Ah, the humble latke. Remember when all you needed was a grater, a potato, and some oil? Yeah, neither do we. Even the simplest latkes come with hundreds of years of technique. And we’re also seeing the ever-onward rise of the Modern Latke. Whether you keep it simple (Manischewitz has a latke mix that makes latke-making a true no-brainer) or want to change it up this year, we've got the recipes to make your Chanukah unforgettable.

Searching for Chanukah recipes you can make other than latkes? Discover the very best recipes right here!

1. Latkes by Bruchy Duschinsky

Latkes are the most iconic Chanukah dish and such a delicious comfort food—they are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Make sure to drain all the excess liquid for authentic, crispy, latke goodness.

2. Scallion-Sesame Latkes by Chaya Suri Leitner

This latke is something I’ve been dreaming up in my head for quite a while. The idea of an Asian-inspired latke served alongside cabbage slaw and pulled meat just sounds really delicious.

3. Tri-Colored Latkes by Rivka and Sara Fried

The classics never get boring, especially when they are a tri-colored medley!

4. Beetroot Latkes with Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraiche by Jenny Linford

Serve this strikingly colorful dish as a satisfying brunch plate. Cool, silky crème fraîche contrasts well with salty smoked salmon and the slightly sweet, earthy-tasting, crisp-textured beet(root) latkes.

5. Scallion-Potato Latkes by Chanie Nayman

Sautéed onions are a favorite in my house. One Friday, after I slid the potato kugel into the oven, I wondered why I’d never tried putting sautéed onions in my kugel as opposed to regular fresh onions. Well, aren’t all latkes mini potato kugels, fried? The scallions and soy sauce give these latkes a fresh new flavor that we all really enjoyed.

6. Carrot Latkes by Hindy Bertram

These egg- free carrot latkes are flavorful, healthy and delicious. Easy to make, crispy and bursting with flavor, these are great for a healthier version of latkes on Chanuka, or to make for a quick lunch any time.

7. Cauliflower Latkes by Beth Warren

The holiday may be over, but the deliciousness of this favorite recipe is not. Try my version of cauliflower latkes for an exciting way to introduce a new veggie. Pair with a child’s favorite dip to help ease them into it, if necessary.

8. Reuben Latkes by Michal Frischman

Not that indulging in fried food is a regular occurrence for me, but if I would, these latkes would be my choice. Besides being super crispy, they are the complete opposite of bland and boring. You can get creative with the toppings, but adding something acidic, like pickles or sauerkraut, is a must to avoid a greasy bite. Watch the video here.

9. Zucchini Latkes with Tzatziki Sauce by Jamie Geller

Don’t save latkes for Chanukah, when you can enjoy them all year round made with zucchini and served with a Greek yogurt tzatziki sauce.

10. French Onion Latkes by Chaya Rappoport

A warm bowl of rich and deeply caramelized French onion soup is one of my favorite things. Here, I’ve combined crispy latkes with the flavors of French onion soup by caramelizing onions with sherry vinegar and topping the fried latkes with onions and nutty Gruyère cheese. If you can’t find Gruyère cheese, use a nutty aged Cheddar instead.

11. Vegetable Dreidel Latkes by Faigy Grossman

Delicious and adorable, these dreidels are almost too cute to eat! Make them with regular potato kugel batter if you go for more typical latke fare or, if you dare, swap out these veggies for more interesting ones!

12. Pad Thai Latkes by Erin Grunstein

If you’re ready for something different and creative this Chanukah, these Asian-style vegetable latkes may be right up your alley. Including flavorful ingredients like green onion, ginger, garlic, and mint, and a recipe for an umami/sweet dipping sauce.

13. Gooey Cheesy Potato Latkes by Shena Dominitz

Every year we search for that perfect Latke Recipe. It may come from Kosher.com, google searches, Grandma’s recipe, Mama’s recipe, the Rebbetzin’s recipe, or just from a memory. I bring to you a fun twist to the regular LATKE. A cheesy, gooey, savory addition to the Chanukah celebration. Yields 14 latkes.

Watch Shena make these latkes here! 

14. Pulled Beef Latke Board by Odaiah Leeds

I like to serve special and exciting suppers on each night of Chanukah, and these pulled beef latkes are always a hit. The presentation is fun and different, and everyone enjoys creating their own plate. They also make for a beautiful, showstopping plated appetizer for a Chanukah party.

15. Brown Butter Applesauce by Shushy Turin

This sweet and simple Brown Butter Applesauce is incredibly tasty and easy to make, and a surefire way to make your latkes for Chanukah extra special.

For more great cooking, watch Just Make It!

