Traditional Hanukkah Dinner Ideas: Classic Recipes for Every Course

As the internet, Facebook and Pinterest become a more integral part of our lives, I admit I am aware of celebrations and holidays from different parts of the world in ways I never was.  One example of this is the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.  I had heard of it in some abstract way but never knew much about it until I started to see people talking about traditional Hanukkah recipes.  So, being curious, I wanted to learn more.

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What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is also called Chanukah and is the Festival of Lights for Jewish people.  The exact date changes each year by the Western calendar, but it is usually in November or December.  The festival has been around since about two centuries before Christianity began and lasts for eight days.  The name means ‘dedication’ and honours one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.

The celebration looks back to a battle fought by the Jewish people over the Greeks about their rights to practice their own religion.  At the time, King Antiochus was in charge of the Jewish people and wanted to stop their religion, replacing it with his own Greek beliefs. 

But the Jewish people refused, and a small group called the Maccabees fought a three year war to recapture Jerusalem.  During the war, the Jewish temple there was destroyed.  While celebrating the victory, they lit an oil lamp called a Menorah and while the oil was enough for just a day, the lamp stayed lit for eight days.

The Menorah is the symbol associated with Hanukkah and features a candelabra with nine candles that are lit at either sunset or at night.  Small presents are something given and are a time for celebration and special food.

What is a Traditional Hanukkah Dinner?

A traditional Hanukkah dinner centres on foods fried in oil — a deliberate nod to the miracle at the heart of the holiday, when a small amount of oil miraculously burned for eight nights in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. That’s why latkes and sufganiyot are the two most iconic dishes you’ll find on any Hanukkah table, no matter where in the world the celebration is taking place.

Beyond the fried classics, Hanukkah dinner tends to reflect Ashkenazi Jewish cooking traditions: slow-braised brisket, hearty potato kugel, matzo ball soup, and roasted chicken are all staples that have been passed down through generations. It’s the kind of food that fills a room with warmth, and the kind of meal that keeps people at the table long after the candles have been lit.

One of the wonderful things about Hanukkah cooking is that there’s no single fixed menu. Families bring their own traditions, regional influences, and favourite recipes to the table. What you’ll find below covers the classics — the dishes that appear on Hanukkah tables most often — along with a few ideas for putting your own spin on them.

The 8 Must-Have Traditional Hanukkah Dishes

Whether you’re hosting your first Hanukkah dinner or planning a full eight-night spread, these are the dishes that belong on the table.

1. Latkes (Potato Pancakes) Latkes are the undisputed star of Hanukkah cooking. These crispy, golden potato pancakes are shredded, seasoned, and pan-fried in oil until they’re crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. They’re typically served with sour cream or applesauce — and the sour cream vs applesauce debate is one that Hanukkah tables have been having for decades. Make a big batch, because they disappear fast.

2. Sufganiyot (Jam Doughnuts) Sufganiyot are the sweet counterpart to latkes — deep-fried doughnuts filled with strawberry jam and dusted with icing sugar. Originally an Israeli tradition, they’ve become popular on Hanukkah tables worldwide. If you want to get creative, chocolate, custard, and caramel fillings all work beautifully.

3. Brisket Slow-braised beef brisket is the ultimate Hanukkah main course. It’s typically cooked low and slow with onions, garlic, tomatoes, and sometimes a splash of red wine until it’s fall-apart tender. The beauty of brisket is that it actually tastes better the next day, making it ideal for advance prep when you’re busy with everything else a holiday dinner involves.

4. Potato Kugel Kugel is a baked pudding — think of it as somewhere between a soufflé and a gratin. Potato kugel is made from grated potatoes, eggs, and onion, baked until the outside is golden and crisp and the inside is soft and custardy. It’s a natural companion to brisket and one of those dishes that tastes deeply familiar even if you’ve never had it before.

5. Matzo Ball Soup A bowl of matzo ball soup is comfort food in its purest form. Light, fluffy matzo balls float in a rich, clear chicken broth — simple, warming, and deeply satisfying. It’s often served as a first course but is hearty enough to be a meal in itself on a cold December night.

6. Roast Chicken For families who prefer poultry over beef, a beautifully roasted chicken is a classic Hanukkah centrepiece. Seasoned with herbs, garlic, and lemon, it pairs naturally with potato kugel and roasted vegetables and comes together without the long braising time that brisket requires.

