100 Hanukkah Recipes to Celebrate the Season
Updated: Oct. 21, 2021From latkes to sufganiyot, brisket to kugel, these Hanukkah recipes are ready to brighten up each day of the Festival of Lights.
Sufganiyot
Sufganiyot are believed to have first come from Spain, adapted from a similar treat, the sopaipilla. Others say the sopaipilla was borrowed from the Jews. Either way, as a tradition, doughnuts are an easy one to adopt, especially with this easy sufganiyot recipe. —David Feder, Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
Flavorful Matzo Ball Soup
A variety of winter vegetables gives the broth for this classic Jewish soup a deep flavor. You can use a few green onions instead of the leek. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen.
Honey Challah
I use these shiny beautiful loaves as the centerpiece of my spread. I love the taste of honey, but you can also add chocolate chips, cinnamon, orange zest or almonds. Leftover slices work well in bread pudding or for French toast. —Jennifer Newfield, Los Angeles, California. Here are some other fantastic Hanukkah desserts.
All-Day Brisket with Potatoes
I think the slow cooker was invented with brisket in mind. This sweet and savory version is perfection itself, because it melts in your mouth. It’s very important to buy “first-cut” or “flat-cut” brisket, which has far less fat than other cuts. —Lana Gryga, Glen Flora, Wisconsin. Here are 15 easy and fun crafts to make this Hanukkah.
Easy Glazed Salmon
It only takes four ingredients and a few moments of time to make this delightful main dish. —Tara Ernspiker, Falling Waters, West Virginia. Here are 18 things you never knew about Hanukkah.
Roasted Chicken
This tender chicken is a real time-saver on a busy weekend. A simple blend of seasonings makes it a snap to prepare, and it smells heavenly as it roasts. —Marian Platt, Sequim, Washington. These Hanukkah traditions make the celebration special.
Sweet Potato & Carrot Casserole
This tangy and sweet casserole is full of flavor. We’ve served it at many celebrations over the years and it’s always been a big hit! —Gloria Mezikofsky, Wakefield, Massachusetts. In case you’ve wondered, this is why Hanukkah falls on different dates every year.
Potato Latkes
These potato and onion pancakes are tasty at any meal. For the ultimate crispiness, squeeze out all the liquid from the grated veggies before you fry them up. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen. How many candles are on a menorah?
Market Basket Soup
I use kohlrabi in this soothing veggie soup. The vegetable has a mellow broccoli-cabbage flavor and can be served raw, but this is my favorite way to eat it. —Kellie Foglio, Salem, Wisconsin
Marinated Oranges
This flavorful fruit was actually the topping in a cake recipe. But I didn’t want all the calories or fat from the cake—and the oranges are a good dessert all by themselves! The dash of vanilla extract brings out the fruit’s sweetness. —Carol Poindexter, Norridge, Illinois
Sweet and Savory Brisket
I like this recipe not only because it makes such tender and flavorful beef, but because it takes advantage of a slow cooker. It’s wonderful to come home from work and have this mouthwatering dish waiting for you. The beef doubles as a warm sandwich filling, too. —Chris Snyder, Boulder, Colorado
Honey Garlic Green Beans
Green beans are a reliable standby, but they can seem ordinary on their own. Just a couple of extra ingredients give them a sweet and salty attitude. This is definitely my family’s favorite way to enjoy them. —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta
Beef Barley Lentil Soup
I serve this soup often to family and friends on cold nights, along with homemade rolls and a green salad. For variety, you can substitute jicama for the potatoes. —Judy Metzentine, The Dalles, Oregon
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries
There’s nothing to this recipe—the preparation and cooking times are so quick. I sprinkle in a few dried cranberries, but you can let your imagination take over. Add a handful of raisins or walnuts at the end, or even sliced oranges. If your Brussels sprouts are large, cut them in half. —Ellen Ruzinsky, Yorktown Heights, New York
Almond Crunch
