15 Hanukkah Desserts That Make All Eight Nights Taste Even Sweeter
Hanukkah arrives in December, and with it come eight nights of candles, family, dreidel games and plenty of good food. Many traditional Hanukkah desserts are fried in oil to remember the story of the small jar of oil that lasted eight days. Others are rich dairy treats or sweet breads passed down from grandparents. If you love fried treats, see our homemade donuts and fried treats too. Light the candles and let us start baking..
A Table of Hanukkah Desserts by Candlelight
Picture a plate of sugar dusted donuts glowing under the menorah. That is Hanukkah for many families. Fried treats remind everyone of the oil that burned for eight nights, and sweets make the long winter evenings feel warm and bright. You do not need to be an expert baker to fill your table. Start with one or two easy recipes from this list. Which night will you bake on? These Hanukkah desserts are made to be shared.
You will need: For a simple dessert table: 1 batch sufganiyot or store bought jelly donuts, 1 babka, chocolate gelt, fresh fruit, powdered sugar, a pot of tea or coffee.
How to make it: Bake or fry the main dessert earlier in the day. Arrange donuts on a large platter and dust with powdered sugar just before serving. Slice the babka thick. Scatter gelt around the table for the kids. Light the candles, say the blessings and enjoy dessert together.
Sufganiyot, the Most Famous Hanukkah Desserts
In Israel, bakeries sell millions of these jelly filled donuts during Hanukkah. They are soft, pillowy rounds of yeast dough fried golden, filled with strawberry jam and buried under powdered sugar. Making them at home takes some time for the dough to rise, but the reward is huge. Eat them warm on the day you make them. Quick poll: A) strawberry jam, B) custard, C) chocolate or D) dulce de leche filling? No list of Hanukkah desserts is complete without them.
You will need: 3 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast, 3/4 cup warm milk, 2 eggs, 3 tablespoons soft butter, pinch of salt, oil for frying, 1 cup strawberry jam, powdered sugar.
How to make it: Mix the flour, sugar, yeast and salt. Add milk, eggs and butter and knead 8 minutes. Let rise 1 hour. Roll 1/2 inch thick and cut 3 inch circles. Rise 30 minutes. Fry at 350F for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Cool slightly, pipe jam into each and dust with sugar.
Chocolate Glazed Jelly Donuts
Want to take sufganiyot up a level? Dip the tops in a glossy chocolate glaze instead of powdered sugar. The mix of rich chocolate, soft dough and bright jam is hard to beat. Kids love helping with the dipping and the sprinkles. It is one of the most fun Hanukkah desserts to make as a family. Would you pick raspberry or strawberry jam inside?
You will need: 1 batch donut dough from the recipe above, oil for frying, 1 cup jam. Glaze: 4 ounces dark chocolate, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon corn syrup, sprinkles.
How to make it: Fry and fill the donuts as above. Melt the chocolate, butter and corn syrup together until smooth. Dip the top of each donut into the glaze. Add sprinkles and let set 15 minutes.
Bimuelos, Honey Fritters From Sephardic Kitchens
Sephardic Jewish families have their own fried Hanukkah treat: bimuelos, light puffs of yeast dough fried golden and drizzled with warm honey or syrup. They are crisp outside and airy inside, similar to Greek loukoumades. Spoon the batter straight into the oil for rustic shapes. They are best eaten hot with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Have you ever tried them? They are classic Hanukkah desserts in Turkey and Greece.
You will need: 2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons instant yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 1/4 cups warm water, pinch of salt, oil for frying, 1/2 cup honey, cinnamon.
How to make it: Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and water into a sticky batter. Cover and rise 1 hour until bubbly. Drop spoonfuls into 350F oil and fry until golden on all sides. Drain and drizzle with warm honey and cinnamon.
Chocolate Babka, the Star of Hanukkah Desserts
Babka is a soft, buttery bread twisted with layers of chocolate filling. When you slice it, you see beautiful dark swirls in every piece. It became famous in Jewish bakeries in Eastern Europe and New York and is now loved everywhere. A sugar syrup brushed on at the end makes it shiny and moist. Is babka bread or dessert? Tell us what you think.
You will need: Dough: 3 cups flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast, 1/2 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup butter. Filling: 5 ounces dark chocolate, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa. Syrup: 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup water.
How to make it: Knead the dough and chill overnight. Melt the filling ingredients together. Roll the dough into a rectangle, spread the filling and roll up tightly. Cut in half lengthwise and twist the halves together. Place in a loaf pan and rise 1 1/2 hours. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes. Brush with syrup while hot.
Cinnamon Babka
Not a chocolate fan? Cinnamon babka is just as beautiful and maybe even more cozy. Brown sugar, cinnamon and butter are swirled through the soft dough, then the loaf gets a crumbly streusel on top. The smell while it bakes is unbelievable. Toast leftover slices and spread with butter the next morning. Are you team chocolate babka or team cinnamon babka?
You will need: 1 batch babka dough. Filling: 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1/2 cup soft butter. Streusel: 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons butter.
How to make it: Roll out the chilled dough and spread with the filling. Roll up, cut lengthwise and twist. Place in a loaf pan and top with streusel. Rise 1 1/2 hours. Bake at 350F for 40 to 45 minutes until deep golden.
Sweet Honey Challah
Challah is the braided egg bread served at Shabbat and holidays. A little extra honey makes it slightly sweet and perfect with Hanukkah desserts or as French toast the next morning. Braiding looks tricky but a simple three strand braid is easy to learn. Brush with egg wash for that shiny golden crust. Have you ever braided bread with your kids?
You will need: 4 cups flour, 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast, 1/3 cup honey, 2 eggs plus 1 for wash, 1/3 cup oil, 3/4 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon salt, sesame seeds.
