4 Hanukkah Foods I Grew up Loving That I Can’t Wait To Share With My Daughter

Key Takeaways

• Hanukkah foods like latkes and sufganiyot are a delicious way to teach kids about Jewish traditions and history.

• Simple shortcuts, like using store-bought hash browns for latkes, can make holiday cooking easier and more fun for families.

• Cooking together creates lasting memories and helps kids feel connected to their heritage.

Like many people, many of my most vivid memories of my grandmothers involve spending time in the kitchen or at the dinner table. Whether we were speckling sugar cookie dough with M&M's or kibbitzing while we waited for piping hot bowls of soup to cool off, I grew up connecting with loved ones through the shared experience of preparing and enjoying all kinds of food. Traditional Jewish dishes were, of course, especially meaningful, given the stories, history, and symbolism that are a part of each one. 

A lot of those traditional dishes could be considered comfort food, but Hanukkah —a celebration of the Jewish people's hope and resilience and light triumphing over darkness—is replete with them. Before she was even 2, my daughter became a challah superfan whose favorite snack is apples and honey (even when it's not Rosh Hashanah) and who's learning to count from a book called Hanukkah 1-2-3! That said, I have a feeling she'll love bonding by making several foods that are must-haves during the Festival of Lights.

Latkes

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of a Temple in Jerusalem that was desecrated by Greek-Syrian King Antiochus's soldiers who aimed to impose their beliefs, such as worshipping Zeus, on the Jewish people. Centuries after Jewish freedom fighters called the Maccabees defeated the Greek-Syrian army, text about a particularly miraculous jar of oil appeared in the Talmud. As the story goes, when the Maccabees entered the Temple, they found just one jar of oil to light the ner tamid (eternal light), which was meant to perpetually burn in the Temple. Though the jar was supposed to last only one day, it continued to keep the flame lit for eight nights.

For that reason, most traditional Hanukkah foods are made with oil. Crispy latkes, aka potato pancakes, are often the centerpiece of the most formal or the most casual Hanukkah party. Latkes are also one of the most beloved Hanukkah foods, because who doesn't love potatoes, let alone fried ones? Sure, you can go all in and make them the old-fashioned, grandma-approved way by peeling and hand-grating potatoes from scratch. But latkes are also amazing because you can also lean on shortcuts without shame (especially when you're a parent who's short on time with a young child who's short on patience). 

You can use a food processor to tackle the shredding. Or try one of my favorite quickie latke tricks: Get a bag of store-bought shredded hash browns, thaw them, squeeze as much liquid out of them as possible, then combine with a large egg, two tablespoons of all-purpose flour, a grated medium onion, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Fry in a neutral oil (I like refined avocado, but you can also do vegetable oil) for about three to four minutes per side until they're deep golden brown on the edges. 

I already know my toddler is going to go wild for the finished product: a plate piled with sky-high, sizzling latkes with plenty of applesauce (I prefer cinnamon) and sour cream. She'll love to take her pick, dipping her latkes in either—or both!

Sufganiyot

Another food that Hanukkah festivities wouldn't be complete without is doughnuts, called Sufganiyot, deep-fried, filled with jelly or jam, and rolled in sugar. (You can also do lemon curd, Nutella, or anything else that strikes your fancy.) 

Just like traditional latkes, fully committing to making Hanukkah doughnuts from scratch involves quite a bit of patience, because you have to wait to activate the yeast, knead the dough, etc. So, while I might try my hand at that approach down the road, at least while my daughter is a toddler, we'll probably go with a cake doughnut recipe , like this one for Easy Sufganiyot Dippers . Ready in 30 minutes and mini-sized, they're better for little fingers and will give my sweet girl the chance to sample an array of accompanying sauces, from melted chocolate to warmed berry compote. 

Noodle Kugel

This Ashkenazi Jewish baked casserole, or pudding, isn't exclusively a Hanukkah food. Instead, it's a traditional Jewish dish that makes appearances at various holidays (not to mention deli menus). Noodle kugel can be made savory or sweet, but I have zero recollection of anything other than the latter, made with plenty of sugar, lots of dairy (sour cream, cottage cheese, or cream cheese), cinnamon, and raisins, so that's the one that I'll be making with my daughter. I'll need to ask my mom to share my grandmother's handwritten recipe, which I'm sure she has stashed in her kitchen, but celeb chef Andrew Zimmern's family recipe also looks legit.  

Matzo Ball Soup

When my Grandma Edith, with whom I was very close, was in her late 80s, I was spontaneously inspired to pick her brain about something of utmost importance: What was her secret to making the most wonderful, soul-comforting matzo ball soup? I remember her matzo balls had always had the perfect, not-too-fluffy and not-too-chewy texture. She brought me into the kitchen of her Miami townhouse, led me to the pantry, pulled out a box of Manischewitz matzo ball mix, presented the back of the box to me, and said, "Follow the directions." 

I can't help but laugh thinking back on that memory, and when my toddler and I prep matzo ball soup for Hanukkah, any other Jewish holiday, Shabbat, or even a sick day, given that it is, indeed, Jewish penicillin—I'll be sure to do exactly what my Grandma E did. However, I do think her method involved a little extra magic—or, at the very least, a whole lot of love. 

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