Once you start eating this taste-tempting treat, you may not be able to stop! Matzo crackers are topped with buttery caramel, chocolate and slivered almonds…and then baked to perfection. —Sharalyn Zander, Jacksonville, Alabama
Make-Ahead Blintz Casserole
Blintzes are thin pancakes filled with cheese or fruits. I created an easy casserole version with cheese filling and topped it with apples. —Ann Hillmeyer, Sandia Park, New Mexico
Chunky Applesauce
There’s just something extra special about a homemade applesauce recipe like this one. This simple dish is tart and not too sweet. It makes the perfect side, especially with pork chops or a pork roast. —Deborah Amrine, Grand Haven, Michigan
Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter & Pretzel Truffles
Sweet chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and salty pretzels create a to-die-for truffle. It’s a little bite of decadence and a special indulgence for the holiday season. —Ashley Wisniewski, Champaign, Illinois
Pan-Seared Cod
Cod has a soft, buttery appeal that goes with cilantro, onions, and crunchy pine nuts. This pan-seared cod is the easiest preparation I’ve found. —Lucy Lu Wang, Seattle, Washington
Fingerling Potatoes with Fresh Parsley and Chives
We use seasonings like adobo, Sazon, fresh parsley, and minced chives when we grill potatoes. We have even smoked the potatoes in our portable smoker before grilling. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Ginger Chicken Noodle Soup
This is one of my favorite soup recipes to serve in the wintertime because it’s super easy to make and fills the house with a wonderful aroma. My whole family loves it! —Brandy Stansbury, Edna, Texas
Turkey Soup
My daughter got this recipe from her husband’s mother. As in many households, our turkey gets picked over for a few days after the holidays. This soup is especially good on cold winter nights when it’s snowing…which happens a lot where I live! —Carol Brethauer, Denver, Colorado
Country Potato Pancakes
Potato pancakes, or latkes, are really versatile. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, they can be a side dish for just about any meal or the main course for a light meal. We have them often at our house. —Lydia Robotewskyj, Franklin, Wisconsin
Chunky Apple-Cinnamon Cake
This a nice change from apple pie, and it’s tasty and worthy of a special get-together—plus, it’s very easy to make. Add a scoop of ice cream if you like. —Ellen Ruzinsky, Yorktown Heights, New York
Molly’s Sweet and Spicy Tzimmes Cake
My husband and I are always on the lookout for new ways to incorporate Jewish traditions into our interfaith home. Rich with apples, carrots and sweet potato, this sweet and spicy cake is perfect for Rosh Hashana or any fall holiday. —Molly Haendler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Braised Hanukkah Brisket
My mother, Enid, always used the most marbled cut of brisket she could find to make this recipe so she’d get the most flavor. When she added carrots to the pan, she threw in some potatoes, too. —Ellen Ruzinsky, Yorktown Heights, New York
Pastrami Roll-Ups
For a book club event, I created pastrami roll-ups with cream cheese and a pickle. Those tasty bites quickly pulled a disappearing act. —Merritt Heinrich, Oswego, Illinois
Lemon-Roasted Chicken with Olive Couscous
If you can find preserved lemons, try them instead of the plain lemons for an even more authentic flavor in this North African-inspired recipe. —David Feder, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Cranberry Persimmon Cookies
During the holidays, I bake double batch after double batch of these moist drop cookies. Dotted with dried cranberries and pecans, the cake-like treats never last long. —Cleo Gonske, Redding, California
Apple-Walnut Cake with Orange Glaze
I tinkered with a plain apple cake recipe to create this moist, delicious winner. The result: old-fashioned goodness with a heavenly aroma! This cake is the perfect fall treat or holiday dessert, but it’s also great as a special breakfast or brunch item. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
Kasha Varnishkes
This is one of the great Jewish comfort foods. It’s easy to put together, and leftovers make a surprisingly delicious breakfast. Find kasha with other grains or in the kosher foods section. —Joanne Weintraub, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Slow Cooker Tzimmes
