Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated with candles, song, and a table brimming with time-honored dishes that honor tradition and bring families together. From the iconic fried classics that pay homage to the miracle of the oil to rich, slow-simmered mains and sweet confections, these 15 recipes capture the heart and history of the holiday. Each one has been passed down through generations, marrying simple ingredients with loving techniques to create memorable feasts. Whether you’re hosting a multi-course celebration or simply seeking to infuse your Hanukkah table with warmth and flavor, these recipes will guide you through a culinary journey that lights up every evening of the festival.
1 Potato Latkes
Crisp-edged yet tender inside, these grated potato pancakes are the quintessential Hanukkah treat. Potatoes and onions are bound with a hint of matzo meal and egg, then fried in oil until golden-brown perfection. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream or a spoonful of applesauce for a harmonious balance of savory and sweet. The key to ultra-crispy latkes lies in removing excess moisture and using a high-smoke-point oil to achieve that deep-fried crunch reminiscent of the holiday’s oil miracle.
Get the recipe on: Potato Latkes
2 Jelly-Filled Sufganiyot
Light, pillowy doughnuts soaked in oil and filled with your choice of vibrant fruit jam—traditionally strawberry or raspberry—then dusted with powdered sugar. The airy yeast dough puffs up beautifully when fried, creating a hollow center ready to be injected with sweet jelly. Each bite delivers a burst of fruity sweetness against a delicate, golden shell. Perfect for serving warm and fresh, these sufganiyot evoke the joyous spirit of Hanukkah and its central theme of light.
Get the recipe on: Jelly-Filled Sufganiyot
3 Braised Beef Brisket
A show-stopping main course, this brisket is rubbed with aromatic spices and seared before slow-braising in a savory-sweet liquid of beef broth, onions, garlic, and a touch of tomato paste. As it cooks low and slow, the meat becomes fork-tender and infused with every note of the braising liquid. Serve thick slices with spoonfuls of the reduced sauce for a comforting entree that anchors your Hanukkah spread in hearty tradition. Get the recipe on: Braised Beef Brisket
4 Classic Matzo Ball Soup
Fluffy, cloud-like matzo balls swim in a clear chicken broth enriched with sautéed onions, carrots, and celery. The matzo mixture—made from matzo meal, eggs, schmaltz or oil, and a dash of salt—yields tender dumplings that absorb the nourishing broth. Garnished with fresh dill or parsley, this soup is both restorative and celebratory, offering warmth and comfort with every spoonful. Get the recipe on: Classic Matzo Ball Soup
5 Sweet Noodle Kugel
Wide egg noodles are baked in a custard of eggs, sour cream, cottage cheese, sugar, and vanilla, then finished with a cinnamon-sugar streusel topping. The contrast between the creamy interior and crisp topping makes each bite irresistible. This sweet kugel is a beloved side or dessert, its luscious texture and gentle sweetness evoking family gatherings around the holiday table.
Get the recipe on: Sweet Noodle Kugel
6 Carrots and Sweet Potatoes
A vibrant stew of sliced carrots, cubed sweet potatoes, and dried fruits such as prunes or apricots, slowly cooked in orange juice and honey until tender and caramelized. Spiced with cinnamon and a hint of ginger, this naturally sweet side celebrates the harvest and symbolizes abundance. Its glossy finish and rich flavors make it an essential complement to savory mains. Get the recipe on: Carrots and Sweet Potatoes
7 Chocolate Rugelach
Tender pastry dough, enriched with cream cheese, is rolled thin, spread with a chocolate-hazelnut filling, and rolled into crescents. A sprinkle of sugar and a brush of egg wash create a shiny, golden exterior. These bite-sized pastries marry flaky layers with gooey chocolate, perfect for ending your holiday meal on a decadent note. Get the recipe on: Chocolate Rugelach
8 Honey Almond Cake
Moist and fragrant, this simple cake uses honey as its primary sweetener, complemented by ground almonds for texture and depth. Lemon zest and a splash of orange juice brighten the batter, while a honey glaze drizzled over the top adds extra shine and sweetness. Slice thin and serve with tea or coffee for a light yet indulgent dessert. Get the recipe on: Honey Almond Cake
9 Apple-Walnut Charoset Parfait
Layered like a trifle, this modern take on charoset features diced apples mixed with crushed walnuts, red wine, honey, and warm spices. Alternate spoonfuls of charoset with vanilla yogurt or mascarpone in clear glasses for an elegant presentation. The combination of crunchy nuts, tender fruit, and creamy layers offers a delightful texture contrast. Get the recipe on: Apple-Walnut Charoset Parfait
10 Sesame Seed Snaps
Thin, brittle sheets of caramelized sugar studded with toasted sesame seeds. These elegant crisps are made in minutes and break into perfect shards for serving. Their nutty aroma and delicate crunch make them a stellar sweet snack or an accompaniment to coffee after your holiday feast.
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11 Spinach and Feta Borekas
Flaky phyllo pastry pockets filled with a savory blend of chopped spinach, crumbled feta, onion, and dill. Baked until golden and brushed with sesame seeds, these portable hand pies offer a salty, herbal bite that pairs beautifully with richer mains. Serve warm for an appetizer or side dish that introduces Mediterranean flair to your Hanukkah menu.
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12 Apple Challah Rolls
Traditional egg-enriched challah dough is studded with diced apples and chopped nuts—such as walnuts or pecans—then braided into individual rolls. A brush of honey syrup after baking gives each roll a glossy sheen and extra sweetness. These rolls are perfect for dipping into soup or savoring on their own with a pat of butter. Get the recipe on:Apple Challah Rolls
13 Chocolate Gelt Bark
Melted dark and white chocolate are swirled together on a parchment-lined sheet, then sprinkled with gold-wrapped chocolate coins (gelt), chopped pistachios, and dried cranberries. Once set, the bark breaks into festive pieces that combine creamy chocolate with crunchy nuts and tart fruit—ideal for gifting or grazing. Get the recipe on: Chocolate Gelt Bark
14 Cinnamon-Sugar Hanukkah Doughnuts
Mini yeast doughnuts are fried until golden, then immediately tossed in a warm mixture of cinnamon and sugar. The result is a perfectly crisp exterior giving way to a pillowy interior, with a fragrant spice coating that evokes childhood celebrations and winter fairs.
Get the recipe on: Cinnamon-Sugar Hanukkah Doughnuts
15 Bimuelos (Sephardic Fritters)
Light and airy balls of dough, deep-fried until golden, then drizzled generously with honey and dusted with cinnamon. These Sephardic Hanukkah treats offer a softer, pillowy texture compared to Ashkenazi doughnuts and carry a delightful sweetness that honors the festival’s themes.
Get the recipe on: Bimuelos (Sephardic Fritters)
This curated collection of 15 time-honored Hanukkah recipes spans the sweet, savory, and celebratory flavors that define the Festival of Lights. From the quintessential potato latkes that evoke the miracle of the oil to sumptuous mains like braised brisket and delicate pastries such as rigelach, each dish weaves together heritage, taste, and togetherness. Whether you’re upholding family traditions or creating new ones, these recipes will illuminate your holiday table and leave every guest with memories of warmth, light, and shared joy.
