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Georgian

Churchkhela

Vegetarian

ჩურჩხელა · Churchkhela

Strings of walnuts dipped again and again in thickened grape juice, then dried into chewy, candle-shaped sweets. Made after the grape harvest and kept for winter.

Churchkhela is a Georgian dessert, ready in about 48 hours 55 minutes and made with walnuts and grape juice. It serves 6 and is rated intermediate to cook.

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Prep
30 min
Cook
25 min
Rest
48 h
Total
48 h 55 min
Serves
6
Level
Intermediate
Calories
379

Dries for 2 days, or up to 2 weeks for a firmer, longer-keeping churchkhela.

Ingredients

6 strings

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    Thread the walnut (opens in a new tab) halves onto 6 strings about 30 cm long using a needle, leaving a loop at the top for hanging.

    • 20 min

  2. Step 2

    Whisk (opens in a new tab) the flour with 250 ml of the cold juice until smooth. Heat the rest of the juice (with the sugar (opens in a new tab), if using) to a simmer.

    Eggs being whisked in a bowl
    How it looks · Photo: Kampus Production on Pexels

  3. Step 3

    Whisk (opens in a new tab) the flour paste into the hot juice and cook, stirring constantly, until it becomes a thick, glossy pudding (tatara) that coats a spoon heavily.

    • 15 min
    • medium-low heat

  4. Step 4

    Dip each string of nuts into the hot mixture, lift out and let the excess drip back. Hang for 10 minutes, then dip again; repeat 3–4 times until about 1 cm thick.

    • 15 min

    Food safety: The thickened juice is very hot and sticky — take care when dipping.

  5. Step 5

    Hang in a cool, airy place for at least 2 days until the coating is dry to the touch but still chewy.

    • 2 min

About this dish

Origin
Georgia · Well documentedAlso made in Armenia (sharots), Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Cyprus.Also popular in ArmeniaMore food from Georgia
Dish
Snack · Dessert · Desserts · Sweets & confectionery
Cooking method
Simmered, No-cook
Taste
sweet, fruity, nutty
Diet
Vegan · Dairy-free
All labelsVegan · Plant-based · Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Ovo-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · Dairy-free · Egg-free · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Low-sodium · DASH-style
Without the optional extras: No added sugarWith the listed swaps: No gluten ingredientsWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
Good for
Make-ahead · Portable / lunchbox · Festive & celebration
Cook more with
Walnuts · Grape juice · All-purpose flour
Techniques
Simmering

Allergens

  • Contains: Tree nutsfrom walnuts
  • Contains, can be adapted: Wheatfrom all-purpose flour
  • Contains, can be adapted: Glutenfrom all-purpose flour

Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

Nutrition

379 kcal per serving

Calculated

1 serving ≈ 225 g · recipe makes 6

Where the energy comes from

  • Protein 7%
  • Carbohydrate 42%
  • Fat 50%
Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
Energy379 kcal168 kcal
Protein7.3 g3.2 g
Carbohydrate42.1 g18.7 g
Net carbohydrate39.1 g17.4 g
Sugars26 g11.6 g
Added sugars0 g0 g
Fibre3 g1.3 g
Fat22.1 g9.8 g
Saturated fat2.1 g0.9 g
Trans fat——
Cholesterol0 mg0 mg
Sodium10 mg4 mg
Salt equivalent0 g0 g
Vitamins & minerals per serving
Potassium
347 mg
Calcium
54 mg
Iron
2.1 mg
Magnesium
74 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)
0 µg
Vitamin C
1 mg
Vitamin D
0 µg
Vitamin B12
0 µg
Folate (DFE)
76 µg

How these numbers were made

  • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
  • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
  • Optional ingredients are not included: sugar.
  • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
  • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Good to know

Tips

  • Let each layer set slightly before the next dip so the coating builds evenly.

Common mistakes

  • A too-thin mixture slides off the nuts — cook it until it is really thick.

Serve with

  • Slice into rounds and serve with tea or a glass of wine.

Storage

  • Once dry, wrap in paper and keep in a cool, dry place for several months.

Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

Recipe DNA

How this dish is built

Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

What the dish is built around

Main ingredient

Used in step 2

Reviews & corrections

Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.

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