Noodle and Apple Kugel Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Noodle and Apple Kugel Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(445)
Notes
Read community notes

This comforting kugel tastes much richer than it is, and it is certainly lighter than a traditional kugel (though it is not a low-calorie dessert). I’ve made this with Golden Delicious apples and with tarter varieties like Pink Lady; I liked it both ways.

Featured in: Recipes for Health: An Apple a Day

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings.

  • 2tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4apples, cored and cut in small (¼- to ½-inch) dice
  • 6ounces flat egg noodles, preferably whole-grain
  • Salt to taste
  • ¼cup raisins, plumped for 5 minutes in warm water and drained (optional)
  • 4eggs
  • ¼cup raw brown sugar or dark brown sugar
  • 1cup drained yogurt
  • 1teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2tablespoons rum
  • ½teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

343 calories; 11 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 50 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 24 grams sugars; 12 grams protein; 578 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Noodle and Apple Kugel Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 2-quart baking dish. Begin heating a large pot of water.

  2. Step

    2

    Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the apples. Cook, stirring or tossing in the pan, until they begin to color and are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

  3. Step

    3

    When the water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and the noodles. Cook al dente, a little firmer than you would want them if you were eating them right away. Drain through a colander and add to the pan with the apples (if using long flat noodles, cut them first with a scissors into shorter lengths). Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and toss together until the butter melts. Stir in the optional raisins. Set aside.

  4. Step

    4

    Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add the sugar and beat together until the mixture is thick. Beat in the yogurt, vanilla, rum, nutmeg and about ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste. Add the noodles and apples and fold everything together. Scrape into the prepared baking dish. Push the pasta down into the egg and yogurt mixture (it will not be completely submerged, but try to cover as much as you can). Place in the oven and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until the kugel is set and the sides are browned. There will always be some noodles on top that brown and become quite hard. You can remove these from the baked dish if you wish. Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

Tip

  • Advance preparation: I love this for breakfast. It keeps for a few days in the refrigerator. Reheat in a low oven or in the microwave.

Ratings

4

out of 5

445

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Dew

Can I leave out the rum? I hate the taste of rum, and we have a little kid (and alcohol doesn't completely cook out).

Mitzi

Use 2 tablespoons of maple syrup instead of rum. I use 16 ounces of sour cream and 15 ounces of ricotta. add crushed frosted flakes mixed with 1/4 t cinnamon and 2 Tablespoons melted butter

Golem18

Remove the browned and hard noodles? That's the best part.

Cathy

I substituted grapeseed oil for the butter and tofutti sour cream for the yogurt to make this non-dairy. I had some doubts about the tofutti, but the results were delicious.

Lisa

This was really good, and fairly low fat, for a kugel. I often reduce sugar in recipes, but I thought 1/4 cup was fine, here. I grated the apples, instead of pre- cooking them, to streamline the prep. I also skipped the rum, added a little extra vanilla, and swapped the nutmeg for a teaspoon of cinnamon. Before baking, I also sprinkled the top with a little cinnamon sugar. I ended up not really being able to taste the apples (which surprised me), so I probably will chop them next time!

Nenis

Made this with Greek yogurt (which didn’t need draining), Fuji apples and dried cherries instead of raisins. Result was delicious!

Pauline

Tasty and very simple.I doubled recipe and used half yoghurt and half sour cream.Cranberries instead of raisans.Soak fruit in the rum instead of water .I'm a big nutmeg fan and love any opportunity to use.Along with the rum this dish had a nice West Indian flavour.

Maggie

I added the rum to the apples and butter and it was delicious!

Neomi

Great for make ahead breakfast and after school snack. I like to add cinnamon. Also, I put chopped apples in dry skillet to brown a bit before adding butter. Browns fast like that. Made it as is a few times, and today with the addition of almonds.

erika

I used Cocojune vanilla yogurt and a dozen duck eggs to make a dairy-free chicken egg free doubled version. I swapped ground nutmeg for the fresh and also added cinnamon. Used all day bitters from bittercube and subbed egg free tagliatelle. It was a hit!

