“It wouldn’t be Chanukah without sfenj. I’m happy to share my family’s recipe with you!”

— Marcelle Azoulay
Jewish community member in Casablanca, Morocco

Ingredients for Sfenj (Moroccan Doughnuts)

  1. 1 ½ tsp. yeast
  2. 1 ½ tsp. salt
  3. ½ kg. flour (about 4 cups)
  4. 1 cup warm water
  5. Oil, for frying

Instructions for Sfenj (Moroccan Doughnuts)

  1. In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, yeast, and salt, then add the water. Mix until smooth. Cover your dough, and let it rest for 3-4 hours until it rises.
  2. Heat enough oil to deep-fry the sfenj. The oil should be very hot. If possible, your frying pan should be placed on a slight incline.
  3. Dip your hands in water, then pull the dough into a tennis ball-size sphere. Stretch the dough to make a hole in the middle. Repeat process with remaining dough.
  4. Place each ball in the oil on the tilted side, with less oil. When it begins to darken, push it to the side with more oil and fry until golden-brown.
  5. Serve sfenj hot, sprinkled with sugar, drizzled with honey, or plain. Consider pairing these tasty treats with a hot cup of mint tea.