This delicious sweet gluten free kugel is made with thick gluten free rice fettuccine noodles. My Grandma's classic recipe is perfect to enjoy for Shabbat or any Jewish holiday. Think of a kugel as noodles in a rich sweet custard.
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This kugel features a delicious crisp gluten free cinnamon Chex topping. One bite of this homemade noodle kugel and you and your family will be hooked!
If you love this kugel recipe, you may want to try more of my Grandma's homemade recipes like her homemade chicken soup.
Why you need to try this recipe:
This is the recipe you MUST try because it is so easy to make and it is just crazy good. The whole family will love it, even your picky eaters!
I experimented with a lot of different gluten free noodles to re-create my Grandma's recipe. The biggest struggle I had in trying to convert my Grandma's recipe to gluten free was finding a gluten free noodle that would hold up to a lot of moisture.
For Rosh Hashana, I highly recommend adding diced or shredded apples to your kugel. You can use a gluten free honey cornflake topping (by Nature's Path for your apples and honey :-).)
What is the best gluten free pasta for kugel?
There is a gluten free kosher egg noodle, but it literally turned to mush! I tried many brands of gluten free penne, rotini, and spaghetti. My best success, the one I used for this recipe is a gluten free tagliatelle noodle by Jovial.
The Jovial brand of gluten free pasta seems to hold up the best in recipes, as shown in my gluten free macaroni salad recipe.
You can make either sweet and savory kugels depending on what you enjoy. Kugel can be made with noodles, potato, rice, or even matzo (for Passover).
Ingredients:
- Jovial gluten free pasta - as I mentioned above will hold up the best to a cream sauce.
- sour cream - I use full-fat sour cream. I think it adds to the creaminess. *Note, I have also had great luck with full-fat Greek yogurt if you prefer to use yogurt.
- cream cheese - Again, you want to use full-fat cream cheese. Trust me, it tastes much better in this recipe.
- salt - kosher salt is better than Himalayan salt in this recipe.
- vanilla - you can use vanilla extract or fresh vanilla beans.
- mandarin orange - juice + the zest because this adds that special something!
Recipe step by step directions:
Step 2 
Step 3
Step 1: Cook the gluten free noodles according to package directions. Preheat your oven to 350º F.
Step 2: Add your wet ingredients to a bowl and use an electric mixer to whip it together.
Step 3: Add your noodles to the cream cheese mixture. Mix to coat all of the noodles. Put the noodle mixture into an 8x8 greased casserole dish.
Step 4 
Step 5
Step 4: If you are using cereal for a topping, put it into a sealed bag and crush it into crumbs.
Step 5: Sprinkle the crumbs over the noodle mixture.
Topping ideas:
You can top a sweet kugel many different ways, or leave it without a topping. My favorite topping is using Cinnamon Chex cereal, but here are a few more ideas:
- Make a streusel topping like the one I used in this gluten free coffee cake recipe.
- Gluten Free Honey Cornflakes by Nature's Path is also delicious!
- You can also have some fun toppings using Enviro Kids gluten free cereals.
- Toasted coconut.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
As perfect as a noodle kugel would be for dessert, it is considered a side dish and is served with the main meal.
You can eat it hot or cold. My personal preference is warm so that the creamy sauce is not cold and hard.
Yes, you can definitely add fruit. Apples and raisins are the most commonly added fruits.
This kugel will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes to Try:
- Even picky kids will love this easy kale and apple salad!
- You can make these gluten free latkes in an air fryer or fried in oil!
- Kids go crazy over these brown sugar cinnamon carrots!
Recipe
Gluten Free Noodle Kugel
Ingredients
- 4 cups gluten free pasta I used Jovial brand
- 4 large eggs
- 8 ounces sour cream full fat
- 8 ounces cream cheese full fat
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ¼ cup orange juice I used a large mandarin orange
- 2 cups Cinnamon Chex Cereal
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions (see note)
- Preheat the oven to 325º F.
- In a standing mixer or large bowl, add the eggs, sour cream, cream cheese, orange juice and zest, vanilla, salt, sugar, and heavy cream. Mix until creamy.
- Add the noodles to the cheese mixture and mix to coat all of the noodles.
- Pour the noodles into a greased 8x8 baking dish.
- Put the Cinnamon Chex cereal into a large Ziplock bag and crush into crumbs.
- Sprinkle the cereal mix over the kugel and put the dish into the oven.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
Notes
- Every gluten free pasta brand has different cooking directions so please use the cook times listed on the box.
- Use full-fat sour cream and cream cheese. It will make the custard creamier.
- If you do not have Cinnamon Chex Cereal, you can use any sweet topping. You can make a streusel topping, use toasted coconut, or use another fun sweet crushed cereal.
- This kugel will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Beth
I alway's love a good 'Grandma's Recipe'! I've never heard of this dish but I also enjoy trying new family recipes that even my picky eaters will enjoy!
Sandi Gaertner
Picky eaters will love this..it is sweet and creamy like a dessert 🙂
Bonnie
I am anxious to try the gluten free kugel but don't know how much pasta to use. It says 4 cups. Is that one pkg of 9 oz Jovial or more? Looking forward to your response.
Sandi Gaertner
A 9 ounce package of Jovial gluten free pasta is perfect Bonnie.
Linda
This IS like Grandma used to make! It was super creamy and, I did as you suggested, and used full fat ingredients. The citrus juice and cinnamon were a delicious surprise when I took a bite. I would definitely make this again.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe Linda, you made my day!