Ron Ben-Israel Cakes Menu

Breads & Bagels

Ashkenazi deli breads, from seeded rye to bialys, baked for sandwiches and Shabbat tables.

• ChallahVegetarianBraided egg bread with a glossy, lacquered crust and a soft, pull-apart interior, traditionally baked for Friday night Shabbat dinner.
• BialysVegetarian · VeganFlat, chewy rolls from Białystok with a sunken center filled with roasted onion and poppy seeds, baked rather than boiled.
• BagelsVegetarian · VeganHand-rolled rings, boiled then baked for a chewy, dense bite and a shiny crust, in plain, sesame, poppy, onion and everything.
• Onion PletzelVegetarian · VeganLarge, flat onion board topped with caramelized onions and poppy seeds, crisp at the edges and torn into pieces at the table.
• Jewish RyeVegetarian · VeganSour rye loaf flecked with caraway seeds, with a shiny, chewy crust and a tight crumb sturdy enough for piled-high pastrami sandwiches.
• Corn RyeVegetarian · VeganHeavy, moist New York-style sour rye with a cornmeal-dusted bottom and a crackling crust, sold by the pound and sliced to order.
• Pumpernickel RaisinVegetarian · VeganDark, slightly sweet pumpernickel loaf studded with plump raisins, dense and moist, often toasted with cream cheese.

Babka & Cakes

Swirled yeast cakes and loaf cakes sold whole or by the slice.

• Jewish Apple CakeVegetarianTube cake layered with cinnamon-tossed apple slices, made with oil for a moist, tender crumb and a crackly sugared top.
• Chocolate BabkaVegetarian · Popular pickTwisted yeast loaf with many swirls of dark chocolate filling, often topped with crunchy streusel, moist and rich in every slice.
• Cinnamon BabkaVegetarianBraided babka with cinnamon-sugar ribbons running through a soft, buttery dough, finished with a crumbly streusel topping.
• Honey Cake (Lekach)Vegetarian · SeasonalDark, fragrant loaf sweetened with honey and spiced with cinnamon, clove and coffee, baked for a sweet new year at Rosh Hashanah.
• Marble Pound CakeVegetarianDense loaf cake with ribbons of chocolate and vanilla batter folded together, tight-crumbed and good for slicing thin with coffee.
• New York CheesecakeVegetarianTall, dense cheesecake of cream cheese on a graham or sponge base, creamy and tangy with a lightly browned top.

Cookies & Rugelach

Deli-counter cookies sold by the piece or by the pound.

• Seven-Layer CookiesVegetarian · Contains nutsTricolor almond sponge layers stacked with apricot and raspberry jam, enrobed in a thin shell of chocolate.
• Linzer TartsVegetarian · Contains nutsJam-filled sandwich cookies of nutty shortbread dusted with powdered sugar, the raspberry center peeking through a cut-out.
• KichelVegetarianAiry, crisp bow-tie cookies made from an eggy dough sprinkled with sugar, light enough to pair with herring or schnapps.
• Black & White CookiesVegetarian · Popular pickOversized, cake-like cookies with a soft vanilla-lemon crumb, iced half in vanilla fondant and half in chocolate.
• RugelachVegetarian · Contains nutsRolled crescents of cream cheese dough filled with apricot jam, raspberry, chocolate or cinnamon-walnut, flaky and tender.
• MandelbrotVegetarian · Contains nutsTwice-baked almond loaves sliced into crisp oblongs, the Ashkenazi cousin of biscotti, often with chocolate chips or cinnamon sugar.

Danish & Pastries

Laminated and yeasted pastries from the Eastern European bakery tradition.

• Apple StrudelVegetarianThin, flaky dough rolled around cinnamon apples and raisins, baked crisp and cut into slices.
• Kokosh CakeVegetarian · Contains nutsHungarian-style yeast cake rolled with thick layers of cocoa or walnut filling, denser than babka with fewer twists.
• Chocolate EclairVegetarianLong choux pastry filled with vanilla custard and dipped in glossy chocolate icing, a fixture of the deli bakery case.
• Cheese DanishVegetarian · Popular pickFlaky pastry wrapped around a sweet, slightly tangy farmer's cheese filling, sometimes swirled with fruit and finished with glaze.
• SchneckenVegetarian · Contains nutsSticky snail-shaped cinnamon rolls baked in a pan of brown sugar and butter, then turned out glistening with caramel and pecans.
• Prune Lekvar DanishVegetarianButter-rich Danish pastry filled with thick, dark lekvar plum butter, offering a deep, tart-sweet flavor against the flaky, golden layers.

