10 Hanukkah Desserts Worth Celebrating

The festival of lights just got sweeter

By
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
A journalist, writer, and author, Lizz Schumer has 10+ years of experience covering food and drink for a wide variety of well-known print and online publications.
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Updated on 05/3/20
Hanukkah doughnuts sufganiot recipe

​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

When celebrating the holidays, you want to serve up something really special. This Hanukkah, dress up your table with a spread of heavenly desserts. Your family and friends will be asking for seconds—and the recipe!

  • 01 of 10

    Chocolate-Studded Babka

    Jewish chocolate babka recipe

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    This luscious chocolate-studded babka will look and taste impressive on your Hanukkah table. A streusel topping gives the babka nice crunch and it’s baked in a loaf pan for easy transport if you need to bring a dish to pass. Everyone will enjoy this updated classic.

  • 02 of 10

    Israeli Jelly Donuts (Sufganiyot)

    Hanukkah doughnuts sufganiot recipe

    ​The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Yes, you can make your own Israeli Jelly Donuts (sufganiyot), the deep-fried jelly donuts traditionally eaten during Hanukkah. They can be a bit labor-intensive, but the results are worth it. Invite a few friends over for a sufganiyot party—extra hands make light donut-making.

  • 03 of 10

    Air Fryer Sufganiyot

    A plate of air fryer sufganiyot or Jewish jelly doughnuts

     The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Even though Hanukkah is all about celebrating the Miracle of the Oil, a lower-calorie and lower-fat jelly doughnut is a welcome change especially for those counting fat grams. This air fryer sufganiyot recipe delivers all the flavor of the traditional treat without the guilt. They are brushed with oil, however, to preserve the tradition.

  • 04 of 10

    Parve Chocolate Mousse

    Parve Chocolate Mousse

    Anna Kurzaeva / Getty Images

     

    Made with margarine instead of butter and chocolate, this easy parve chocolate mousse is both parve and vegan-friendly. Your guests will rave about the heavenly texture and deep, bittersweet chocolate flavor.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Baked Olive Oil Donuts

    Baked olive oil doughnuts

    The Spruce

    Light, airy baked olive oil donuts are much less messy to make than the deep-fried version, although you will need a special donut pan. This recipe uses olive oil in both the batter and the topping, making it the perfect dessert for your Festival of Lights. If you prefer, you can also roll them in powdered sugar or dip in chocolate for a nice variation.

  • 06 of 10

    Chocolate-Filled Hamantaschen

    Chocolate-Filled Hamantaschen

    Karaidel / Getty Images

     

    Little helpers can pitch in on this simple chocolate-filled hamantaschen recipe, which lends itself to a wide variety of fillings. The crunchy cookie goes great with chocolate, minced nuts, jam, Nutella, or any combination you prefer. They are on the sweet side, so you might want to make miniature versions to avoid sugar overload.

  • 07 of 10

    Walnut Mandel Bread

    Walnut Mandel Bread (Pareve)

    The Spruce / Miri Rotkovitz

     

    While traditionally made with almonds, your family will love this variation on mandelbrot or “Mandel bread.” The quick bake time will yield fairly soft cookies, so if you like yours more like the Italian biscotti, leave them in for closer to 15 to 20 minutes. Check these walnut Mandel bread cookies often to avoid burning the tops.

  • 08 of 10

    Surprise Dreidel Cake

    Hanukkah dreidel surprise cake recipe

    ​The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

    Kids and kids-at-heart will love the dreidel shape baked right into the center of this classic surprise dreidel cake. Decorate it with blue and silver candies for a festive touch and watch everyone’s faces as you cut into it. It’s sure to bring smiles to your family.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Olive Oil Lemon Curd

    Olive Oil Lemon Curd

    The Spruce / Miri Rotkovitz

     

    Keep olive oil on your Hanukkah menu, but out of the fryer with this light olive oil lemon curd. It’s great on its own or as a filling for hamantaschen or crepes or piped into sufganiyot if you decide to fry some up after all. And because it uses no butter, it’s kosher and parve.

  • 10 of 10

    Dairy-Free Sugar Cookies

    Dairy-Free Sugar Cookies

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    You won’t miss the butter in these dairy-free sugar cookies that use olive oil instead. You can roll them in sprinkles and slice them for quick and simple preparation, or get out the cookie cutters to make fun shapes. Give it time to chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour for the best texture.