Growing up, my momma and I spent countless hours baking and cooking together in my hometown of Milwaukee. Whether whipping up a new recipe just because or making a family din, we cherished every second of this tradition. Soon she was teaching me to make all of her most delectable recipes, each of which was handwritten on a notecard and kept neatly in a container for which I drew a “Shelly’s Recipes” label. Naturally, I still have it with me to this day.
Fast forward to one rainy afternoon during my adulthood, not long before my momma got sick, when she finally asked me to make challah with her — a not-so-easy recipe she hadn’t yet taught me. When I asked her why this notoriously tricky bread was the recipe of choice for that day, she responded, “I’d just feel better knowing I showed you.” An instant flood of tears fell down my face finally being struck by the reality that our beloved tradition couldn’t last forever.
Though I didn’t know it as a young girl, these memories in the kitchen became some of the mother-daughter moments I cherish the most and continue to speak endlessly about. So, when I met award-winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan at her former bakery, Beurre & Sel, shortly after my mom's passing, I knew I had to share one of my momma’s most famous recipes, her Mandel Bread, with her. Luckily I did, because she fell in love with it.
Since 2016, this special recipe has been published in her cookbook, Dorie’s Cookies, in memory of my momma, who would be so happy to share it with the world. Until Dorie’s cookie book gets delivered to your door (yes, you’ll want to order it if you haven’t already), here’s my momma’s original Mandel Bread recipe below. Trust me, you’ll love it as much as we do.
Handwritten Mandel Bread recipe by Nancy’s momma, Shelly Schnoll, which has been iterated on over the years to include chocolate chips.