How to make it: Mix and knead all the dough ingredients for 10 minutes. Rise 1 1/2 hours. Divide into 3 ropes and braid. Rise 45 minutes. Brush with egg and sprinkle with sesame. Bake at 350F for 30 to 35 minutes.
Homemade Chocolate Gelt, Hanukkah Desserts Kids Love
Gelt means money in Yiddish, and these gold wrapped chocolate coins are a favorite Hanukkah gift for kids. Families often use them as tokens when playing dreidel. Making your own is easy: melt good chocolate, pour it into small round molds and wrap them in gold foil. It is a lovely craft and dessert in one. Who wins the most gelt at your dreidel games?
You will need: 8 ounces good milk or dark chocolate, small round candy molds or a mini muffin pan, gold foil squares.
How to make it: Melt the chocolate gently in short bursts in the microwave. Spoon into the molds and tap to smooth. Chill 20 minutes until hard. Pop out and wrap each coin in a square of foil, pressing the edges.
Olive Oil Cake, Hanukkah Desserts Made With Oil
Since oil is at the heart of the Hanukkah story, an olive oil cake is a thoughtful choice. It is moist, tender and has a light citrus flavor. Fruity olive oil gives it a golden crumb and keeps it fresh for days. It is also dairy free when made with orange juice instead of milk. Serve it with berries or a dusting of powdered sugar. Would you have guessed this cake uses no butter?
You will need: 1 3/4 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup olive oil, 3 eggs, 3/4 cup orange juice, zest of 1 orange, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, pinch of salt.
How to make it: Whisk the eggs and sugar until pale. Whisk in the olive oil, juice and zest. Fold in the flour, baking powder and salt. Pour into a greased 9 inch pan. Bake at 350F for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool and dust with powdered sugar.
Cheese Blintzes With Berries
There is a lovely old tradition of eating dairy foods during Hanukkah, linked to the story of the heroine Judith. Cheese blintzes are thin crepes filled with sweet farmer cheese, folded into little packages and pan fried in butter. They are among the most comforting Hanukkah desserts. Serve them with sour cream and berry sauce. Poll: A) sour cream, B) berry sauce, C) applesauce or D) all three?
You will need: Crepes: 1 cup flour, 1 1/4 cups milk, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter. Filling: 2 cups farmer cheese or ricotta, 1 egg yolk, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, butter for frying.
How to make it: Blend the crepe batter and cook thin crepes in a nonstick pan, one side only. Mix the filling. Place a spoonful on the cooked side, fold the sides in and roll up. Fry in butter until golden on both sides.
Blueberry Cheesecake for the Dairy Tradition
A creamy cheesecake fits right in with the Hanukkah dairy tradition and feeds a crowd for the last night party. This one has a buttery graham crust and a glossy blueberry topping. Bake it the day before so it sets fully. Run a hot knife under water for perfectly clean slices. Is cheesecake on your holiday table every year?
You will need: 1 1/2 cups graham crumbs, 5 tablespoons butter, 24 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 1 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 can blueberry pie filling.
How to make it: Press crumbs and butter into a springform pan. Beat the cream cheese and sugar, then add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Bake at 325F for 55 minutes and cool in the oven 1 hour. Chill overnight and top with blueberries.
Layered Honey Cake
Honey cake is a beloved sweet in Jewish kitchens, especially in the fall holidays, and many families keep making it all winter. This layered version stacks thin honey sponges with a light sour cream frosting. After a night in the fridge, the layers turn soft and almost melt together. It is a slow, special bake for a cozy weekend. Who in your family loves honey the most?
You will need: 1/2 cup honey, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 3 1/2 cups flour. Frosting: 2 cups sour cream, 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
How to make it: Melt the honey, sugar and butter, then add the soda and let it foam. Cool slightly, beat in the eggs and flour to a soft dough. Divide into 8 pieces, roll thin and bake each at 350F for 5 minutes. Whip the frosting, stack the layers and frost. Chill overnight.
Almond Mandelbrot
Mandelbrot, or mandel bread, is the Jewish cousin of Italian biscotti. It is baked twice like biscotti but is a little softer and richer because it uses oil. Almonds and a hint of cinnamon sugar make it perfect for dunking in tea or coffee. It keeps for two weeks, so it is a great make ahead treat for all eight nights. Do you dunk your cookies? It is one of the easiest Hanukkah desserts to pack as a gift.
You will need: 2 3/4 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 3/4 cup oil, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup chopped almonds, cinnamon sugar.
How to make it: Mix the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and almonds. Shape into 2 logs on a baking sheet. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Slice into 1/2 inch pieces, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake 10 minutes more.
Apple Fritters for Latke Night
Latkes are the classic savory Hanukkah fry, but on dessert night these apple fritters steal the show. Chunks of apple are folded into a light, cinnamon batter and fried until puffy and golden. Dust them with powdered sugar or roll in cinnamon sugar while warm. They are quick, cheap and perfect for a crowd. Would you serve them with ice cream? Fried Hanukkah desserts like these honor the oil story.
You will need: 2 apples diced, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup milk, oil for frying, powdered sugar.
How to make it: Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon. Add the eggs and milk to make a thick batter. Fold in the apples. Drop spoonfuls into 350F oil and fry 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain and dust with sugar.
Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
No Hanukkah table is complete without applesauce next to the latkes. Homemade is so easy and tastes far better than the jar. Just simmer apples with a little sugar, cinnamon and lemon until soft, then mash. Some people like it chunky and some like it silky. It is also lovely spooned warm over vanilla ice cream. Applesauce or sour cream on your latkes?
You will need: 6 apples peeled and chopped, 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
How to make it: Put everything in a pot and cover. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring now and then, until the apples are very soft. Mash with a potato masher or blend until smooth. Serve warm or cold.
