The Best Hanukkah Food to Make This Year, from Latkes to Brisket
Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, starts on December 7 this year. The Jewish celebration honors the Maccabean Revolt against their oppressors, which led to the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Legend has it that the temple’s menorah miraculously stayed lit for eight days, even though there was only a small amount of oil (y’all remember the Rugrats episode, right?). If you haven’t decided how you’re celebrating—or what you’re serving—yet, we’ve got your back.
Today, people all over the world symbolically light their own menorahs for eight consecutive nights, plus exchange gifts and share some seriously delicious meals. With that in mind, here’s our guide to the best Hanukkah food to make this year, including everything from noodle kugel to honey challah to the crispiest potato latkes ever.
How to Make Latkes for Hanukkah (or Whenever a Craving Strikes)
When Is Hanukkah Celebrated?
Unlike Christmas or New Year's Eve, the dates of Hanukkah change annually. It generally takes place between late November and December, but the dates vary because it's based on the Hebrew calendar. It's always on the 25th day of Kislev, according to The Hill.
What Are Traditional Hanukkah Foods?
Here are a few of the essentials:
Here are our 37 favorite recipes to bookmark for Hanukkah 2023, traditional and modern alike.
1. The Crispiest Potato Latkes Ever
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
The key to making drool-worthy potato pancakes? Removing all the excess moisture from the spuds so they’re super dry when they hit the oil. We'll take ours with applesauce *and* sour cream, please.
2. Noodle Kugel
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Our favorite thing about this casserole dish? You can bake it up to two days in advance. Just pop it in the oven for a few minutes to reheat and it’s ready to devour.
3. Honey Challah
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 6 hours
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
A picturesque loaf shows off your baking chops big time—and doesn’t require one second of kneading. Add sesame seeds to the top for extra crunch. (Or even better, everything bagel seasoning.)
4. Jewish Brisket
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Unlike Southern brisket, which is typically slow cooked over indirect heat, this version is more similar to pot roast. It braises in a savory mix of broth, crushed tomatoes and red wine. It's begging to be paired with some sort of potatoes.
5. Matzo Ball Soup with Chicken Meatballs
Foodie Crush
Time Commitment: 5 hours and 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Sure, the noodles are tender and the meatballs are beyond juicy. But the real star here is the homemade chicken broth. (Don't worry, though—we won't tell if you substitute store-bought.)
6. Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, one pot
Because latkes get lonely without their signature sides. And trust us, homemade is supreme. McIntosh, Red Delicious, Liberty, Gravenstein, Fuji, Cortland and even Golden Delicious are all stellar types of apples to use for applesauce.
7. Not-Quite-Homemade Jelly Doughnuts
Laura Wing and Jim Kamoosi
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
This sufganiyot has a delicious time-saving secret: canned biscuit dough. Keep the doughnuts classic with strawberry or raspberry jelly. (We wouldn't blame you for swapping Nutella in for a few of them though...)
8. Israeli Salad
Wholesome Yum
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, make ahead, no cook
Four veggies + five pantry staples = one pretty, refreshing (and unforgettable) side. Not to mention, it's healthy and a breeze to make ahead. Salt the cucumbers and set them to drain to bring out their excess moisture, if you plan on preparing the dish in advance.
9. Brussels Sprouts Latkes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Swap spuds for the most versatile fall veggie out there. (Just don't skimp on the sour cream.) Never shredded Brussels sprouts before? It’s super easy—even without a food processor.
10. Oven-Baked Beef Brisket
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 5 hours and 55 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
This five-pound beauty cooks in the oven, but also boasts a flavorful dry rub. It's almost like a hybrid between Jewish and Texan brisket...and we aren't mad about it.
11. Grilled Halloumi
Feel Good Foodie
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
If your family doesn’t mix meat and dairy, skip this side. But if your family does, char-kissed halloumi is a no-brainer. It's salty, tangy and ridiculously simple to prepare.
12. Rugelach
Sally's Baking Addiction
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
This recipe calls for brown sugar-walnut filling spiked with cinnamon, but you can also use raspberry jam and almonds or even chocolate-hazelnut spread instead. The cream cheese dough is the real star anyway.
13. Harissa Sweet Potato Latkes with Spiced Yogurt, Mint and Pomegranate
Bojon Gourmet
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
These ain’t your Bubbe’s potato pancakes. These frittered sweet spud patties are topped with a zesty yogurt sauce that's spruced up with lemon, garlic and cumin. The pomegranate arils merely gild the lily.
14. French Onion Brisket
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Jake Cohen
Time Commitment: 4 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Your favorite cozy soup is itching to be reborn. And this take on brisket delivers, with five whole onions, beef broth and fresh herbs. Trust us: The purists at your table won’t miss the tomatoes.
15. Family-Style Skillet Latkes
Nosh with Micah
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, one pan
Behold: the most low-maintenance latke recipe of all time. Your trusty cast iron skillet ensures impossibly crispy results. Feel free to spice things up by adding extra fresh herbs to the batter, like thyme or rosemary.
16. Chocolate Banana Bread Babka
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
If you think all babkas are dry, this recipe will prove you wrong. Bananas in the batter and streusel keep it super moist. Wash it down with coffee, hot cocoa or cinnamon lattes.
