27 Hanukkah Desserts (Sufganiyot, Rugelach, Gelt & More)

Hanukkah is eight nights long, which means eight chances for dessert. I take that responsibility very seriously. And since the whole holiday celebrates a miracle of oil, a lot of the best Hanukkah desserts are fried. You will not hear me complain.

Here are 27 of my favorite Hanukkah desserts, from jelly-filled sufganiyot and dessert latkes to rugelach, decorated cookies, homemade gelt and a menorah you can eat. Some are classic, some are a little meshugge, and all of them are worth lighting a candle for.

What desserts are eaten on Hanukkah?

Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil lasting eight nights, so fried foods are the main event. For dessert, that means sufganiyot (jelly donuts) for Ashkenazi and Israeli Jews, plus sfenj in North Africa and bimuelos in Sephardic homes. There is also a tradition of eating dairy, like cheese blintzes and rugelach made with cream cheese dough, in honor of Judith.

Then there is gelt. Chocolate coins started as a nod to the real coins once given as Hanukkah gifts, and they are the prize in every game of dreidel. And in the United States, decorated Hanukkah cookies shaped like dreidels and menorahs have become their own tradition.

How to plan Hanukkah desserts

• Bake ahead. Cookies, rugelach and gelt keep well for days, so make them before the first night.
• Fry last. Sufganiyot and dessert latkes are best fresh, so fry them right before serving, ideally while someone else lights the candles.
• Mix it up across eight nights. Nobody needs all 27 at once. Pick a fried treat for the first party and save the rest for later in the week.
• Check meat and dairy. If you are serving dessert after a meat meal, look for pareve recipes. Many of the dairy ones are better for a Hanukkah brunch or dairy dinner.

27 Hanukkah dessert recipes

Fried and filled

Sufganiyot and fried treats

The other half of the oil miracle. Jelly donuts are the classic, but I have never met a sufganiyah I could leave alone. For the full rundown on frying and filling, see my sufganiyot guide.

Easy Sufganiyot DippersPeanut Butter and Jelly SufganiyotTahini Coffee SufganiyotGingerbread Eggnog SufganiyotApple Pie SufganiyotBoozy Glazed Doughnut Holes

Yes, really

Dessert latkes

Who says latkes have to be savory? These swap the sour cream for whipped cream, chocolate and marshmallows, and I regret nothing.

Latke Fried OreosMexican Chocolate LatkesS’mores LatkesCrispy Sweet Potato Dessert LatkesPumpkin Pie Stuffed LatkesSweet Potato Casserole Latkes

Bake ahead

Cookies and rugelach

The make-ahead heroes of the dessert table. Bake them before the holiday starts, and you will have something sweet ready for all eight nights.

Hanukkah Sugar CookiesNutella RugelachBlack and White Cookies Turned PinkCandied Ginger Cardamom RugelachChocolate Cherry Almond RugelachChocolate Chili Rugelach

Light it up

Gelt and chocolate showstoppers

Homemade gelt, edible menorahs and a few chocolate centerpieces worth putting out when the candles are lit.

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt GeltThe S’menorahShortbread Cake Ball MenorahChocolate Cranberry Cake with Gelt GlazeVegan Chocolate Truffles with ManischewitzMini Chocolate Shortbread Tarts

A little dairy

Blintzes, ice cream and more

Many families eat dairy on Hanukkah in honor of Judith, one of the heroines of the Hanukkah story. Blintzes and ice cream count. Deep fried rugelach counts as delicious.

Manischewitz Ice CreamPumpkin Pie BlintzesDeep Fried Rugelach

Hanukkah desserts FAQ

What is the most popular Hanukkah dessert?

Sufganiyot, especially in Israel, where bakeries sell millions of them every Hanukkah. In the United States, decorated Hanukkah cookies and chocolate gelt are close behind.

Why do people eat dairy on Hanukkah?

It honors Judith, a heroine connected to the Hanukkah story. According to legend, she fed an enemy general salty cheese and wine until he fell asleep, then saved her town. Cheese blintzes, cheese latkes and creamy desserts are a delicious way to remember her.

What is Hanukkah gelt?

Gelt is Yiddish for money. Today it usually means chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, which kids win when they play dreidel. You can also make your own with my dark chocolate sea salt gelt.

What Hanukkah desserts can I make ahead?

Cookies, rugelach, gelt, truffles and the chocolate shortbread tarts can all be made days ahead. Many cookies and rugelach also freeze well. Save the frying for the day you serve them.

Are there pareve Hanukkah desserts?

Yes. The vegan chocolate truffles and dark chocolate gelt can be made pareve with dairy-free chocolate, and many fried desserts can be made with oil and nondairy milk. Check each recipe for butter, milk and cream cheese, and look for swaps in the notes.

More Hanukkah recipes

Planning the whole meal? See my complete Hanukkah menu, 39 Hanukkah appetizers and the best latkes recipe.