Sandy Gertler’s Mandel Bread
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup butter (or margarine for pareve)
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cups matzo cake meal
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup potato starch
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon cinnamon combined with 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter or margarine together with sugar until light and fluffy.
2) Add eggs one at a time and vanilla.
3) In a separate bowl, sift together cake meal, salt, and potato starch
4) Fold dry ingredients into egg mixture, until combined. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts
5) On 2 parchment lined baking sheets, form mixture into 4 loaves (2 on each baking sheet) 2 inches wide (mixture will spread) using wet hands to prevent mixture from getting too sticky. Sprinkle the loaves with 1/3 of the cinnamon/sugar mixture.
6) Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for five minutes.
7) Carefully transport warm loaves, one at a time, to cutting board and slice on an angle into 1/2 inch thick slices.
8) Return slices to lined baking sheets and lay flat. Sprinkle slices with additional cinnamon sugar (My mom claims this step is why hers is the best). Return to oven and bake for additional 10 minutes.Allow to cool and serve.
Note: Can be made with all chocolate chips (2 cups) or all walnuts (2 cups) if desired.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