Holiday Baking

Seasonal treats for Purim, Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah and Passover.

• SufganiyotVegetarian · SeasonalJelly-filled doughnuts fried in oil for Hanukkah, dusted with powdered sugar and filled with strawberry or raspberry jam.
• Round Raisin ChallahVegetarian · SeasonalSpiral-shaped challah studded with raisins and brushed with honey, baked for Rosh Hashanah to symbolize the cycle of the year.
• Coconut MacaroonsVegetarian · SeasonalChewy mounds of shredded coconut and egg white, golden at the tips, often half-dipped in chocolate for Passover.
• Passover Sponge CakeVegetarian · SeasonalTall, airy cake leavened only by whipped eggs and made with matzo cake meal and potato starch for the Passover table.
• HamantaschenVegetarian · SeasonalTriangular Purim cookies with a shortbread-like dough folded around poppy seed, prune, apricot or chocolate filling.

Knishes & Savory

Hot savory items found at Jewish delis and bakeries.

• Potato KugelVegetarian · SavoryBaked pudding of grated potato, onion and egg with a deeply crisp top and edges and a soft, savory center.
• Lokshen KugelVegetarianSweet baked egg-noodle pudding with farmer's cheese, sour cream, cinnamon and raisins, custardy inside and crisp on top.
• Potato KnishVegetarian · SavoryThin, crisp dough wrapped around a peppery mashed potato and fried onion filling, baked golden and served hot with mustard.
• Kasha KnishVegetarian · SavoryBaked knish filled with toasted buckwheat groats and onion, earthy and nutty with a toothsome texture.
• Spinach KnishVegetarian · SavoryRound baked pastry stuffed with potato and chopped spinach, seasoned with onion and black pepper.

Fillings

Layers spread between the cake rounds to add moisture, contrast and flavor.

• Bavarian creamVegetarianVanilla custard lightened with whipped cream, cool and pudding-like; pairs especially well with layers of sliced fruit.
• Fresh strawberries & creamVegetarian · SeasonalSliced ripe strawberries set into whipped cream between layers, juicy and light; best for cakes served within a day of pickup.
• Salted caramelVegetarian · Gluten-freeSlow-cooked caramel with a pinch of sea salt, thick and buttery, often piped inside a buttercream dam to keep layers neat.
• Cookies & cream mousseVegetarianWhipped vanilla mousse folded with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies, giving a speckled look and soft crunch between layers.
• Cannoli creamVegetarian · Gluten-freeSweetened ricotta with mini chocolate chips and a hint of orange zest, borrowed from the Sicilian pastry shop.
• Raspberry preservesVegan · Dairy-freeTart, seedy raspberry jam spread between layers; it cuts through rich buttercream and leaves a vivid ribbon of color in each slice.
• Lemon curdVegetarian · Gluten-freeSilky, tangy curd cooked from lemon juice, eggs and butter, adding a bright, puckery layer to vanilla or almond cake.
• Dark chocolate ganacheVegetarian · Gluten-freeMelted dark chocolate whisked with warm cream, setting into a dense, fudgy layer between chocolate or vanilla sponges.

Drinks

• Flat whiteVegetarianA smaller, stronger cousin of the latte: a double ristretto under silky, barely-foamed milk for a dense texture and pronounced coffee flavor.
• MochaVegetarianEspresso, chocolate sauce, and steamed milk, sometimes crowned with whipped cream; a dessert-leaning drink balancing cocoa richness with coffee bite.
• Cold brewVeganCoarse grounds steeped in cold water for twelve hours or more, yielding a smooth, low-acid concentrate served over ice with chocolatey undertones.
• AmericanoVeganEspresso stretched with hot water into a full-size cup; lighter in body than drip yet keeps the toasty edge of the shot.
• CappuccinoVegetarianEqual-ish parts espresso, steamed milk, and airy foam cap, giving a drier, stronger-tasting drink than a latte with a velvety top layer.
• Caffè latteVegetarianEspresso with plenty of steamed milk and a thin microfoam layer; mellow and creamy, often finished with latte art and offered with oat or almond milk.