{Sweet} Noodle Kugel Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

Noodle Kugel is a traditional Jewish holiday casserole similar to bread pudding, but with noodles instead of bread. It’s deliciously creamy and slightly sweet. Serve it as breakfast, a side dish, or dessert, warm or cold.

{Sweet} Noodle Kugel Recipe - Belly Full (1)

There are many iterations for Noodle Kugel, all attached to grandmothers who claim theirs is the best. Some sweet, some savory. I don’t know if this recipe is the best, but it’s certainly my favorite version and reminds me of my mom and Nan!

What is Noodle Kugel?

Noodle Kugel is a casserole served at Jewish holidays, made with egg noodles and a creamy custard. It’s sweet and similar to bread pudding, but with egg noodles instead of bread, and also like a French Toast casserole. I know it sounds weird, but it’s wonderful. Trust me!

Is noodle kugel a dessert or side dish? My mom always serves kugel for dessert, but I think most people enjoy it as a side dish. However, I make it for breakfast. So, anything goes!
Do you eat noodle kugel hot or cold? Kugel can be eaten hot, warm, room temperature, or cold. Not many casseroles you can say that about, huh?

{Sweet} Noodle Kugel Recipe - Belly Full (2)

Noodle Kugel Recipe

Ingredients you’ll need for this kugel recipe:

  • Egg noodles: While any pasta could probably be used, I have never seen this dish made with anything other than egg noodles, and I personally always use wide egg noodles.
  • For the custard: Eggs, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
  • For topping: Granulated sugar and cinnamon.
  • Raisins: These are optional, but a fairly traditional ingredient. We absolutely love the added sweetness and slight pop of color.

Sweet Noodle Kugel Substitutions

  • Don’t like raisins? You can swap them out for dried cranberries or dried apricots. Many kugel recipes also use diced apple or pineapple instead. Or simply omit this add-in.
  • For the Kugel topping I just sprinkle a mix of granulated sugar and cinnamon over the top before baking, but you can use your favorite streusel topping, crushed buttered graham crackers, or cornflakes.
  • Noodle Kugel without cottage cheese: We love cottage cheese, but if you don’t, try using ricotta cheese instead.
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Noodle Kugel Recipe Tips

  • Boil the noodles in salted water. This helps add flavor and also reduce stickiness. (I use 2 teaspoons for 6 quarts of water.)
  • Don’t cook the noodles completely. You’ll only cook the noodles for about 7 minutes (not the full 10 minutes that the package instructs), because they cook further in the custard mixture as it bakes.
  • Blend the custard ingredients. You can whisk everything in a bowl, but I highly recommend blending the custard mixture in a blender or food processor for a smoother and more creamy consistency.
  • Don’t over-bake the kugel or the custard will be dry and crumbly.

Make Ahead and Storing

  • Can noodle kugel be made ahead? This kugel recipe can be assembled, covered, and stored in the refrigerator up to 1 day ahead of baking and serving. The kugel can also be fully cooked a day ahead of time and reheated, but the texture will be denser and slightly more dry, so it’s not my preference.
  • Does noodle kugel need to be refrigerated? Yes, because of the dairy, kugel must be kept in the refrigerator.
  • Storing leftover baked kugel: Let cool completely, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • How to freeze noodle kugel: Unbaked or baked, kugel should be tightly sealed in plastic wrap and again in foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before baking or reheating.
  • How to reheat Noodle Kugel: Reheat in the microwave or in a preheated 325 degree F oven until heated through (usually about 15 minutes, or longer if previously frozen.)
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How to Make Kugel Video

Other Jewish Recipes We Love!

  • Matzo Ball Soup
  • Potato Latkes
  • Challah Bread
  • Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts)

I hope you love this delicious and simple recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full onFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYouTube!

{Sweet} Noodle Kugel Recipe - Belly Full (5)

Sweet Noodle Kugel

Noodle Kugel is a traditional Jewish holiday casserole similar to bread pudding, but with noodles instead of bread. It's deliciously creamy and slightly sweet. Serve it as breakfast, a side dish, or dessert, warm or cold.

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 15

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup raisins
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 12 ounces wide egg noodles
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter , melted
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar , divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon , divided

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. with an oven rack in the middle position. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Place raisins in a small bowl and cover with hot water; let them soak to plump up while you prep the other ingredients.

  • Bring a large pot of 5 quarts water and 2 teaspoons kosher salt to a boil. Add the noodles to the pot, bring back to a boil, and let them cook until tender but not entirely cooked, about 7 minutes. Drain thoroughly and return the cooked noodles to the pot.

  • In a blender or the bowl of a food processor, blend together the eggs, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, melted butter, vanilla, salt, 1 cup sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.

  • Pour the egg mixture over the cooked noodles in the pot and stir until well combined.

  • Drain the raisins and stir them into the noodles.

  • Pour the noodle mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.

  • Whisk together the remaining tablespoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; sprinkle over the top of the kugel.

  • Bake the kugel for about 1 hour until the center of the kugel is set and the tips of the noodles turn golden brown.

  • Remove from the oven and let the kugel rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing.