16. Pulled Brisket Latke Tacos by Esty Wolbe

Your family will absolutely love this adorable savory dish! Combine an easy-to-make latka, tacos, and meat, and this is sure to be a hit! Be sure to make extra of the coffee rub to store in your pantry, it’s that good that you’ll want it for future meat and chicken dishes!

17. Aruk – Iraqi Herb and Potato Patties by Einat Admony and Janna Gur

Friday lunches in traditional Jewish households are light, easy to fix, and often meatless, to leave room for the substantial Shabbat meals that lie ahead. So in Jewish Iraqi homes, you’ll often find these fragrant, golden-green latkes made with loads of fresh herbs, because they come together with minimal effort. Unlike the more familiar and labor-intensive Ashkenazi latkes, made with raw grated potato, these use mashed, precooked potatoes, resulting in crispy patties with a soft interior.   The first aruk I ever ate were cooked by Berta, the Iraqi mother of one of my army friends. I went to her house for lunch and was blown away by how delicious her aruk were.   I bake my potatoes, rather than boil them, because I like the richer, more potatoey flavor. The drier texture makes the latkes fluffier too.   Recipe makes about 24 patties.   Watch Einat prepare these latkes with Naomi on Sunny-Side Up!

18. Latke “Apple Pie” by Faigy Murray

Though I love to mix it up, applesauce and latkes are truly a no-brainer. So when I made a “deconstructed” apple pie, it just makes so much sense for the latke to be the “dough”!

19. Sweet Potato Latkes with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce by Tanya Ohana

This recipe was featured on our Instagram Stories for Chanukah 2019 #beyondthelatke.

20. Latkes De Plátano + Salsa De Ajo (Plantain Latkes + Garlic Sauce) by Sandy Leibowitz

This recipe was featured on our Instagram Stories for Chanukah 2019 #beyondthelatke.

21. Magical 3 Ingredient Baked Potato Latkes by Bat-El Gershowitz

I’m so happy to introduce to you this magical recipe that is not only so easy to make but is also much easier to digest. This latke combination has no flour at all, so it’s gluten-free! No eggs to bind, so it’s vegan! No oil for frying – it’s baked! Enjoy a healthier version of potato latkes that are so delicious and so very friendly for all eating types! If you are looking to have a big crowd, save time, energy and lots of extra unnecessary calories this holiday, this recipe is ideal! Leave all the frying behind and let the oven do all the work for you. Impress your family and friends with basic ingredients and be proud that everyone can enjoy harmless latkes on any given day of the year.

22. Sushi Salad-Topped Latkes by Faigy Murray

I absolutely love sushi salad, even more so than traditional rolled sushi. I love how the flavors come together. Mixing it together with a latke gives you the best of both worlds!  

23. Beet Latkes with Preserved Lemon and Yogurt Dressing by Einat Admoney and Janna Gur

I’m a beet freak, so when I wanted to give an upgrade to the traditional Ashkenazi potato pancake, beets were my solution. Unlike potatoes, beets don’t start turning black the moment you grate them, and they preserve their crispiness a bit longer, so it’s easier to pace their preparation and serving. These crunchy-chewy latkes have just the right hint of sweetness to offset the bright dressing.

24. Stuffed Baked Potato Latkes by Faigy Murray

This one is legit a no brainer. Use a latke instead of a baked potato! The fried crispy latke really takes this traditional American dish up a notch.

25. Baked Cauliflower Latkes with Smoked Salmon by Naomi Nachman

These gluten-free baked cauliflower latkes are perfect for Chanukah or any time of year. Starting with pre-riced cauliflower makes these a snap to prepare.

26. Southwest Salad-Topped Latkes by Faigy Murray

One of my kids won’t touch vegetables. Not for anything in the world. I once made this salad and stared open-mouthed while he ate this with gusto! Winner!

When he saw me preparing the latkes this way, he said, “Ma! This is pure genius!”

27. Schwarma-Topped Latke by Faigy Murray

When I was testing these recipes, my family went nuts over this one!! The flavor combination is amazing and there are so many delicious toppings you can have fun with!

28. Full 'N Free Real-Deal Latkes by Rorie Weisberg

Last Chanukah I shared some latke alternatives. But sometimes you just want the real thing! Here’s how to make real-deal potato latkes, just better. This recipe features healthier oils and Yukon gold potatoes, which are lower glycemic than the standard Idaho variety.

29. Giant Latke by Michal Frischman

Everyone loves latkes, but no one likes missing all the action because they’re slaving over the stove! Enter this giant latke which hits all the right notes yet lets the cook enjoy her evening. (For milchig parties, top this guy with sauce and cheese and pop it under the broiler until the cheese melts.)

