Homemade Hanukkah Gelt Recipe

Melody Kramer
Homemade Hanukkah Gelt Recipe

[Flickr: mhaithaca]

Hanukkah is my favorite Jewish holiday, mainly because of the food. There's jelly-filled fried donuts to remind us of the oil used to light the menorah, latkes (potato pancakes) that melt on the tongue, and then my personal favorite: chocolate gelt.

Typically, round, flat disks of semi-sweet chocolate are wrapped in gold foil and distributed after the menorah lighting. (Gelt is the Yiddish word for "money" and yes, the chocolate coins are about a half-dollar in size.)

I didn't realize gelt was a mass-produced product until I got to high school. During my family's celebration, my parents would substitute a healthier, homemade gelt (using apricots) instead of the pure chocolate stuff found at stores. The recipe couldn't be easier, plus it's sweet, satisfying, and (somewhat) healthy.

Kramer Family Gelt

Read more: Mixed Review: Manischewitz and Gefen Potato Latkes

Ingredients

  • 36 large apricot halves
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (Whatever flavor you like. I like dark.)

Directions

  1. 1.

    Melt the chocolate chips slowly in the microwave stopping frequently to stir.

  2. 2.

    Dip half the apricot in the chocolate and then place on wax paper. (You want people to see the "gold coin" (aka the apricot).

  3. 3.

    Chill in fridge for about 20 minutes until chocolate hardens. That's it!

  4. 4.

    Any other Hanukkah recipes you use every year?

This Recipe Appears In
Mixed Review: Manischewitz and Gefen Potato Latkes

This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.

Show 7 Comments