Warm, dripping in oil, and sweet inside. No, that wasn’t a description of yeshiva bochurim. I was, of course, referring to sufganiyot. Bochurim, and everyone else, wait in anticipation for sufganiyah season all year round. Finally, it’s here. Consider this your seasonal primer on Sufganiyot.

Sufganiyot are the Israeli version of donuts, typically filled with cheap, substandard red jelly. But that’s OK. We love ‘em anyway. Available in multiple styles and with all sorts of different fillings, Yeshiva Guy.com has toured Yerushalayim to bring you the very best of sufganiyot. (Obviously, only bakeries with a Mehadrin hashgacha are being reviewed).

First up is Brooklyn. No Jerusalem donut guide would be complete without mentioning Brooklyn Bakery. Legend has it that they import all ingredients, including the sugar and flour. In fact the only bakery that offers donuts all year, Chanukah time sees a serious ramping up of their donut line. Offering a total of 15 different donuts, it is safe to say that Brooklyn is the king of donuts. We recommend trying the cappuccino with almond slivers donut, and the cinnamon crueller (although not technically a donut). Located on Malchei Yisroel ?.

Another popular pick in the donut world is the caramel filled donut. Israel is home to some excellent caramel factories; caramel here is sweet, slightly syrupy, and B”H for coffee lovers, available separately in little glass jars. Naturally, many bakeries take advantage of the relatively cheap filing and offer caramel based sufganiyot. Ask around in Geulah, and everyone will tell you that Pizza Uri’s (not technically a bakery, but who cares) has the very best caramel donuts (Chalavi). I tend to agree. TIP: Buy ten and get one free. Located on Malchei Yisroel ?.

Finally, the world of the vintage jelly filled donut is hot competition. With so many contenders, the space has become overloaded with cheap, low quality product. Whatever you do, do not for a second contemplate just picking up a donut being sold in the cardboard boxes in the local makolet. Definitely do make sure, however, to check out AviChayil bakery, a Jerusalem icon in its own right. AviChayil offers both caramel (Chalavi) and jelly based (Parve) donuts. In my opinion, their jelly donuts are better, although the dira is split down the middle on AviChayil. Located on Pri Chadash ?.

There is also a place in Sanhedria Murchevet called ??? that allows you to customize your own donut, to a degree. They are open 24/7, and supposedly make some amazing donuts. YG hopes to make it there over the course of Chanukah to provide his loyal readers with a personal opinion.

This post will, iy”H, be updated over the next few days with the individual bakeries’ locations, some additional ones, and other info. If you have any recommendations of places that I’ve missed, please email or comment (Mehadrin only, please).

The photo, which, by the way, I almost ate, was taken by Mordechai Hanover of Jerusalem Shutter.