30. Latke Board by Faigy Murray

Latkes are one of the most traditional foods that I refuse to play around with! You won’t see me making cauliflower latkes or carrot muffin latkes. Latkes need to be potatoes!   But I will have loads of fun with all sorts of delicious toppings. I mean, who decided that latkes only go with applesauce? Here’s 6 creative combos I came up with to top my latkes the fun way!  

31. Latkes with Sour Cream, Green Onions, and Masago by Jeff and Jodie Morgan

Everyone loves latkes, the fried potato pancakes traditionally served at Chanukah, but why wait all year? We love latkes so much that we eat them from January through December. In this recipe, we top our latkes with tangy sour cream, green onions, and masago—tiny fish eggs from the capelin fish. You can find the roe in specialty fish markets and food stores. As a substitute, feel free to use salmon roe, which are larger and somewhat saltier. (To make this parve, serve it without sour cream.)

32. Uncle Herman's Potato Latkes by Faye Levy

Herman Saks, my Uncle Herman, who was born in Russia, was the family’s latke maker when I was growing up, and every year he patiently and expertly fried numerous latkes at the family’s big Hanukkah parties. His secret technique? He made his batter in a blender. This method is convenient, especially when making large quantities of latkes; you can quickly whip up batches of batter as you need them. Uncle Herman gave me his recipe just a few weeks before he passed away at the age of 91.

33. Twice Fried Pastrami Latkes by Yussi Weisz

For those of you who like to have your latkes with meat instead of dairy, why not go all in with this Twice Fried Latke. Piled high with fried pastrami and topped with a fried jalapeño pepper, these latkes will be the talk of the table.

34. Cheesy Zucchini Fritters by Rivki Rabinowitz

I can attest to the fact that these were a real crowd pleaser, given that as soon as they was finished cooking, tiny little taste testers “magically” appeared and polished them off! A little reminiscent of falafel, a little cheesy, and a little zucchini- perfection!

35. Harissa Latkes by Jennifer Chetrit

What do you get when you mix an Eastern European dish with a North African condiment? Spicy, crispy and awesome Harissa Latkes!!!

36. Ricotta Fritters by Jennifer Chetrit

This year for Chanukah try something different with these melt-in-your-mouth delicious ricotta fritters.

37. Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Latkes by Miriam Szokovski

Instead of making sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving, and potato latkes for Chanukah, try these sweet potato butternut squash latkes. You’ll get the flavors of Thanksgiving but the crispy fried texture of Chanukah. If you’ve never made latkes before, don’t feel intimidated. They’re quite straightforward and hard to mess up. Definitely worth a try. Two tips for latke-making: 1. Stick a small piece of carrot in the oil. The carrot absorbs the burnt taste the oil sometimes gets. When the carrot looks dark and shriveled, take it out and replace with a new one. 2. To make the latkes a uniform size, use a 1/3-cup measuring cup to scoop up the batter.

38. Gluten-Free Cauliflower Fritters by Chaia Frishman

Your bubby might scoff at this modern version of the chremslach, but your nutritionist will be all smiles. Here’s a Pesach pancake low in carbs and high in taste!

39. Perfect Protein-Packed Pancakes by Rivkah Krinsky

This Chanukah, try something new! These protein-packed, sugar free, wheat free pancakes are made with almond flour, eggs, bananas and honey and fried in coconut oil and are a healthier alternative when you want fried food for Chanukah. Sit around the menorah watching the flames and feel good that you fed yourself and your family so well.

40. Baked Cauliflower or Broccoli Latkes (Gluten Free) by Brynie Greisman

These simple, gluten-free latkes are baked, not fried, and are made starch-free with broccoli or cauliflower in place of the traditional potatoes.

41. Very Basic, Quick and Simple Potato Latke Recipe by Danielle Renov

Look no further for that easy, tried-and-true latke recipe to star at your Chanukah party. 

Ever wondered which potatoes are the best latke potatoes? Danielle tests them for you in this video. Check out more from Matter of Taste.

42. Best Potato Latkes by Amelia Saltsman

These latkes are thin, crisp, and pan-fried, not deep-fried. My family’s traditional recipe is inspired by Sara Kasdan’s, from her hilarious 1956 cookbook Love and Knishes, which my mother received as a gift nearly sixty years ago. You need a starchy potato for good latkes; the starch helps bind the pancake together. Sierra Gold (a cross between a Yukon Gold and a russet), German Butterball, Kennebec, and King Edward are all wonderful here. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled, and it works well with other wintry vegetables.