Tzimmes is a sweet Jewish dish consisting of a variety of fruits and vegetables, and it may or may not include meat. Traditionally (as it is here), it’s tossed with honey and cinnamon and cooked slowly over low heat to meld the flavors. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri
Zesty Citrus Cake
We grow our own citrus trees, so I’m always trying to come up with new recipes for the fruit. My layer cake gets a nice tang from lemons and oranges. —Geneva Garrison-Bennett, Jacksonville, Florida
Red Roasted Potatoes
Roasting red potatoes is one of my favorite way to prepare them. Some fragrant rosemary, fresh or dried, gives these potatoes a distinctive but subtle taste. This dish is simple to prepare, yet elegant in color and flavor. It’s a wonderful addition to any menu. —Margie Wampler, Butler, Pennsylvania
Grandma’s Raspberry Rugelach
I remember sitting on my great-grandmother’s couch with a pad and pen in hand as she told me each ingredient and measurement for her special rugelach. Her recipe stands apart because it’s a fun twist from typical versions. —Dalya Rubin, Boca Raton, Florida
Waffle-Iron Acorn Squash
I love to get the kids involved in cooking, and this squash is so simple even a small child can cook it with minimal adult supervision. The recipe is fun, fast and no-fuss, and doesn’t use valuable oven space before big family meals. —Donna Kelly, Orem, Utah
Caraway Bread
A rustic round loaf of caraway bread is delicious eaten warm from the oven, as a base for sandwiches, alongside soup, or as toast. If you want to experiment, add sliced chives or sunflower seeds, or substitute other herbs for the caraway, such as dried rosemary or thyme. —Frances Conklin, Cottonwood, Idaho
Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad
If you want something new to try for your Thanksgiving menu, toss this salad together. Fresh spinach leaves are tossed with toasted almonds and dried cranberries and drizzled with poppy seed dressing. It’s likely to become a holiday tradition at your house, too. —Michelle Krzmarzick Torrance, California
Latkes with Lox
Lox, a salty smoked salmon, is a year-round delicacy. This recipe, inspired by one from the Jewish Journal, uses lox as a topping. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Colorful Couscous
We love it when side dishes pop with color, like the bright pepper accents you’ll see in this light and fluffy couscous. It’s a scrumptious and welcome switch from baked potatoes or rice. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Marinated Mushrooms & Artichokes
I marinate mushrooms and artichokes in fresh tarragon, thyme, and seasonings so they turn out tart, tangy and irresistible. —Marcia Doyle, Pompano, Florida
Brown Sugar-Glazed Salmon
Pop these protein-packed salmon fillets in the oven before whipping up a sweet basting sauce. This tangy entree cooks up in minutes making it a perfect meal for busy families and unexpected weekend guests. —Debra Martin, Belleville, Michigan
Mushroom & Broccoli Soup
One of my girls won’t eat meat and the other struggles to get enough fiber. This recipe is a perfect way to give them what they need in a dish they love to eat. I save my broccoli stems in the freezer until I have about two small bags, and then I make soup. —Maria Davis, Flower Mound, Texas
Ginger-Apricot Tossed Salad
This dish is a nice change from ordinary green salad and is elegant enough for company. The dressing is one of my favorites. Its sweetness complements the crisp greens and crunchy green beans. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Root Vegetable Pot Roast
During the hectic holiday season, I make this roast a lot. We’ve scarfed it down before and after shopping and while wrapping presents. Root vegetables and roast beef make everyone feel cozy and calm. —Pat Dazis, Charlotte, North Carolina
Hash Brown Pancakes with Smoked Salmon & Dill Cream
On weekends when I was growing up, pancakes, salmon, and bagels were our brunch staples. Now, I combine the concepts and use whipped cream instead of cream cheese. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois. Next, check out 15 best Hanukkah decorations for the Festival of Lights.
