41 Hanukkah Recipes to Celebrate the Festival of Lights
Many traditional Hanukkah foods, like shallow-fried potato latkes and deep-fried jelly doughnuts, hinge on oil. Also called the Festival of Lights, the Jewish holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the story, there was only enough oil to fuel the menorah for one night, but somehow, someway, it lasted for eight.
Today’s tradition of lighting candles for eight consecutive evenings and, yes, enjoying lots of crispy fried foods, honors that magical flame. But there’s more to Hanukkah than potato pancakes and sufganiyot. Below, we’re sharing our favorite Hanukkah recipes, including tender brisket, pillowy challah doughnuts, rich cheesecake, and more. Don’t worry, you have eight whole nights to try them all.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua2/41Extra-Large Latkes
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Micah Morton3/41Pot Roast Brisket With Harissa and Spices
A heady mix of cinnamon, cumin, fenugreek, and turmeric gild the rose harissa that coats this roast. The aromas are miraculous. Serve it on a bed of mash, drizzled liberally with pomegranate molasses.
Photograph by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell5/41Strawberry Sufganiyot
A beloved Hanukkah food, jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot in Hebrew) are pure comfort. Since you’re making the doughnuts from scratch, give yourself a break and buy the jam.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kate Buckens6/41Matzo Ball Soup
Though traditionally enjoyed on Passover, many families also love matzo ball soup during Hanukkah. This comforting recipe serves a crowd.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Jesse Szewcyk, Prop Styling Alexandra Massillon7/41Chocolate–Olive Oil Cake
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop styling by Sophie Leng9/41Cacio e Pepe Rösti
Like it or not, frying latkes is a commitment. If you aren’t up for it, we hear you. Consider a large-format rösti that’s big enough to feed everyone at your Hanukkah table.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni11/41Sour Cream and Onion Hasselback Potatoes
Hasselback potatoes go miniature in this utterly charming recipe, which channels the flavor of sour cream and onion soup packets into your new favorite side dish.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Jesse Szewczyk, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran12/41Chocolate Chip Cookies With Olive Oil and Sea Salt
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman14/41Apple and Honey Rice Kugel
Instead of egg noodles, this lovely kugel from author Michael W. Twitty features chewy, long-grain rice.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Styling by Molly Baz15/41Crispy Smashed Potatoes With Walnut Dressing
When you’ve had your fill of latkes, make these maximalized smashed potatoes. Boiled Yukon Golds get flattened and dressed with a garlicky walnut and golden raisin dressing.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski16/41Radicchio Salad With Sour Cream Ranch
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susan Spungen, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski17/41Raspberry Rugelach
Photo by Chelsie Craig18/41Lemony Latkes
A Hanukkah menu staple, latkes can go lots of ways. This riff from chef and author Missy Robbins is cheesy and lemony.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boytsova19/41Easy Noodle Kugel
Bouncy egg noodles, cheesy-sugary custard, and a whisper of vanilla. Is this kugel recipe a side dish or dessert? Your call. If spiced isn’t your scene, skip the cinnamon.
Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua20/41Tahini Hot Fudge Skillet Cake
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams22/41Parsnip Purée
This silky parsnip mash from Ina Garten couldn’t be easier (or tastier) if it tried. Serve alongside roast salmon for a stellar Hanukkah meal.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Props from Meilen Ceramics23/41Beet Fritters With Beet Greens Yogurt
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by D’mytrek Brown, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime25/41Yemeni Chicken Matzo Ball Soup
Chef Einat Admony grew up eating this Yemeni chicken soup every Friday with her family. Feel free to keep or skip the matzo balls for your Hanukkah celebration.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks26/41Super Lemony Olive Oil Cake
Enriched with more than a cup of olive oil, this bright cake remains moist and tender for days. Dust with powdered sugar for an effortlessly pretty presentation.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni27/41Cheesy Roasted Cabbage Wedges
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore29/41Chewy Date and Dark Chocolate Cookies
Olive oil and earthy tahini give these cookies an ideal sweet-savory balance. If you don’t have a chocolate bar on hand, chop up those chocolate coins you won playing dreidel.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by D’mytrek Brown, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime30/41Mushroom Matzo Kugel
Peden + Munk31/41Fennel and Celery Root Salad
No Hanukkah table is complete without a salad to help balance the richness of latkes and brisket. This one from New York restaurant King uses new harvest olive oil, which is available right around the holiday.
Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio33/41Za’atar Chicken Cutlets With Cabbage Salad
36/41Citrus-and-Dill Gravlax
Top your latkes with slices of this set-it-and-forget-it gravlax and serve with Champagne—it’s about as elegant as latkes get. Add a poached egg for a breakfast-for-dinner lineup.
Photo by Peden + Munk37/41Jam-Filled Challah Doughnuts
Challah dough fried into jam-filled doughnuts? Suffice it to say, this recipe from Zahav chef Michael Solomonov was made for your Hanukkah celebration. At the restaurant, he fills them with quince jam, but this recipe works with whatever flavor you like.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman38/41Spicy Kimchi–Sweet Potato Fritters
Take a break from traditional latkes with these sweet potato fritters interlaced with chopped kimchi and served with gochujang yogurt.
Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski39/41Little Gem Wedge Salad with Tahini Ranch
Alex Lau40/41Chocolate Babka
A well-wrapped chocolate babka will last for days, making it a prime Hanukkah dessert and breakfast the next morning. When it does eventually go stale, cut it into cubes to make babka cereal.