43. Sweet Cheese Latkes by Batsheva Kanter

These sweet cheese latkes are perfect for making ahead of time. Simply freeze and then reheat in the oven to crisp.

44. Oven-Fried Potato Latkes by Jenn Segal

Latkes, or crisp onion-scented potato pancakes, are a traditional Hanukkah dish. Go to any Hanukkah party and you’ll find an apron-clad Jewish mother or grandmother standing at the stove frying and doling them out – a tradition I loved and cherished until I became the poor mother who had to make them. Cooking short-order style, hot oil splattering all over the kitchen, children running underfoot – no thank you! Enter these oven-fried baked latkes. They’re no healthier, mind you, but just as good, half the mess since they’re baked in the oven, and so much easier.

45. Crunchy Potato Nuggets by Faigy Grossman

These creamy, deep-fried delicacies are out of this world, especially when smothered in the tangy cheese sauce. They can also be served French style with the sauce in a separate dish.

46. Savory Potato Latke "Cookies" by Rachel Nayman

For a twist on potato latkes and Chanukah cookies! Make potatoes in the forms of dreidels, menorahs and other shapes!

47. Potato and Scallion Latkes with Pickled Applesauce by Paula Shoyer

Everyone loves potato latkes but no one likes the mess of frying them, or the guilt associated with eating them. These latkes are baked in the oven and easily won over my kids. You do need to watch them so they do not burn; they were done at different times in different ovens. The Pickled Applesauce is basically a tangy-spicy applesauce, which we also eat with schnitzel.

You can find more of Paula’s recipes in her cookbook, The Healthy Jewish Kitchen.

48. Ricotta Fritters with Warm Blueberry Sauce by Estee Kafra

These savory latkes have all the flavor of cheese and blueberry blintzes, minus the time-consuming filling and rolling.

49. Potato Latkes from the Nitra Cookbook

There is a tradition to eat foods fried in oil on Chanukah in commemoration of the miracle following the Maccabean victory over the Assyrian forces: When they went to rededicate the Holy Temple they could find only enough olive oil to light its lamp, its menorah, for one day. They lit it anyway, and miraculously the lights remained burning for eight days – enough time for new oil to be pressed. Here is a basic, no-fail recipe for traditional potato latkes fried in oil.

50. Vanilla Cheese Pancakes by Dining In

Otherwise known as ”cheese latkes”, these are nice for a light supper (protein) dish.

51. Potato "Latke" Fritter by Gabe Garcia

Potato latkes are a tradition on Chanukah, but sometimes they can be a little bit heavy and oily. Our take on the latke is to make a fritter of shredded potato and pate a choux. Pate a choux is the wet sticky dough that when baked gives you creampuffs and eclairs and when fried produces churros. By combining choux paste with shredded potatoes and deep frying it we are going to achieve a light, airy, and crispy fritter “latke”.

52. Carrot Ginger Latkes with Apple-Salsa by Renee Chernin

53. Cheese Latkes (Gluten Free) by Nitra Ladies Auxiliary

54. Classic Potato Latkes with Assorted Toppings by Norene Gilletz

Tradition! You really can’t go wrong with classic potato latkes. I’ve added four unique toppings to serve alongside, each with its own flavor. Make a different topping every night and delight your guests! In addition you can prepare the latkes in 3 different ways, click here to see how. For even more creative latke toppings, click here.

55. Potato Beef Latkes by Chavi Feldman

56. Chicken-Mushroom Soup with Crispy Spaghetti Latkes by Temi Philip

This soup has a rich taste and gorgeous hue. Your family will love the crispy spaghetti latkes accompanying it.  

57. Vanilla Almond Latkes by Chevy Slomovics and Raizy Janklowitz

These faux dairy latkes are super easy to whip up, and they are completely gluten-free. Enjoy sharing them at your own family Chanukah celebration!

58. Classic Sweet Potato Latkes by Daphna Rabinovitch

Latkes, the traditional Chanukah fried potato patties, are delicious but not exactly healthy fare. Up the nutritional value of your latke dinner party (at least a little) by combining white potatoes and sweet potatoes in your latke batter.

59. Syrian Pumpkin Patties (Kibbet Yatkeen) by Gil Marks

Syrians tend to prefer their pumpkin pancakes spicy, while Sephardim from Turkey and Greece generally favor them slightly sweet. In either case, these colorful pancakes are both traditional for Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Chanukah as well as make a tasty side dish for any meal, the many seeds a symbol of fruitfulness and abundance.

 

Originally published November 2018. Updated and improved December 2025.