The Best Hanukkah Surprise Is a Cookie with Candy Inside

hanukkah dreidel cookie

Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel I made you out of… cookies! (That’s how the song goes, right?!) No matter, these surprise-inside treats are the perfect way to get your whole crew excited for the Festival of Lights. Make ’em together, then dig in post-latkes.

Hanukkah Surprise Cookies

Level: Easy

What You Need

  • A batch of sugar-cookie dough (use our recipe)
  • Light blue fondant (buy it or make your own)
  • Blue-and-white striped paper straws
  • Small gold candies or sprinkles
  • Royal icing
  • Rectangle cookie cutter
  • Small circle cookie cutter
  • Light corn syrup
  • Piping tip and bag
  • Instructions

    1. Roll and Cut Your Dough

    cutting dreidel dough

    Roll out dough to about 3-4 mm, then cut out 3 rectangles per dreidel. Use a knife to cut away two angled sections at the bottom of each rectangle, creating a triangular shape at one end.

    Take one of your dreidel-shaped cookies and cut out a circle in the center, which is where your gold candy or sprinkles will go (more on that later). Bake cookies according to the recipe, and let cool.

    2. Stack and Fill ’Em Up

    stacking dreidel cookies

    Take one of the full dreidel cookies (without the hole cut-out) and pipe royal icing around the perimeter.

    stacked dreidel cookies

    Top with the cookie with the hole in the center, and lightly press down.

    dreidel cookie filled with candy

    Pour your golden candy or sprinkles into the circle! (We used tiny golden nonpareils and gold dusted chocolate candy beans.)

    3. Attach the Handle

    dreidel cookie handle

    Before adding the last layer of cookie, cut down a paper straw to 2-3 inches and flatten one end.

    adding handle to dreidel cookie

    Attach the flattened end to the top of your stacked cookies with icing.

    formed dreidel cookie

    Add more icing around the perimeter before pressing on the top cookie layer.

    4. Add Fondant

    dreidel cookie with blue fondant

    Roll out light blue fondant and cut to the same size as your cookies. Attach it to your top cookie with light corn syrup, then let set for 20 minutes.

    5. Decorate

    decorated dreidel cookie

    Finally, jazz up your dreidel cookie however you like. (We splattered on some gold flecks with a paint brush, and added a white bow.)

    Photos by Juniper Cakery

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    3 Responses to “The Best Hanukkah Surprise Is a Cookie with Candy Inside”

    1. Jacobovits

      It’s really a supper Grt idea

    2. Judith Schmansky

      I am anxious to try this recipe. I frequently make cookies for groups and this would be a nice addition for variety.

    3. Lisa Katz

      Can’t wait to make these.