Let the holiday baking begin! Chanukah cookies with a baked in chocolate dreidel. No need for special hanukkah cookie cutters. Learn how to make a dreidel cookie out of a heart shaped cookie cutter.
Chanukah sugar cookies
Donuts don’t have to be the only dessert on the Chanukah table. You can easily decorate sugar cookies with Chanukah designs.
We’ve already made these slice and bake hanukkah cookies with a menorah baked inside. This year let’s add a fun spin to your holiday cookies…
Dreidel Cookie
This year’s cookie creation includes another element of Chanukah, a dreidel. The four sided spinning top that is played with over the holiday.
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Hanukkah cookie cutters
An easy way to shape holiday cookies is with a cookie cutters or a mold. Simply mix up your favorite cookie dough recipe, cut or fill, bake and your done. You don’t even have to decorate them.
These are a great option for regular chanukah cookies. But what if you want to decorate smaller cookies?
Like the menorah cookies, I knew I’d have to hand-make the design. But this time, there is a tool to help. A small heart shaped cookie cutter can be used to cut dreidel shapes. Another great way to use tools you already have.
*UPDATE* these linzer tart molds and chocolate molds can also be used as mini decorating options. Keep reading if you want to save your kitchen storage space.
What you need to make these cookies for hanukkah
A batch of chocolate and vanilla cookie dough ( I doubled the amount of chocolate).
Small heart shaped cookie cutter to create the base of the dreidal
A bench scraper to easily cut straight lines through the dough
How to make a dreidel cookie from a heart cookie cutter
Here’s how to use a heart shaped cookie cutter to form raw cookie dough into a dreidel shape.
Make a heart shaped cookie
Fill the heart shaped cutters with cookie dough. Use a knife or bench scraper to remove excess dough from the sides.
Push the dough out of the mold and transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat to make as many as needed. Freeze until firm.
Cut into a driedel
Once firm, remove the heart shaped cookie dough from the freezer. The dreidel shape is made from the bottom pointed edge of the heart. Any pieces removed can be reused to create more dreidels, just refill the cookie cutter to create more hearts.
Use a bench scraper or a knife to make the following cuts: (1) Straight across the top to remove the two arches at the top of the heart. (2) Vertically on both the right and left sides, creating right angles at the top corners.
Next, use the pointed tip of the heart shaped cookie cutter to cut squares from the two corners at the top. This creates the handle portion of the dreidel. Freeze again until firm.
Watch how to make this recipe
Ways to use these mini dreidel hanukah cookies
After allowing the dreidel shapes to set in the freezer, they can be used to make cookies in a few different ways.
Slice & bake hanukkah cookie
Stack a few of the chocolate dreidels together. If necessary, use egg wash to keep them attached. Add pieces of vanilla dough to surround them. Roll in plastic wrap and freeze until solid. Slice and bake as many cookies as you need just like these.
Mini dreidals
Since they are still the height of your cookie cutters, you’ll likely want to cut them down first. Make sure to do this when they are firm. To help reduce the risk of breaking off the handle portion of the dreidal, start to cut from the top (the thinner part) down. Then turn onto one of the flat sides to finish cutting.
Bake them into mini dreidel cookies.
Cookie decoration
Roll one tablespoon of vanilla cookie dough into a ball. Use the palm of your hand to flatten. Press a piece of the chocolate mini dreidel on top.
Baking Instructions
The cookie dough can be baked immediately or stored in the freezer (raw or baked) until needed.
Place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake in a preheated 350° oven for about 10-15 minutes. Time will vary depending on the shape/size of the cookies. Remove once edges begin to turn a golden brown.
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Dreidel Cookies
How to make Chanukah themed dreidel cookies out of a heart shaped cookie cutter.
Materials
- chocolate & vanilla cookie dough
Tools
- heart shaped cookie cutter
- bench scraper
Instructions
Make a Heart Cookie
- Press cookie dough into small heart shaped cookie cutter. Fill to the top. Use a knife to level off the top and remove excess dough.
- Gently push out the dough to release from the cookie cutter. Transfer to a baking sheet and freeze until firm.
- Repeat to make as many as needed. Each heart make 2-3 dreidels.
Cut Down to a Dreidel Shape
Once firm, remove the heart shaped cookie dough from the freezer. The dreidel shape is made from the bottom pointed edge of the heart. Any pieces removed can be reused to create more dreidels, just refill the cookie cutter to create more hearts.
Use a bench scraper or a knife to make the following cuts:
- Straight across the top to remove the two arches of the heart
- Vertically on both the right and left sides, creating right angles at the top corners.
Next, use the pointed tip of the heart shaped cookie cutter to cut squares from the two corners at the top of the dreidel—this creates the handle portion of the dreidel. Freeze again until firm.
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Have a Happy Chanukah.
