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Category: Desserts & Pastries

Macro shot of a triangular vegan hamantasch with a sharp, pale shortcrust edges and a dark, concentrated poppy seed filling, dusted with powdered sugar on a wire cooling rack.
Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

Old-Vienna Hamantaschen: A Recipe and the Problem of Eating the Enemy. Purim, Power, and the Limits of Catharsis (Vegan)

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 2 Comments

A rich poppy-filled pastry becomes a lens on Purim, exploring the uneasy mix of survival, ritualized rage, and ethical responsibility toward all living beings.

A pile of jelly donuts made with vegan dough, topped with apricot and strawberry/raspberry jam.
Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

The Vegan Sufganiyot and the Paradox of Perfect Abstinence: A Viennese Tangle (Micah Siva’s Jewish Doughnut Recipe)

Posted on December 16, 2025 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 0 Comment

A reflective essay on indulgence, restraint, and plant-based ethics, followed by a classic yeasted doughnut that proves simplicity can rival richness.

Two Vegan Topfenknödel (soy skyr dumplings) coated in toasted nut crumbs, served hot on a white plate over chilled Zwetschkenröster (plum compote). One dumpling is sliced in half to show the light, tender interior.
Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

Vegan Topfenknödel (Soy Skyr Dumplings) with Plum Compote (Zwetschkenröster) – History, Meaning & Recipe

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 1 Comment

A beloved Viennese dessert reborn without dairy or cruelty — where soy skyr replaces Topfen and Jewish history meets the ethics of contemporary cooking.

Close-up of four Vegan Plum Dumplings (Zwetschkenknödel) on a white plate, coated in a Jewish dry-toasted nut crumb and dusted with powdered sugar. One dumpling is cut in half, exposing the beautiful, hot, unpitted plum interior.
Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

Plum Dumplings (Zwetschkenknödel): A Jewish Viennese Story of Memory, Nuts, and Tradition (Vegan Soy Skyr Recipe)

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 0 Comment

The vegan adaptation of Austrian Zwetschkenknödel (plum dumplings) connects history, kashrut, and ethical defiance. A Jewish recipe for taste & memory

Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

Vegan “Lekach” (Jewish Honey Cake): Date-Sweetened Tradition from Vienna. The Politics of Jewish Food

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 2 Comments

This isn't just a recipe. It's a sweet lesson in history, a journey back to the ancient sweetness of dates, and a modern act of ethical courage.

vienna vegan apple kugel rosh hashanah
Desserts & Pastries/Side dishes/Vegan

Jewish Apple Cake Reimagined: The Revolutionary Wina Apple Kugel — Vegan, Oil-Free, Naturally Sweetened, and Perfect for Shabbos & Rosh Hashanah

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 2 Comments

A healthy, vegan Jewish apple kugel crowned with toasted nuts and apples. Naturally sweet, oil-free, and rooted in Shabbos and Viennese baking traditions.

Sacher-Masoch Torte (100% Pure Chocolate and Redcurrant Pleasure)
Desserts & Pastries/Freud & Food/Vegan

Sachertorte Variation: The Sacher-Masoch Cake — A Masochist’s Confection of Memory, Contradiction, and the Jewish Soul of Vienna (Whole-Food Plant-Based, Vegan, SOS-free)

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 4 Comments

Jewish Viennese history tied to Freud & Sacher-Masoch. Get the healthy, rich chocolate cake recipe for a Vegan WFPB, SOS-free Sachertorte twist.

Delicious Healthy Vegan No-Bake Cheesecake for Shavuot with Raspberry Coulis
Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

Healthy Vegan No-Bake Jewish Cheesecake for a Succulent Shavuot-Treat & TikkunOlam (WFPB SOS-free Recipe)

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 2 Comments

Celebrate Shavuot with our WFPB SOS-free vegan no-bake Jewish cheesecake. Enjoy a light but ethical recipe that blends ancient tradition with modern health.

Two apricot dumplings on a white plate - one open cut in half (potato dough)
Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

Apricot Dumplings: Mahler’s Melodious “Marillenknödel” — A Dive into the Jewish Heritage of the Beloved Delicacy (Healthy Vegan WFPB SOS-free Potato-Dough Recipe)

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 4 Comments

Mahler's favorite Marillenknödel! Our WFPB SOS-Free vegan Apricot Dumplings, crafted with potato dough, reveal a delicious Jewish Viennese culinary legacy.

Caramelized cabbage and noodles (Krautfleckerln)
Desserts & Pastries/Pasta dishes/Side dishes/Vegan/Vegan Mains

“Krautfleckerln,” Cabbage & Noodles from Vienna: Friedrich Kantor-Berg’s (aka Torberg) Famous Character Tante Jolesch and Her Legendary Dish, of Which There Was Never Enough! (Fried Cabbage Pasta Recipe)

Posted on December 16, 2022 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 10 Comments

Aunt Jolesch's famous Jewish comfort food: Get the authentic recipe for slow-caramelized cabbage & pasta, revealing its rich Viennese culinary history.

