Duvshaniot

Duvshaniot are a small, round medium brown-colored cookie. They are made with a variety of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, or baharat. They get their English name, “honey buttons”, from the use of honey or silan in these cookies. This gives them their signature, spiced honey flavor. Duvshaniot are commonly sold in glazed, topped with fondant, or plain, unglazed varieties.[1]

Duvshaniot are associated with the celebration of the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah. It is a common custom in Israel for families and friends to send each other gift baskets containing biscuits and sweets such as duvshaniot. Duvshaniot are made with honey, and honey is one of the food traditions balky consumed during Rosh Hashanah as part of the celebration, to usher in a “sweet new year”.[2]

Duvshaniot are commonly available from bakeries across Israel during the High Holiday season. Packaged varieties made by companies such as Osem[3] are sold at grocery and convenience stores in Israel, and are also exported abroad to countries such as the United States.