You can never have too many kugel recipes. I love the seasonal flavor of this sweet and grown-up Rum Raisin Cranberry Kugel. The rum idea came from a reader named Nancy (yes, I do read every single one of your comments!) who wrote that she often plumps her raisins in rum before adding them to her kugel. I thought the idea was inspired. She soaks hers overnight in rum, but I didn’t have the time or patience for that, so I simmered both raisins and dried cranberries in hot rum on the stovetop. The alcohol is mostly cooked out, but the essence of the rum remains, giving this kugel a rich flavor and a wonderful seasonal quality. I also added chopped walnuts, brown sugar and autumn spices for texture and to “warm up” the flavor. It turned out scrumptious!
This Rum Raisin Cranberry Kugel would be great for breaking the fast on Yom Kippur, as part of a Sukkot meal, or for Hanukkah (and Thanksgiving, since both start on the same day this year!). You could even bring it to a Christmas potluck if that’s the holiday you celebrate. This kugel definitely has an autumn/winter holiday vibe. Kugels are easy to make, easy to transport, and always a crowd pleaser. Or, make it just because. It’s carb heaven, the ultimate comfort food!
This kugel appeared on Daily Candy the week before Rosh Hashanah (yay!). In case you don’t know about it, Daily Candy was a really fun site; they emailed a new surprise each day based on where you live.
What’s your favorite way to make kugel?
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Rum Raisin Cranberry Kugel
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup raisins
- 3/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- 1 1/4 cups dark rum
- 12 ounces wide egg noodles
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups sour cream (use lowfat if desired)
- 1 cup ricotta (use lowfat if desired)
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened (use lowfat if desired)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional- leave out for nut allergies)
- Nonstick cooking oil spray
- Cinnamon and sugar for dusting, or the topping of your choice
NOTES
Instructions
- Place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. On the stovetop, place the raisins and cranberries in a small pot and cover with rum.
- Simmer the mixture over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, until the fruit has plumped and all the liquid is absorbed. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn. Remove from heat and reserve.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the noodles to the pot, bring back to a boil, and let the noodles cook till tender (not overly soft) for about 5 minutes. Drain, rinse briefly with cold water, and return to the pot.
- In a food processor or blender, mix together the eggs, sour cream, ricotta, cream cheese, sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, spices, and salt.
- Pour the blended egg mixture over the cooked noodles in the pot and stir until well combined. Add the rum raisins, cranberries, and walnuts, and stir into the noodles.
- Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the noodle mixture into the dish. Top the kugel by sprinkling generously with sugar and lightly with cinnamon. Alternatively, use your favorite kugel topping (streusel, crushed graham crackers, cornflakes, etc.). I like this kugel with a graham cracker topping, but many prefer the crunchy texture that forms when the noodles bake and brown on top. Either way works!
- Bake about 60 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the center is set and the tips of the noodles turn golden brown. Remove from the oven. Let rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing. For a cleaner slice, let the kugel cool to room temperature before cutting.
Michelle Makauskas Petroccio says
Grandma´s wsy. Potaoes, onions, salt pirk, sour cream on top! Oh yes!
Jeff Bilkanich says
never made kugel..
Connie Sheldon says
have someone make it for me? I miss my Jewish friends. 🙁
Joyce Zimmerman Herron says
Mm-m-m! Must try!
Adrienne Butvinik says
Ratners Dairy Restaurant recipe!
Susan Few Adams says
Apricot
Leah Saban says
I love sweet jerushalmi kugel with lots of black better, made on top of the stove
Richard Plotzker says
Classic kugel Yerushalmi with vermicelli, cane sugar browned in oil, eggs and enough pepper to taste like something.
Marsi Thrash says
Pineapple
Jean Daughtery says
i can´t wait to try it mmmmmmmm
Nancy Kendall Kruse says
Tori, does a kugel have to be sweet? A few years ago at a church supper we made something with noodles, ricotta, bread crumbs, & cheddar cheese? It was awesome!
Tori Avey says
Hi Nancy, no a kugel can also be savory. 🙂
Lynn Brooks Dils says
sounds amazing!
Kristy Stone says
Thanks darlin´. I´ll pick up a peice later. 😉 XD
Linda Pollack Martin says
Mine is Potato Kugel with all of that nice crispy crusts! But I love a good luchen kugel.
Robin says
Not in love with rum. Can something else be used?
Tori Avey says
Hi Robin– in that case, plump the raisins and cranberries in hot water for 5 minutes, then drain. Proceed with the recipe as written. Enjoy!
AlmaRead Solis-Barrera Longoria-Peña says
I love it!!!
Madeline Etkin says
My mother made noodle pudding in a frying pan, just eggs and cinnamon, no fruit, except raisins as far as I can remember. She fried it in a perfect circle, crisp and subtle. I have never seen a recipe for what or how she did it. She died when I was young, and I never got to ask her. I however cannot forget how delicious it was, served cut like a pie as dinner side dish. Anyone know the secret of her style?
Donna Kingman says
Yummm Want some. 🙂
Toni says
Is there something that can be substituted for the egg noodles? I don’t eat any kind of pasta or noodles but this sounds too good to pass up. I’d appreciate any suggestions.
Tori Avey says
Toni, do you eat gluten free noodles? Otherwise I’m not sure what you could sub here, since it’s a noodle kugel. There are other kugels you could try that do not include noodles, but most are savory, not sweet.
Carina says
Maybe rice?
Joyce says
You could use quinoa pasta
Toni says
Thank you for replying, I may try the quinoa.
Susanne Boitano says
No cranberries around here, raisins work?
Tori Avey says
Susanne yes, no problem!