Mohn bar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mohn bar

Mohn bar
Alternative names	Muhn bar, mon bar, mun bar, poppy seed bar, poppy seed blondie
Type	Baked good, bar or pastry
Course	Dessert or breakfast
Place of origin	Ashkenazi Jewish communities
Main ingredients	Flour, poppy seeds, sugar, egg, oil or butter, streusel or crumb topping

A Mohn bar is a yummy baked treat, sometimes called a poppy seed bar. It's a special dessert from Ashkenazi Jewish cooking. Imagine a soft, cookie-like base topped with a sweet poppy seed filling. On top of that, there's a delicious crumbly topping. You can often find these bars in Jewish bakeries and delis, especially in the United States.

The History of Mohn Bars

Mohn bars come from the shtetl, which were small villages where Ashkenazi Jews lived in Eastern Europe. People have been making these treats since the Middle Ages. When Jewish people moved from Europe to other parts of the world, they brought their favorite foods with them. This included the tasty mohn bar.

Mohn bars were very popular in Jewish communities in the United States for a long time. However, by the late 1900s, new desserts like chocolate and jam-filled treats became more common. Even so, you can still find mohn bars in many Jewish bakeries today. They are enjoyed in the Jewish diaspora (Jewish communities around the world) and in Israel.

What is a Mohn Bar?

Mohn bars are made with a pastry or cookie dough. This dough is then filled or topped with a special ingredient called mohn. Mohn is a sweet poppy seed filling. It's often used in other Jewish baked goods. Some examples are hamantash and babka.

After the mohn filling, a sweet, crumbly topping is added. The bar is then baked until it's golden brown. Once it cools down, it's sliced into individual bars. They look a bit like lemon bars. Mohn bars are usually served cool, at room temperature. They make a great breakfast or dessert!

How Mohn Bars Are Made

Making a mohn bar usually starts with a dough similar to what's used for shortbread. This dough is often pareve, meaning it doesn't contain any dairy or meat products. Sometimes, though, it might be made with butter.

The dough is rolled out to be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Then, it's placed in a baking dish. Next, the sweet mohn filling is spread evenly over the dough. After that, a crumbly streusel topping is sprinkled on top. Sometimes, another thin layer of dough might cover the mohn filling. This makes it look a bit like a fig newton.

Finally, the mohn bar is baked until it's ready. Once it cools, it's often dusted with powdered sugar. Then, it's cut into those delicious individual "bars" we love!

Where to Find Mohn Bars

You can buy mohn bars at many Jewish bakeries, delis, and restaurants. They are especially popular in certain areas of the United States. These include the Northeast, Southern California, and South Florida.

You might also find packaged mohn bars in grocery stores in these regions. Kosher markets across the country also sell them. Some well-known brands that make mohn bars include "Green's" and "Beigel Bakery."