Of all the Hanukkah traditions, maybe none is as sweet as gifting gelt. Whether or not these gold foil-covered chocolate coins were part of your childhood celebrations, Hanukkah gelt is a simple treat you can make at home to complete your celebration. Many opt for the store-bought version, but this Hanukkah treat is so easy to make (& customize!) at home. Keep reading on for everything you need to know about these chocolate coins:
What is gelt?
Presents are given on each night of Hanukkah, and kids might be gifted these chocolate coins as their “money.” You’re probably familiar with the game of dreidel, too—the coins become a necessity when playing, and it wouldn’t be as fun without eating them along the way. Besides the Hanukkah tradition of chocolate money, gelt actually means “money” in German. In Eastern Europe, it was given to workers as an “extra tip” at the year’s end.
How to make gelt:
While these chocolate coins may look complicated, they’re actually quite simple to make. For the shape, I used mini cupcake or muffin tins to make the small coins. The key is to grease each one so it’s easier to extract later. Brush neutral oil in the pans, pour 1 to 2 teaspoons of melted chocolate in the bottom, tap the pans to level the chocolate, and chill. If you want a more traditional look, you could buy special molds that have patterns associated with the Jewish holiday.
How to decorate gelt:
Keep them plain or use a variety of toppings (like we did here), from sprinkles to edible gold dust, crushed almonds or pistachios, sea salt, cocoa nibs, dried fruit, etc.
What else to serve during Hanukkah:
After chocolate coins and challah rolls, we live for some really hearty braised brisket and noodle kugel. We also LOVE matzo ball soup, with or without chicken, and our latkes are coming in hot with sour cream or applesauce on the side.
Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
