50+ Hanukkah Recipes (Latkes, Sufganiyot & More)

Fa-la-la-la-latkes! Who needs elves when you have eight days of presents and fried potatoes on repeat? Hanukkah, aka the Festival of Lights, is eight nights of candle lighting, dreidel spinning, and (best of all) eating all the foods fried in oil. Here are 50+ Hanukkah recipes organized by course, from crispy latkes and jelly-filled sufganiyot to brisket, rugelach, and even homemade gelt.

Why we eat fried foods on Hanukkah

Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil. When the Jewish Maccabees rededicated the Temple after they defeated the Greeks in spite of being smaller is stature and number, a single day’s worth of oil kept their menorah burning for eight nights. A miracle is right! To honor that crazy event, we eat foods fried in oil. You don’t have to tell me twice:

• Latkes – crispy potato pancakes fried in oil, the signature Hanukkah dish
• Sufganiyot – jelly-filled (or filled with other things) doughnuts, fried and dusted with sugar
• Other fried foods – from fritters to doughnut holes, anything golden and crisp
• We also eat Chocolate Gelt – chocolate coins, tied to the tradition of giving children small gifts of money

Latkes and sufganiyot are the Ashkenazi favorites, but Jewish communities around the world fry up their own Hanukkah treats:

• Bimuelos (Sephardic) – light fried dough puffs drizzled with honey or syrup, a classic on Ladino tables
• Sfenj (Moroccan and North African) – ring-shaped fried doughnuts, often dusted with sugar
• Loukoumades (Greek) – golden fried dough balls soaked in honey syrup
• Zalabia (Iraqi and Yemenite) – crisp fried dough in fragrant syrup
• Keftes de prasa (Sephardic) – savory fried leek patties for those who prefer salty to sweet
• Precipizi (Italian Jewish) – little fried dough balls tossed in warm honey
• Gulab jamun (Indian Jewish) – fried milk-dough balls soaked in rosewater syrup

Why we eat cheese on Hanukkah

Fried foods get all the attention, but dairy is a quieter Hanukkah tradition, and it comes with one of the holiday’s best stories. According to the Book of Judith, a Jewish widow named Judith saved her besieged town by visiting the enemy general Holofernes, feeding him salty cheese to make him thirsty, and plying him with wine until he fell into a drunken sleep. She then killed him, and his leaderless army scattered. Girl power!

To honor Judith’s bravery, many Jews eat cheese and dairy foods during Hanukkah. That’s why you’ll find cheese blintzes, creamy dips, dairy rugelach and other rich dairy desserts on the holiday table right alongside the latkes. Sour cream on your latkes counts too.

Latkes

• The Best Latke Recipe + Tips
• Rainbow Latkes
• Sweet Potato Latkes with Cranberry Applesauce
• Potato Latke Eggs Benedict
• Latke Nachos
• Latke Pizza
• Mexican Potato Latkes
• Mexican Chocolate Latkes
• Kimchi Quesadilla Latkes
• Avocado Latke Breakfast Tacos
• Pumpkin Pie Stuffed Latkes
• Coconut Latkes with Cranberry Applesauce
• Apple Spice Latkes
• Gorgonzola Mashed Potato Latkes
• Haricot Vert Latkes
• General Tso’s Latkes
• Reuben Latkes
• S’mores Latkes
• Lucky Jew Year’s Latkes
• Latke Fried Oreos
• Crispy Sweet Potato Dessert Latkes

Brisket & savory mains

• Classic Brisket
• Sweet and Tangy Brisket
• Pomegranate Brisket with Cranberry Succotash
• Bourbon and Coffee Braised Brisket
• White Wine Braised Brisket with Apricots
• Sous Vide Brisket with Tahini Sauce
• Manischewitz Braised Short Ribs
• Beer-Battered Deep-Fried Brisket Fritters
• Deep-Fried Matzo Balls

Blintzes, bread & challah

• Brie and Apple Blintzes
• Pumpkin Pie Blintzes
• Blueberry Blintzes
• Tzimmes Blintzes with Cardamom Yogurt Sauce
• Chai Tea Challah
• Pumpkin Challah
• Latke-Stuffed Challah
• Cheesy Garlic Bread Menorah
• Olive Potato Focaccia with Asparagus Menorah

Sufganiyot & doughnuts

• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sufganiyot
• Gingerbread Eggnog Sufganiyot
• Boozy Glazed Doughnut Holes
• Easy Sufganiyot Dippers
• Everything Bagel Sufganiyot
• Tahini Coffee Sufganiyot
• Savory Sufganiyot with Chopped Liver Mousse

Rugelach

• Nutella Rugelach
• Deep-Fried Rugelach
• Pumpkin Butter and Caramelized Fig Rugelach
• Candied Ginger, Almond and Cardamom Rugelach
• Chocolate, Pumpkin and Almond Rugelach

Cookies, gelt & sweet treats

• Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Gelt
• Chocolate Cranberry Cake with Gelt Glaze
• Manischewitz Ice Cream
• Vegan Chocolate Manischewitz Truffles
• Hanukkah Sugar Cookies
• Mini Chocolate Shortbread Tarts
• The S’menorah

Drinks

• Manischewitz Champagne Spritzer
• Pomegranate Cardamom Spritzer

More Jewish holiday recipe collections

• 90+ Rosh Hashanah Recipes
• 25 Brisket Recipes
• The 20 Best Jewish Main Dishes

Hanukkah recipes FAQ

What foods do you eat on Hanukkah?

The classics are foods fried in oil like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Plus brisket, dairy dishes like blintzes (not mixed if you are kosher), rugelach, and chocolate gelt. Fried and golden is the theme.

Why do we eat fried foods on Hanukkah?

Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of a single day’s oil lasting eight nights in the rededicated Temple. Eating foods fried in oil like latkes and sufganiyot honors that miracle.

What are latkes?

Latkes are crispy fried potato pancakes made from shredded potatoes, egg, and a little flour or matzo meal, traditionally served with applesauce and sour cream. They’re the most iconic Hanukkah food IMO!

What are sufganiyot?

Sufganiyot are fried, jelly-filled doughnuts (or filled with other fun stuff) dusted with powdered sugar, eaten during Hanukkah in Israel and around the world. Like latkes, they’re fried in oil to honor the holiday’s miracle.

What is Hanukkah gelt?

Gelt (Yiddish for “money”) refers to the chocolate coins given to children during Hanukkah, tied to an old tradition of gifting small amounts of money. You can also make it homemade. A cute, tasty and traditional gift!

Can you make latkes ahead of time?

Yes. Fry latkes fully, cool, and freeze in a single layer; reheat in a 375°F oven until crisp. They’re a great make-ahead so you’re not frying through the whole party and can actually enjoy it instead!