Hamantascherln — Small Pockets, Viennese Style: Melt-In-The-Mouth Jewish Purim Cookies. The Whole Megillah! (Recipe) #PurimKekse #OzneiHaman #WienerTascherln #Hamantashen
Desserts & Pastries/Freud & Food

Viennese Hamantaschen: Melt-in-the-Mouth Jewish Purim Cookie Recipe — The Whole Megillah! (Hamantascherln)

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 6 Comments

This authentic & delicious Viennese Hamantascherln story & recipe delves into Purim's rich history, from ancient symbols to Freud's Oedipal insights.

Linzer torte with Jewish star of David lattice
Desserts & Pastries

Linzer Torte & Cookies, Jewish Classics Straight from Vienna’s Pastry Shops and Coffeehouses! (Recipes)

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 2 Comments

Bake Linzer Torte Cake & Cookies, a historic Viennese Jewish classic! Get the recipe for nutty, jam-filled delights, this beloved coffeehouse legacy.

Yom Kippur Yeast Gugelhupf Bundt Cake-Blog
Desserts & Pastries/Freud & Food

Gugelhupf Bundt Cake(s): Vienna’s Classic Coffeehouse Pleasures According To Dorie Greenspan – The Jewish Connections (Yom Kippur Recipe)

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 7 Comments

Bake 2 Viennese Gugelhupf Bundt cakes: a classic Jewish Yom Kippur yeast & a modern marble. Get Dorie Greenspan's recipes & coffeehouse history.

"Kaiserschmarrn", the emperor's messy soufflé pancake in all its glory!
Desserts & Pastries/Eggs/Freud & Food

“Kaiserschmarrn,” Vienna’s Shredded Soufflé Pancake: The Emperor’s Light & Fluffy “Mess” With A “Roasted” Fruit Stew at Pre-Holocaust Kosher Restaurant Neugröschel (Recipe).

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 10 Comments

Make Vienna's light & fluffy "Emperor's Mess" – Kaiserschmarrn! Get the authentic shredded pancake recipe with roasted fruit stew, tied to Jewish history.

The fantastic Fächertort, or "fan-cake", a flódni in disguise.
Coffee Houses & Pastry Shops/Desserts & Pastries

Vienna’s “Fächertorte”—Jewish Budapest’s “Flódni” Layer Cake in Disguise. (Traditional Recipe)

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 74 Comments

Unravel this rich, layered cake with poppy seed, walnut, apple & plum! Discover its poignant Jewish history, from Demel's tradition to WWII resilience.

Real Sachertorte by Leschanz the chocolate king at Cafe Schwarzenberg in Vienna (closer)
Coffee Houses & Pastry Shops/Desserts & Pastries/Freud & Food

Sachertorte, the Jewish Masculine Chocolate Cake from Vienna’s Lost Coffeehouse Past: Sigmund Freud’s Beloved Dessert (Recipe)

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 28 Comments

The surprising Jewish origins of Vienna's iconic Sachertorte, Sigmund Freud's beloved "masculine" chocolate cake. Get the authentic recipe to make it at home.

Didn't we say you have to refrigerate it for a couple of hours at least?
Desserts & Pastries/Eggs/Freud & Food

Vienna’s Tiramisu & Oedipus: Freud’s Unconscious Dessert (Recipe & Origins)

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 4 Comments

Beyond the recipe: Explore Tiramisu's true origins and its fascinating Oedipal connection to Sigmund Freud. A dessert deep in history & psychology.

a slice of a whole blooming-Jewish-cheesecake-4x5-featured
Desserts & Pastries/Freud & Food

Blooming Jewish Cheesecake with Tablets of the Law Crust: Freud, Moses & a Mel Brooks Joke (Shavuot Recipe)

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 29 Comments

Explore Jewish cheesecake's surprising link to Shavuot, Moses's shattered tablets, & Freud's theories on guilt & repressed memories. Get the recipe!

Gourmet Hand Matzo Brei Sweet and Savory with Caramelized Onions, Truffle and Honey on a plate
Breakfast/Desserts & Pastries/Eggs/Freud & Food

Gourmet Hand Matzo Brei: Sweet & Savory with Caramelized Onions, Truffle and Honey (A Galitzianer In Vienna’s Recipe)

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 4 Comments

A typical Galitzianer in Vienna recipe: Gourmet Matzo Brei! Enjoy sweet & savory flavors, deeply rooted in Jewish tradition & culinary history.

1980s Grapefruit Brûlée & Paul Gauguin’s Caramelized Pamplemousse (Recipe) #SchönbrunnPalaceOrangery
Appetizers/Breakfast/Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

Grapefruit Brûlée & Paul Gauguin’s Caramelized Pamplemousse (1980s Recipes)

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 1 Comment

Taste a unique Grapefruit Brûlée inspired by Paul Gauguin & the 1980s. Dive into its surprising history, from Viennese palaces to pop culture.

