Hanukkah: Recipes and Traditions

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in 165 BCE after its desecration by Antiochus IV. The priests had only enough oil to keep the eternal flame lit for one day, but miraculously, it burned for eight days.

Jews around the world commemorate this miracle by lighting consecutively one more menorah candle every day for the eight days of Hannukah. In 2019 the holiday is celebrated from sundown December 22 through sundown December 30.

Fried foods are traditional as a reminder of the Miracle of the Oil. Potato pancakes, or latkes, and jelly donuts called sufganiyot are especially popular. Chocolate coins called gelt are often handed out to children as Hanukkah gifts.

Hanukkah Recipes

Try these recipes for Hanukkah.

Sweet and Sour Brisket 
(Israeli Jewish braised brisket)

Sweet and Sour Brisket 
(Israeli Jewish braised brisket)

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)

Apfelmus 
(German applesauce)

Latkes 
(Israeli Jewish potato pancakes)

Latkes 
(Israeli Jewish potato pancakes)

Sufganiyot 
(Israeli Jewish filled donuts)

Sufganiyot 
(Israeli Jewish filled donuts)

Chopped Chicken Livers 
(Jewish liver paté spread)

Chopped Chicken Livers 
(Jewish liver paté spread)

Apple Fritters 
(Jewish batter-fried apple rings)

Apple Fritters 
(Jewish batter-fried apple rings)

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