  • Kugel can be served warm or cold, as a side dish, for breakfast, or dessert!

  • (NOTE: see helpful tips and substitutions in the full article.)

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 205mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Jewish

Keyword: kugel, noodle kugel

Did you make this recipe?Snap a picture and mention @bellyfullblog!

{Sweet} Noodle Kugel Recipe - Belly Full (6)
{Sweet} Noodle Kugel Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

FAQs

Why does my noodle kugel fall apart? ›

Make Sure to Cool Your Kugel

Once it's baked, a kugel needs to cool, otherwise it will fall apart when slicing. Give it at least an hour to cool and set up, then slice and serve it warm or at room temperature.

Why do Jews eat kugel? ›

As Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz once said, “Jews eat lots of lokshen on Shabbat because noodles are symbolic of the unity of the people of Israel: They are so tangled that they can never be separated.” Noodle kugel may not actually be eaten by all Jews, but it has clearly reached far beyond mere Ashkenazi cuisine.

What do you eat with sweet Kugel? ›

Kugel is traditionally served as a side dish alongside something meaty like brisket or roast chicken. In this case it would normally be served warm, but it can also be refrigerated and eaten cold the next day. Sweeter versions can also be eaten hot or cold, and taste great with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.

What is the difference between sweet and savory kugel? ›

Sweet kugel is often made with sugar, raisins, and cinnamon. While it may sound like a dessert, sweet kugel is served as a side dish at meals or for breaking your Yom Kippur fast. Savory kugel may include pepper, a crunchy cornflake or breadcrumb topping, onions, and cheese.

Why do my noodles clump together? ›

Use enough water.

And the starch it releases makes the situation stickier. If there's not enough water for that starch to grow, it'll have no other choice than to make clumpy noodles. The recommendation is 3-4 quarts water for every pound of pasta and a pot big enough to handle the water and pasta without boiling over.

Why did my egg noodles disintegrate? ›

Water Temperature, a higher temp will cause them to break down. Noodle Temperature, not the right temp when entering the water. Agitation, too much stirring after they are added.

What does kugel mean in Yiddish? ›

The name of the dish comes from the Yiddish word kugel meaning 'sphere, globe, ball'; thus the Yiddish name likely originated as a reference to the round balls of dough that were placed in the center of the cholent, a traditional Shabbat stew, to cook alongside it and absorb its flavors for its later use as a side dish ...

What ethnicity is kugel? ›

Kugel Yerushalmi, (קוגל ירושלמי kugl yerushalmi in Hebrew), also known as Jerusalem kugel, or Galilean kugel, is an Israeli Jewish kugel dish originating from the local Jewish community of Jerusalem in the 1700s.

What does kugel symbolize? ›

And then I read in The Jewish Kitchen: Recipes and Stories from Around the World of a Hasidic rabbi, Pinchas of Koretz (in Galicia), who claimed that lokshen kugel itself symbolizes Jewish unity, since the noodles are all tangled together and are really inseparable, just like the unified Jewish people.

Is noodle Kugel better hot or cold? ›

Do You Eat Noodle Kugel Hot or Cold? While noodle kugel should be removed from the oven and cooled for at least 30 minutes after baking, it can be eaten at any temperature. Eaten warm, when just set, noodle kugel's texture is more akin to a baked mac and cheese (the extra-crunchy noodles on top might be the best part.)

When should I eat noodle Kugel? ›

Kugel can be served at Jewish holidays, special events or even a weekend brunch. It commonly makes an appearance on the dinner table during Shavuot (along with bourekas), when it's traditional to consume dairy foods, and Shabbat because it's said that kugel resembles the manna that fell from heaven.

What is a South African kugel? ›

South African slang (usually derogatory). A type of wealthy young (Jewish) woman, characterized as being shallow and materialistic.

How long does kugel stay good? ›

This kugel can be baked up to two days before serving; reheat it in a 300 F oven for 15 minutes or so. You also can make the kugel and refrigerate it unbaked for up to a day, then bake it just before serving.

How many calories are in a sweet kugel? ›

Classic Cooking Sweet Noodle Kugel (1 serving) contains 19g total carbs, 19g net carbs, 6g fat, 3g protein, and 140 calories.

How do you keep egg noodles from falling apart? ›

Don't dump the whole package of noodles into the pot at once, or they will clump together and break. Add them a handful at a time, stirring gently with a wooden spoon or a fork to separate them. Don't stir too hard or too often, or you will damage the noodles. Cook the noodles until they are al dente.

Why did my egg noodles turn to mush? ›

With their delicate composition, egg noodles can quickly absorb liquids and become overly soft. Adding them too early in the soup-making process might lead to a soggy, gooey outcome, losing that satisfying bite.

How do you keep noodles from breaking? ›

Don't stir. Employ pushing, flipping, and tossing techniques instead of stirring. Stirring can cause noodles to break, as the spatula can cut them into smaller pieces. This is especially true for delicate, freshly cooked rice noodles.

How do you keep egg noodles from clumping together? ›

Toss with a bit of oil or sauce. If you're not using the noodles immediately, toss them with a little bit of oil to prevent sticking. This will create a thin coating on the noodles, preventing them from clumping together.

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