Apple Cinnamon Kugel Recipe – A Sweet Rosh Hashanah Delight: Kosher Food

Meta Description:

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with this warm Apple Cinnamon Kugel, inspired by Scripture and the promise of a sweet new year in Yeshua.

---

Apple Cinnamon Kugel Recipe – Messianic Jewish Rosh Hashanah Special

Introduction

Apples, fragrant with cinnamon and kissed with sweetness, have been part of the Rosh Hashanah table for centuries. In Scripture, apples are a poetic picture of God’s delight and blessing. “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved” (Song of Songs 2:3). They symbolize beauty, nourishment, and God’s abundant provision for His people.

Cinnamon adds a note of warmth and comfort, reminiscent of the spices mentioned in the Temple offerings (Exodus 30:23). When combined, apples and cinnamon bring a deep sense of home—both earthly and heavenly—reminding us that in Messiah Yeshua, we are invited into the sweetest fellowship with God.

During Rosh Hashanah, apples dipped in honey are traditionally eaten to welcome a “sweet new year” (Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good”). This Apple Cinnamon Kugel captures that same symbolism—offering sweetness, blessing, and the reminder that in Yeshua, every season can be redeemed and made new.

Typically served as a warm side dish or sweet dessert after the festive meal, this kugel pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, brisket, or even as part of a brunch spread for the holiday.

---

Recipe Summary Card

Recipe title: Apple Cinnamon Kugel
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 10–12 servings
Pan size / cooking vessel: 9x13-inch baking dish
Difficulty level: Easy
Special equipment: None (optional: stand mixer for easier egg beating)

---

Ingredients

Use kosher-certified ingredients where applicable.

• Egg noodles – 12 oz (340 g) wide, cooked and drained

• Apples – 4 medium (about 500 g), peeled, cored, and diced

• Unsalted butter – ½ cup (113 g), melted (DF: use coconut oil or vegan butter)

• Eggs – 4 large (200 g)

• Sour cream – 1 cup (240 ml) (DF: use parve sour cream substitute)

• Cottage cheese – 1 cup (240 g) (DF: use plant-based cottage cheese or omit)

• Granulated sugar – ½ cup (100 g) (SF: use monk fruit or erythritol)

• Brown sugar – ¼ cup (50 g)

• Ground cinnamon – 1 ½ tsp (3 g)

• Vanilla extract – 1 tsp (5 ml)

• Salt – ¼ tsp (1 g)

Topping:

• Cornflakes – 1 cup (25 g), crushed

• Brown sugar – 2 tbsp (25 g)

• Melted butter – 2 tbsp (28 g) (DF: use coconut oil)

• Ground cinnamon – ½ tsp (1 g)

---

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. Cook noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

3. Prepare apples by peeling, coring, and dicing into small cubes.

4. Mix custard base: In a large bowl, whisk eggs until frothy. Add sour cream, cottage cheese, sugars, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and melted butter. Mix until well combined.

5. Combine noodles and apples: Gently fold cooked noodles and diced apples into the custard mixture until evenly coated.

6. Pour into pan and spread evenly.

7. Make topping: Mix crushed cornflakes, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over kugel.

8. Bake for 50–55 minutes, or until the top is golden and set. Test doneness by inserting a knife into the center—if it comes out mostly clean, it’s ready.

9. Cool slightly before serving warm.

---

Serving & Presentation

• Serves 10–12, about 1 cup (150 g) per portion.

• Drizzle with honey for extra sweetness.

• Garnish with pomegranate arils for a festive Rosh Hashanah touch.

• Serve alongside roasted chicken, brisket, or as part of a dairy-based holiday brunch.

---

Baking/Cooking Tips & Troubleshooting

• Maximize flavor: Use tart-sweet apples like Honeycrisp or Gala for balance.

• Prevent sogginess: Pat apples dry before mixing into the custard.

• Kosher note: For meat meals, make the dairy-free version so it remains parve.

• If too dry: Add an extra ¼ cup (60 ml) sour cream before baking.

• If top browns too quickly: Cover loosely with foil for the last 15 minutes.

---

Dietary Adaptations

• Gluten-Free: Use GF egg noodles and ensure toppings are GF cornflakes or oats. Baking time remains the same.

• Sugar-Free / Low-Sugar: Replace all sugar with monk fruit sweetener or erythritol. Adjust sweetness to taste.

• Dairy-Free: Replace butter with coconut oil, sour cream with parve sour cream, and cottage cheese with a plant-based option or omit.

---

Storage, Make-Ahead & Freezing

• Room temperature: Up to 4 hours.

• Refrigerated: Store in airtight container up to 4 days.

• Frozen: Wrap tightly in foil and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating.

• Reheating: Warm in 325°F (165°C) oven, covered with foil, for 15–20 minutes.

---

Closing Blessing & Scripture

“He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

May this sweet and fragrant kugel remind you of God’s perfect timing and the new mercies He has prepared for the year ahead. Shanah Tovah in Yeshua!

---

Printable Recipe Card

Apple Cinnamon Kugel
Prep: 20 min | Cook: 50 min | Total: 1 hr 10 min | Yield: 10–12 servings

Ingredients:

• 12 oz (340 g) wide egg noodles, cooked

• 4 medium apples (500 g), diced

• ½ cup (113 g) melted butter

• 4 large eggs (200 g)

• 1 cup (240 ml) sour cream

• 1 cup (240 g) cottage cheese

• ½ cup (100 g) sugar

• ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar

• 1 ½ tsp (3 g) cinnamon

• 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract

• ¼ tsp (1 g) salt

Topping:

• 1 cup (25 g) cornflakes, crushed

• 2 tbsp (25 g) brown sugar

• 2 tbsp (28 g) melted butter

• ½ tsp (1 g) cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease 9x13 pan.

2. Cook noodles, drain. Dice apples.

3. Mix eggs, sour cream, cottage cheese, sugars, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, butter.

4. Fold in noodles and apples. Spread in pan.

5. Mix topping and sprinkle over kugel.

6. Bake 50–55 min until golden. Serve warm.

---

Adaptations Summary:

• GF: Use gluten-free noodles and topping.

• SF: Use monk fruit/erythritol for sugar.

• DF: Use coconut oil/parve sour cream/plant-based cottage cheese.

---

Hashtags:

#RoshHashanah #MessianicJewish #KugelRecipe #AppleCinnamon #BiblicalCooking #SweetNewYear #JewishHolidays #FaithFood #TorahInspired #Yeshua