1. Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts)
If you haven’t had a jelly donut during Hanukkah, you haven’t lived. This is the first and most necessary dessert on this list between the soft, doughy outside, sweet layer of powdered sugar and fresh jam in the center. When made correctly, you’ll never want another kind of donut again.
2. Crinkle Cookies
Who said crinkle cookies are reserved for Christmas alone? Customize these classic cookies with a little touch of blue dye to give them that special holiday touch (and to be aesthetically consistent).
3. Rugelach
Yes, they are basically crescent rolls with chocolate rolled up inside and yes, they are insanely delectable. For an added layer of pure deliciousness, weave some Nutella in and thank me later.
4. Gelt Cookies
Step aside Hershey Kiss cookies, the newest upgrade just came in: Gelt cookies. Set aside some of the beloved chocolate coins and use them for this recipe that Hanukkah-approved.
5. Puppy Chow
Okay, okay, not everything with some added blue coloring can be automatically assigned as a Hanukkah dessert but, puppy chow with blue M&M'S is too good to pass on. Not only is this a dessert you can easily make huge batches of and gift to other people, but you can store it and snack on it all week.
6. Apple Cinnamon Babka
It’s moist, it’s cinnamony, it goes with coffee or tea — babka is literally the perfect dessert. You can eat it in the morning as a sweet breakfast (try using it to make French toast) or after dinner as a satisfying dessert. Besides being mouthwatering as heck, babka is delightfully versatile.
7. Sfenj
Pay homage to our Sephardic friends from Morocco with this fried donut-shaped pastry made during Hanukkah as an homage to the small amount of oil lasting for eight days and nights as told in the story. Eat this for breakfast or as a late night sweet treat.
8. White Chocolate Pretzels
Another dessert that’s more for aesthetic purposes than anything else, sue me. These white chocolate pretzels shaped into the Star of David are too dang cute to pass up on, and what’s more? They’re easy to make, so this can easily be made into an activity for the whole family.
Recipe here!
Recipe here!