17. Hamantashen Pie
Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
You might see these triangular cookies in stores during Purim, a holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from a Persian Empire official. They're often bursting with apricot jam, chocolate spread or raspberry jam, but feel free to use whatever fruit filling you'd like.
18. Herbed Cheddar Latkes
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Shredded potato patties fried in oil aren’t mouthwatering enough, you say? Cheese can fix that. Finish them with flaky salt and chopped chives, then serve with Greek yogurt and applesauce for dipping.
19. Beef Brisket with Wild Mushrooms
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 4 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Dried porcinis and a pound of wild mushrooms pack a serious punch of umami. The best part is that brisket requires minimal babysitting while it cooks, so it's a solid entree option for a busy hostess.
20. Spiced Apple Challah with a Pretzel Crust
Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Sure, it's so gorgeous that it looks like you ordered it from a fancy kosher bakery. But we're most impressed by the ingenious two-ingredient apple juice glaze. Your guests, though, will be most wowed by the chef.
21. Charoset
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook, beginner-friendly
Charoset, a side made from fruit, nuts and red wine, represents the mortar that enslaved Jewish people used to build pyramids and other structures. It's usually served at Passover, but its flavors pair well with Hanukkah mains, too.
22. Noodle Kugel
Dinner at the Zoo
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
In case you're bored with your usual savory kugel. This sweet custard dish's crowning glory? A layer of buttery, cinnamon-sugar cornflakes (aka the kids' table's favorite part).
23. Mom’s Tzimmes
Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Tzimmes is an Ashkenazi stew made with carrots and dried fruits. It's usually served for Rosh Hashanah. This version also throws canned pineapple, apples and sweet potatoes in the mix, so we wouldn't blame you for making it on a random weeknight.
24. Mixed Lettuce Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, no cook
Complete with endive and radicchio, this side gives "bitter herb" a whole new meaning. Serve the Parmesan curls on the side in case some of your guests don't eat meat and dairy together.
25. Matzo Ball Soup
Yellow Bliss Road
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, one pot, crowd-pleaser
You're less than two hours away from this Hanukkah classic. Use shredded store-bought rotisserie chicken to save even more time—we promise your guests won't mind the shortcut.
26. Slow Cooker Pot Roast
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 10 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipes, high protein, crowd-pleaser
Only 15 minutes of prep and this brisket alternative is ready to pop in the Crockpot until fork tender. Be sure to reserve all the juices for better reheating. They'll keep the meat from drying out in the oven (or microwave).
27. Matzo Brei (Fried Matzo)
Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
This common Passover breakfast tastes just as satisfying in the winter. Think of it like a buttery matzo scramble. Douse it in ketchup, hot sauce or a flurry of freshly cracked black pepper.
28. Mashed Potato Fritters with Smoked Salmon and Chives
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Leftover mashed potatoes on your hands? Serve these fritters instead of latkes at breakfast, along with smoked salmon. (Smoked and salted fish became a key part of the Jewish-American diet after Eastern Europeans immigrated to the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, BTW.)
29. Vegan Borscht
Nosh With Micah
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Send your Hanukkah guests to comfort food heaven with this plant-based starter. Be sure to serve it with plenty of buttery, crispy bread for dunking and a generous dollop of sour cream.
30. Cauliflower, Pomegranate and Apple Salad
Jaqui Mellville/Apple
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, dairy free, gluten free
Pomegranates and apples are an edible match made in Hanukkah heaven. Don't even get us started on the nutty, bright tahini-honey dressing.
31. Superfood Chocolate Mendiants
Salt and Wind
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Hailing from France, a mendiant is a chocolate disk studded with nuts and dried fruit. In our book, these are like really, really fancy chocolate gelt. (It doesn't hurt that they're ready for their Instagram close-up either.)
32. Chocolate-Covered Caramel Matzo
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Picture crisp matzo buried in layers of toffee-like caramel and chocolate, then topped with flaky salt and peanuts. Sounds like a Hanukkah miracle to us. Make a second batch for the kids' table—they'll devour it all in 30 seconds flat.
33. Apple Cinnamon Cake
Dinner at the Zoo
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Apple cake is commonly served during Rosh Hashanah, since apples and honey symbolize hope during the Jewish New Year. But it'll fit right in at Hanukkah, too. Choose a tart type of apple to bake with, like Granny Smiths.
34. Peanut Butter and Jelly Donuts
Broma Bakery
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
We have a feeling the kids at your table will be all about this nutty twist on sufganiyot. Seriously, who doesn't love a PB&J?
35. Sweet Potato Pecan Latkes
Nosh with Micah
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Sweet latkes? Be still our heart. These are like Thanksgiving sweet potato casserole crossed with Hanukkah latkes. Pecans, cinnamon and mini marshmallows push these beauties into dessert territory.
36. Tie-Dye Sugar Cookies
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
When in doubt about dessert, you can't go wrong with some festive cookies. Save time by using store-bought sugar cookie dough. (Oh, and that marbling effect? Way easier to pull off than you'd think.)
37. Jelly Doughnuts
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegan, crowd-pleaser
Classic sufagniyot is mandatory for a Hanukkah celebration. If you're feeling up for the challenge, skip our cheater's recipe for jelly doughnuts and opt for this homemade version instead. They're a labor of love, but worth the wait.