Jess

It reminds me of my Bubby’s nondairy version, but creamier! I subbed gluten-free fresh egg fettuccine noodles since I can’t have regular pasta, and they have a better chew than any dried GF pasta. I think next time I’ll put it under the broiler for a bit so the noodles on top get crispier. I also swapped dried cherries for the raisins, shredded the apple in my food processor, and added a couple of dashes of orange bitters since I was out of rum. A bit of orange zest would be nice next time, too.

Beth

Any recommendations for a non-dairy yogurt substitute?

KL

The recipe doesn’t specify whether to use plain or sweetened yogurt - what worked best for everyone?

Doren

I was dubious about using yogurt rather than sour cream, cream cheese or cottage cheese - the usual high fat ingredients, but I tried it with nonfat Greek Yogurt, then gave in to my misgivings and added a dollop of (lowfat) softened cream cheese, as well as being more generous with the butter. I also had doubts about rum, which I do love, belonging in a noodle kugel, but went ahead with it. The end result (with a bit of cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top before baking) was luscious!

Coquille

Had to make this for gluten-free and dairy-free guests, so used almond-milk yogurt and vegan cultured butter with Barilla gluten-free fusilli. Didn't have rum, so substituted frangelico instead. Also used 3/4 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg. Got raves!

kplan

I followed the recipe and it turned out very dry. It needs an edit!

S. Bern

Didn’t have quite enough apple so added apple sauce. Used spiced rum because it was what I had and substituted sour cream and cottage cheese for yogurt, which I also didn’t have. Added some cinnamon because I just love it.

Laura

Just made this last night and really like it. Next time I'd double the egg mixture so there's a bit more substance to hold it all together. I used a mixture of Gala and Granny Smith apples, double the vanilla amount, and an Apple Spiced Rum that really added a nice flavor. Reheated for breakfast with a dollop of Greek yogurt. This one is a keeper!

Nenis

Made this with Greek yogurt (which didn’t need draining), Fuji apples and dried cherries instead of raisins. Result was delicious!

Gw

I used egg whites, no yolk noodles, and olive oil instead of butter.Delicious!

Neomi

Great for make ahead breakfast and after school snack. I like to add cinnamon. Also, I put chopped apples in dry skillet to brown a bit before adding butter. Browns fast like that. Made it as is a few times, and today with the addition of almonds.

Lisa

This was really good, and fairly low fat, for a kugel. I often reduce sugar in recipes, but I thought 1/4 cup was fine, here. I grated the apples, instead of pre- cooking them, to streamline the prep. I also skipped the rum, added a little extra vanilla, and swapped the nutmeg for a teaspoon of cinnamon. Before baking, I also sprinkled the top with a little cinnamon sugar. I ended up not really being able to taste the apples (which surprised me), so I probably will chop them next time!

Pauline

Tasty and very simple.I doubled recipe and used half yoghurt and half sour cream.Cranberries instead of raisans.Soak fruit in the rum instead of water .I'm a big nutmeg fan and love any opportunity to use.Along with the rum this dish had a nice West Indian flavour.

Maggie

I added the rum to the apples and butter and it was delicious!

Jenna

I felt the recipe was a bit high maintenance and took too long too make. One tips is I used lactose free organic plain for fat yogurt instead of regular. If I used Earth Balance instead of butter this would be non dairy (but not vegan bc of the eggs). I made it for a Shiva call.

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Noodle and Apple Kugel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why does my noodle Kugel fall apart? ›

Make Sure to Cool Your Kugel

Once it's baked, a kugel needs to cool, otherwise it will fall apart when slicing. Give it at least an hour to cool and set up, then slice and serve it warm or at room temperature.

Is noodle Kugel better hot or cold? ›

Do You Eat Noodle Kugel Hot or Cold? While noodle kugel should be removed from the oven and cooled for at least 30 minutes after baking, it can be eaten at any temperature. Eaten warm, when just set, noodle kugel's texture is more akin to a baked mac and cheese (the extra-crunchy noodles on top might be the best part.)

What is a noodle Kugel? ›

Noodle kugel (לאָקשן קוגל lokshen kugel, pronounced [ˈkʊɡl̩]), also known as lokshen kugel or kigel, is an Ashkenazi Jewish casserole that is traditionally served as a side dish and popular variety of kugel made with lokshen noodles and either a variety of dairy or pareve ingredients, often served on Shabbat and Jewish ...

