Keep the Hanukkah excitement in your house going for all 8 nights with these scrumptious, holiday-themed recipes for the whole family to enjoy. Festive and yummy, they’re also fun to make – and even the kids will be able to help out!
And for an explanation of different Hanukkah food traditions and more ideas for holiday dishes to make, check out our 8 Classic Hanukkah Foods post.
Read on for our top 4 Hanukkah recipes to make with your kids, and pass on Jewish holiday joy from generation to generation.
1. Holiday Sugar Cookies
Sweets are a classic Hanukkah food, particularly for kids!
Make these simple yet delicious sugar cookies, then decorate them with blue and white frosting and make holiday designs – a great activity if your children are into crafts or even just expressing their Jewish pride. And if you have holiday-themed cookie cutters like Stars of David, even better!
These sugar cookies are made with butter, for a touch of holiday decadence and in line with the Hanukkah tradition of eating dairy in honor of the legend of Judith.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Frosting for decoration
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well-combined.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the bowl, mixing until a dough forms and no flour streaks remain.
- Form the dough into a ball and flatten it into a disc shape. Wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes from the dough and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden brown.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, decorate cookies with your choice of frosting!
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2. Hanukkah Cupcakes
To continue with the themes of sweets and dairy and hands-on decorating, check out these easy-to-make vanilla cupcakes!
Have your kids decorate them with frosting, sprinkles, and anything else that brings them holiday cheer.
If you’d rather make these parve to be able to serve with a holiday meat meal, you can substitute the butter with margarine and the milk with unflavored soy or almond milk.
As a bonus, these tasty treats can also be made into a Hanukkah menorah:
Line up 8 cupcakes in a straight line with a 9th raised on a small base in the middle (an upturned small bowl works), and then stick Hanukkah candles in them!
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time into the butter-sugar mixture, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the bowl, alternating with the milk, mixing until the batter is smooth and no flour streaks remain.
- Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners, filling each one about two-thirds full.
- Bake the cupcakes for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the pan for a few minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with frosting, icing, or festive sprinkles!
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3. Sweet or Savory Latkes
Of course, every Hanukkah needs at least one night dedicated to the classic potato pancakes known as latkes in Yiddish or levivot in Hebrew. A beloved Jewish comfort food, these are perfect for paying homage to the time-honored Hanukkah tradition of eating foods fried in oil.
Get the whole family in on grating and mixing the potatoes, and either enjoy them savory or have the kids roll them in sugar for an added level of holiday magic.
These latkes can also be topped with applesauce, sour cream, or sweet cream.
Ingredients:
- 3 large potatoes, peeled and grated
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp flour
- Pinch of salt
- Oil for frying
- Optional: 1 cup sugar, regular or powdered
Method:
- In a bowl, mix the potatoes with the flour and egg until a soft dough is formed. Season with salt.
- Heat oil in a frying pan. Using a tablespoon, form into pancakes and toss in deep hot oil. Fry well and remove onto paper towels to drain the oil.
- Optional: Roll the pancakes in sugar or sprinkle powdered sugar on top.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
See our top 10 Jewish tableware gifts from Israeli artists, perfect for this Hanukkah and year-round.
4. Blintzes
Cheese-filled blintzes are another traditional Hanukkah food, combining the age-old customs of eating dairy and of foods fried in oil.
If your kids are too young to help with the cooking and assembly, decorating the finished product with sour cream, jam, or fruit can be a great hands-on activity for them!
Blintz Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 3 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted unsalted butter
- vegetable oil or butter for frying
Filling Ingredients:
- 1 lb. drained ricotta cheese or farmer’s cheese
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Sour cream for garnish
- Fresh or canned fruit for garnish
Prepare the blintzes:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and sugar until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and melted butter or oil until well combined.
- Gradually whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth and no lumps remain.
- Heat a nonstick skillet or crepe pan over medium-high heat. Grease it lightly with butter or cooking spray.
- Pour about 1/4 cup of the batter into the skillet and swirl it around to coat the bottom of the pan evenly. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the edges of the crepe begin to curl up slightly.
- Use a spatula to flip the crepe over and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes on the other side.
- Repeat with the remaining batter, greasing the skillet as needed.
Make the filling and assemble the blintzes:
- In a large bowl, mix together the cheese, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined.
- Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture onto the center of each crepe. Fold the sides of the crepe inwards and then roll it up to enclose the filling.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the blintzes, seam side down, and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown.
- Serve the blintzes warm, garnished with a dollop of sour cream, fresh berries, or other toppings of your choice.
Read our ultimate Hanukkah gift idea guide, with something for everyone in 8 categories of beautiful and memorable gifts from Israel.