7. Applesauce Homemade applesauce might seem like a small addition, but it’s a Hanukkah table essential. Served alongside latkes, it cuts through the richness of the fried potato with a bright, sweet acidity. It takes about 20 minutes to make from scratch and tastes nothing like the jarred version.

8. Rugelach or Mandelbrot (Cookies for Dessert) While sufganiyot often take the dessert spotlight, rugelach — crescent-shaped pastries filled with jam, nuts, or chocolate — and mandelbrot (a twice-baked almond biscuit similar to biscotti) are both beloved Hanukkah sweet traditions. They’re perfect for serving alongside tea or coffee at the end of a long, celebratory meal.

Dinner menu options

As well as these Hanukkah food traditions, there are also plenty of dishes that are often served or variations of which you could make for the occasion.  Most Jewish families have at least one traditional Hanukkah meal during the eight-day celebration.

Vegetable and greens salad is a light meal option and includes beets, carrots and cucumbers that are mixed with lettuce and endive.  A special dressing is made that combines olive oil, lime juice, sour cream and seasoning.  Roasted asparagus is a popular side dish.

For the meats, beef brisket with roasted vegetables is a popular choice and can be made in a way you enjoy, including the slow cooker.  Roasted chicken is another option and you can go for a fried chicken dish because fried foods are a big part of the celebration.  Pomegranate glazed turkey is a tasty and seasonal alternative.

Potato latkes are served at least once in the celebration and you can also make your own applesauce to add to them.  Cheese dishes aren’t eaten at the same time as meat dishes, but you can have a meat-free night and enjoy cheese dishes then.

For a treat, spiced nuts can be a popular idea.  Choose nuts you enjoy the most such as almonds or walnuts and toss them in favourite herb and spice blends to give them a different taste.

Traditional Hanukkah Desserts

Sufganiyot usually steal the show when it comes to Hanukkah desserts — and rightly so, because there’s very little that beats a warm, jam-filled doughnut fresh from the fryer. But the Hanukkah dessert table has a lot more going on than most people realise.

Sufganiyot are non-negotiable if you’re going for a fully traditional spread. The classic filling is strawberry jam, but modern versions stuff them with everything from Nutella to salted caramel. They’re fried in oil (fitting the Hanukkah tradition) and best eaten the day they’re made.

Rugelach are small, crescent-shaped pastries made from a cream cheese dough and filled with jam, walnuts, chocolate, or dried fruit. They’re buttery, flaky, and just sweet enough — the kind of thing you find yourself reaching for repeatedly without really meaning to. They also keep well in a tin, which makes them ideal for making a few days ahead.

Mandelbrot translates literally as “almond bread” in Yiddish, and it’s essentially a Jewish version of biscotti — twice-baked until crunchy, and perfect for dunking into tea or coffee. You’ll often find it flavoured with almonds, chocolate chips, or a hit of cinnamon.

Chocolate Gelt (chocolate coins) aren’t a baked dessert but they’re a Hanukkah table fixture. Small foil-wrapped chocolate coins are traditionally given to children during the holiday, and scattering a handful on the dessert table is a lovely touch that keeps the festive spirit going long after dinner is done.

If you’re making everything from scratch, sufganiyot and rugelach are the two worth prioritising — they both deliver the most impact for a traditional Hanukkah dessert spread.

How to have a healthier Hanukkah

Since one of the major themes of Hanukah is oil, many foods served during Hanukah are fried. However, fried foods are not considered to be the healthiest of choices. Here is a way to make a little bit of oil go a long way for the holidays.

Understanding olive oil

What most people don’t realize when celebrating Hanukah is that the oil used in the Menorah in the Jerusalem temple which miraculously stayed lit for eight days was made from pure olive oil. It is interesting to note that of all the oil used in cooking, olive oil is considered to be the healthiest choice and extra virgin olive oil the best choice of all.

Not only does olive oil preserve the taste, aroma and nutrients found in the olive, it is the only oil that can be used immediately upon pressing it from the fruit. Olive oil is also high in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. Some reports indicate that using olive oil, as opposed to the other oils available, may help protect your heart and lower cholesterol. Olive oil consumption may also reduce the formation of gallstones.

Processing olive oil is done by crushing or pressing the olives. It can be found in a couple of different varieties. The type of oil depends upon the processing that has been done to it. The types of olive oil are:

• Extra virgin – the least processed of all olive oil. It is produced from the first pressing only. Once the olive is first pressed and released this oil, it will be sent for further processing.
• Virgin – this comes from the second pressing of the olives.
• Pure – this type has been processed further and has likely been processed and refined.
• Extra light – this is the most processed of all olive oil. It has a very mild olive flavor and is often used with other vegetable oils.