Perfect Potato Latkes: Yiddish vs. Hebrew & Schmaltz vs. Oil (Recipe) #Erdäpfelpuffer #Rösti
Appetizers/Breakfast/Desserts & Pastries/Freud & Food/Side dishes

Perfect Potato Latkes: Yiddish vs. Hebrew & Schmaltz vs. Oil (Contemporary Viennese Potato Pancake Recipe)

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 3 Comments

Fry perfect Viennese potato latkes! Delve into the Yiddish vs. Hebrew & Schmaltz vs. Oil debates. Get the contemporary recipe and its their rich history.

Viennese jelly doughnut called "Krapfen"
Desserts & Pastries/Freud & Food

Vienna’s Jelly Doughnuts & Uri Scheft’s Sufganiyot (Recipe)

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 4 Comments

Master Uri Scheft's Sufganiyot & make perfect Viennese jelly doughnuts? On Krapfen history, Hanukkah traditions, & tips for golden, airy fried pastries.

Quince Poached in Viennese White Wine (Recipe) #QuitteWienerGemischterSatz
Desserts & Pastries/Vegan

Rosh Hashanah Fragrant Quince Poached in Viennese White Wine

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 1 Comment

Unleash the quince's voluptuous beauty! Poach this ancient, fragrant fruit to ruby perfection in Viennese white wine. A stunning, simple Rosh Hashanah dessert.

Classic Viennese Apple Strudel – The Secrets to Easy, Crispy Wiener Strudel and its Innuendos (recipe & video) #apfelstrudel
Desserts & Pastries/Freud & Food/Vegan

Classic Viennese Apple Strudel: Easy Secrets for Crispy Perfection & Its Playful Wordplay (Vegan Wiener Strudel Recipe)

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 5 Comments

Discover Apfelstrudel's hilarious Viennese innuendos, Freudian dreams, & rich symbolism. A simplified method brings this classic to your kitchen.

Zwetschkenkuchen (Plum Tart) Politics (recipe & video)
Desserts & Pastries

Beyond the Plate: Zwetschkenkuchen (Plum Tart) & Its Surprising Political Colors (Recipe & Video)

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Nino Shaye Weiss / 10 Comments

Uncover Zwetschkenkuchen's "blue on brown" Austrian political symbolism, its Jewish holiday ties, & secret cinnamon. A traditional, comforting classic.

ALL-TIME FAVORITES
  • Celery Root (Celeriac) Schnitzel: Old Vienna’s Naturally Vegan Classic. How Vienna’s Golden Calf Became Israel’s National Dish — and Returned, Vegan. Celery Root (Celeriac) Schnitzel: Old Vienna’s Naturally Vegan Classic. How Vienna’s Golden Calf Became Israel’s National Dish — and Returned, Vegan.
  • Vegan Challah = Traditional Water Challah (i.e., Israeli “Hasidic” Challah): The Challah From The Famous Viznitz Bakery In Bnei Brak (Parve Recipe) Vegan Challah = Traditional Water Challah (i.e., Israeli “Hasidic” Challah): The Challah From The Famous Viznitz Bakery In Bnei Brak (Parve Recipe)
  • Jewish-Viennese Shabbos Stew: “Ritschert,” The Lost Cholent of Vienna (Vegan Recipe) Jewish-Viennese Shabbos Stew: “Ritschert,” The Lost Cholent of Vienna (Vegan Recipe)
  • Classic Viennese Apple Strudel: Easy Secrets for Crispy Perfection & Its Playful Wordplay (Vegan Wiener Strudel Recipe) Classic Viennese Apple Strudel: Easy Secrets for Crispy Perfection & Its Playful Wordplay (Vegan Wiener Strudel Recipe)
  • Hearty Vegan Goulash with Soy Curls: The Authentic and Comforting Paprika Stew, Reimagined for Shabbat and Sukkot Hearty Vegan Goulash with Soy Curls: The Authentic and Comforting Paprika Stew, Reimagined for Shabbat and Sukkot
  • Vienna’s Best Pastry Shops: Must-Visit Konditoreien & Patisseries — The Ultimate Local’s Guide Beyond Sacher Vienna’s Best Pastry Shops: Must-Visit Konditoreien & Patisseries — The Ultimate Local’s Guide Beyond Sacher
  • Sachertorte Variation: The Sacher-Masoch Cake — A Masochist’s Confection of Memory, Contradiction, and the Jewish Soul of Vienna (Whole-Food Plant-Based, Vegan, SOS-free) Sachertorte Variation: The Sacher-Masoch Cake — A Masochist’s Confection of Memory, Contradiction, and the Jewish Soul of Vienna (Whole-Food Plant-Based, Vegan, SOS-free)
  • Fluffy Vegan Matzo Balls: Kneidlach That Won’t Fall Apart (Passover Recipe) Fluffy Vegan Matzo Balls: Kneidlach That Won’t Fall Apart (Passover Recipe)
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