also very good with simple quality flavors. This year’s flavors include a special selection of blue and white donuts, with white chocolate, blue sprinkles filled with crème pâtissier, ice glazed with blue and white stars, and blue sprinkles with crème pâtissier filling. Other flavors include Belgian milk or white chocolate, cookies & cream, crème pâtissier,  dulce de leche, Ferrero Rocher, Mille Feuille, milk chocolate sprinkles, raspberry rose,  pistachio, and more.

• Boutique Central (Badatz Beit Yosef) makes brioche-like baked donuts and a Sufganiya Cake, similar to a pull-apart bun cake, with each bun filling different.  Fillings include jam, Nutella, pistachio cream, vanilla, caramel, and lemon. This year also features Italian maritozzi filled with vanilla or caramel cream.

• English Cake (Mehadrin) has a good selection of flavors but it is obvious that they are mass-produced and not freshly baked. Flavors this year include Lotus, Ferrero Rocher, Raspberry Pavlova, Vanilla, “Milky”, Red Velvet, Napoleon, Rolled Chocolate, Pistachio, Children’s Candies, Crumb Cheese, Mozary, Dulce de Leche (all dairy), and Strawberry Jam (parev).

Speciality Sufganiyot

• Goldy’s has a variety of interesting flavored sweet donuts (creme brulee, lemon meringue, Ferrero rocher, black & white, and halva pistachio), but also sells savory flavors such as Asado, sliced turkey, sweet & sour chicken, and shawarma. They also sell a DIY festive kit including plain donuts with various fillings and toppings.
• Pat BaMelach is only delivering in Efrat and Gush Etzion right now. Flavors include homemade jam (parev), coffee pecan, salted caramel, cheesecake, double chocolate (parev), chocolate hazelnut, glazed sprinkles, lemon meringue, Boston cream and classic glazed. Prices range from NIS 9 to 14.
• Roladin – the specialty this year is vanilla, pistachio, or raspberry Croladin (croissant donut). Novelty flavors of donuts include wild berry mascarpone, dulce fleur de sel, Yuzu meringue, choco candy, blackcurrant coconut, chocolate praline, pistachio praline, gold cookies and cream, sweet rose, and black crumble cookies.
• Teller Bakery has introduced a savory donut filled with feta, pesto, roasted tomato, and basil. Sweet fillings include malabi, cookies & cream, cheesecake, our Israel (blue and white sprinkles or meringue topping, with chocolate filling, Barbi (white chocolate with strawberry and rose meringue).

Free-From Sufganiyot

• Vegan Sufganiyot – traditional Sfinj are vegan and incredibly delicious! I like the Sfinj at  Haba Bakery in the Shuk, Neeman, and, Burekas Ima (Badatz) in Talpiot makes them fresh on the spot.
• Gluten-Free Sufganiyot
  • Amit Barkat Patisserie – flavors include Ferrero Rocher, pistachio, halva, chocolate, dulce de leche, and jam) and cost NIS 9-16—branches in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
  • Kazze – flavors include pistachio, lemon meringue, dulce de leche, and jam.
  • Gluless  – options include Sfinj, chocolate, dulce de leche, and jam. A box of three is sold for NIS 36.
• Wheat-Free Sufganiyot – Natural Choice Bakery makes baked and fried spelt donuts (NIS 9). Fillings include halva, carob, double chocolate, and dulce de leche.

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