The best way to care for olive oil is to keep it away from the heat and direct sunlight. This will degrade the oil and cause it to go rancid quickly. Instead, you will want to keep your olive oil in a dark, cool place with the lid tightly sealed.

Other healthy eating tips for the holidays

You can also bake your latkes rather than frying them. Another option would to use a different vegetable for the latkes other than potatoes. Make homemade applesauce to serve with the latkes instead of offering sour cream.

Even though you’ll be frying many foods during Hanukah, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your health. Using olive oil and baking rather than frying are a few ways you can do healthy Hanukah cooking.

How to cope with gluten-free for Hanukkah

Hanukah is celebrated each year beginning on Kislev 25. This date normally occurs during the month of December on the Gregorian calendar. These recipes can easily be adapted for those who have concerns about gluten in their diet.

Potato latkes

Potato latkes are a staple when celebrating Hanukah. Normally, they would be made with matzo meal or flour. Substitute potato starch or gluten-free flour such as rice flour if you need to adjust the recipe. There should be no difference in the taste or texture if you make this substitution.

Can you have latkes without applesauce? Well, you can, but who would want to? Applesauce from the store would suffice, but to add even more wonderful flavor to your hot, fresh latkes, try making homemade applesauce instead. Yes, it will take a little bit of time and effort, but the results will be well worth the time. Your family will love spooning the warm applesauce over their piping hot latkes. Of course, applesauce is already gluten-free so this addition will not be a concern.

Sufganiyot

Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) are also a traditional Hanukah food almost as popular as latkes. When making sufganiyot without gluten, it is important to use a mixture of gluten-free flours. This mixture will be perfect for the recipe:

• 3 cups of white rice flour
• 3 cups of brown rice flour
• 2 cups of potato starch (be sure NOT to use potato flour)
• 1 cup of tapioca starch

Combine and use the recommended amount for the recipe you choose. You’ll also want to include either xanthan gum or guar gum in the recipe if using non-gluten flour. Look for gluten-free flours that are already pre-mixed if you do not want to mix your own recipe and if cost is a consideration. 

Tweak your menu

Perhaps you feel you aren’t very handy in the kitchen. This doesn’t mean you have to forego Hanukah. Look through the gluten-free section of your grocery store. They may not have traditional Hanukah foods (no manufacturer makes latkes and sells them), but that doesn’t mean you can’t make substitutions. 

The foods of Hanukah are symbolic of the struggle for freedom and returning the Temple in Jerusalem back to its proper use of worshipping God. While you will want to fry at least some foods during this eight day celebration, there’s no reason you can’t celebrate in a way that honors the idea behind the holiday and yet maintain your dietary requirements.

Look for gluten-free Hanukah foods online if you don’t have the time or inclination to make them yourself. However, if you want to tackle making traditional Hanukah foods, there are ways you can do that. It may take a little bit of time to search for just the right recipe, but you will be glad that you can still celebrate and enjoy gluten-free Hanukah recipes for years to come.

Yield: 18 servings

Hanukkah Doughnuts

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A traditional dish to serve as dessert or a sweet treat for Hanukkah

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

Toggle ingredient group

• 1/4 cup warm water
• 6 tbsp sugar
• 2 packs dry yeast
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 stick butter (or margarine)
• 1 dash salt
• 2 eggs (slightly beaten)
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

In a cast iron skillet, heavy pot or deep fryer, heat oil to 350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a small pan, heat the orange juice, butter or margarine, salt and 5 tablespoons of sugar. Take it off the heat and allow it to cool to lukewarm.

Beat two eggs in a medium bowl and then add the cooled orange juice mixture followed by the yeast mixture. Stir to mix and then add the flour to create pliable dough.

Sprinkle flour on a surface (table or counter) and place the dough to knead several times. Put the dough into a greased bowl and allow the dough to rise in a moist, warm place for 1/2 hour. (You may want to use the same method as for the yeast.) When the dough has risen, punch it down.

Roll out the dough leaving it about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into circles or strips. Place these on a greased, floured baking sheet with at least one inch space between them. Put them back in the same location where they had risen before. Allow them to rise for at least 20 minutes.

Add the doughnuts to the preheated oil one or two at a time and cook on each side until golden brown. Drain them on paper towels.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. This will make 18 to 24 doughnuts depending upon the size.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

18

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 156Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 58mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 3g

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