What is the difference between a casserole and a kugel? ›

The common denominators of all true kugels are a starch base, eggs (or egg substitute), and fat, without the addition of water or other liquids. If the dish lacks any of the basic ingredients, it is technically a casserole or cake, not a kugel.

How long to leave egg noodles out to dry? ›

At room temperature, they should only be allowed to hang for drying no more than two hours to prevent possible salmonella growth. A food dehydrator may also be used to dry noodles; recommendations for drying in a food dehydrator are to dry for two to four hours at 135F.

How do you keep egg noodles from getting mushy? ›

How do you keep noodles from getting soggy in soup? Cook and store the noodles separately, and keep them separate until you're ready to serve a bowl. At which point, put the cold/room temp. noodles in a bowl, and pour the hot soup over them.

What to serve with noodle kugel? ›

Kugel is traditionally served as a side dish alongside something meaty like brisket or roast chicken. In this case it would normally be served warm, but it can also be refrigerated and eaten cold the next day. Sweeter versions can also be eaten hot or cold, and taste great with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.

What can I add to noodles to make them nicer? ›

  1. Butter and Milk (France) To give your noodle recipe a French twist, all you'll need are two ingredients: butter and 🥛 milk. ...
  2. Kimchi (Korea) ...
  3. Fried Bacon and Egg (USA) ...
  4. Peanut Butter and Sriracha Sauce (Thailand) ...
  5. Sliced Cheese (Italy) ...
  6. Sesame Oil and Soy Sauce (Japan) ...
  7. Garlic and Soy Sauce (China) ...
  8. Canned meat.
Sep 24, 2023

Why is kugel sweet? ›

Kugel is a sweet, egg noodle casserole. The noodles are boiled and then baked with some sugar, eggs, sour cream and cottage cheese.

Why do Jews eat kugel? ›

Kugels are a mainstay of festive meals in Ashkenazi Jewish homes, particularly on the Jewish Sabbath and other Jewish holidays or at a tish. Some Hasidic Jews believe that eating kugel on the Jewish Sabbath brings special spiritual blessings, particularly if that kugel was served on the table of a Hasidic Rebbe.

What nationality is noodle Kugel? ›

Hailing from Germany, kugel is, at its core, a baked casserole with starch (usually noodles or potatoes), eggs and fat. While that's the base, kugel can be found in many variations from savory to sweet. The word kugel is German for “sphere,” which refers to the dumplings that made up the earliest version of the dish.

What does "kugel" mean in Yiddish? ›

ku·​gel ˈkü-gəl. : a baked pudding (as of potatoes or noodles) usually served as a side dish.

What is a substitute for farmers cheese in kugel? ›

ILOC tip: if you can't find farmer cheese, just do a full pound of cottage cheese instead.

How many days is kugel good for? ›

Tips for the perfect dish

You may need to add another 10 minutes to the baking time to compensate for starting with a cold casserole. I find this dish tastes best when served right away, as the cornflake topping will soften after the kugel is refrigerated. Leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Is kugel sweet or savory? ›

Noodle kugel is a traditional Jewish holiday dish of egg noodles baked in a sweet or savory custard. Noodle kugel is a traditional Jewish dish of egg noodles baked in a sweet or savory custard.

How do you keep egg noodles from clumping together? ›

It's kind of a no brainer, but stirring the pasta helps keep the noodles moving and breaks up sticky spots before they become full-on clumps. But you don't have to sit over the pot and stir constantly. Aim to stir the pasta fully within the first two minutes of cooking, then another time or two while the pasta cooks.

Why do noodles fall apart? ›

You over- or undercook the noodles.

"The most common mistake is either undercooking or overcooking.

Why do my homemade noodles fall apart? ›

Hanging pasta for long causes it to dry too quickly, and that's what causes curling and brittle or fractured pasta.

What helps noodles not stick together? ›

If you're not tossing your pasta with sauce, or you're cooking it to reheat later, add a small drizzle of olive oil to the boiling water. The oil coats the noodles, ensuring they won't stick together. We don't recommend this tip for other situations, though, as oil will prevent the sauce from adhering to the noodles.

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