Donuts, glorious donuts. You can bake them, pipe them, fry them, fill them. There’s no limit to the joy they can bring. On Chanukah, we get to go all-out with donuts to commemorate the miracle of oil. But gone are the days of only having one donut option. There are hundreds of ways to do donuts! Here are some ideas to get you started for your Chanukah party! Have a different favorite donut? Let us know in the comments!
Jump right to the types of recipes that interest you by clicking the sections below!
Baked Donuts:
1. The 2 Ingredient Donut Hack You Need This Chanukah! by Sara Goldstein
We’re back with another crazy cake mix hack. A little something for those baked donut fans…two-ingredient baked donuts!! They are easy to make and oh-so fluffy. I decorated mine with blue icing and festive sprinkles so even though they’re not fried, they’re still definitely in the festive Chanukah spirit!
2. Blueberry Donuts by Janie Chazanoff
It’s been a while since we enjoyed a donut, hasn’t it? I made these with a blueberry glaze to celebrate the spring season. They’re a kid- and adult-friendly treat that’s good for breakfast or entertaining. And these are baked, not fried!
3. Apple Cider Donuts by Meg Resnikoff
Growing up in Connecticut, apple picking was a rite of passage. The orchard we used to go to had the most amazing apple cider donuts in their store. This is a healthy twist on theirs (which were fried).
4. Baked Chocolate Donuts by Tamara Friedman
Whip these donuts up in a pinch using just a mixing bowl and spoon! These are moist, airy and full of chocolaty goodness! Ice them with this decadent icing to really take the flavor over the top. A perfect delicious alternative to frying donuts.
5. Vegan Apple Cinnamon Baked Donuts by Ruth Fox and Vicky Cohen
This recipe was featured on our Instagram Stories for Chanukah 2019 #beyondthelatke.
6. Healthy Whole Wheat Baked Donuts with Citrus Cream by Gideon Ben Ezra
With all the fabulous fried food of Chanukah, you may be craving something baked. Here’s a healthier version – baked, not fried in oil – made with whole wheat flour and filled with a delicious citrus cream.
7. Baked Espresso Donuts (Vegan, Gluten Free) by Miriam Diamant
If you’re looking for a reason to get out of bed (especially on a gloomy, under-the-weather morning), These. Donuts. Are. It. Paired with an extra-large cappuccino, the rest of your day will be magical. These donuts are not fried and are free of eggs, oil, dairy, and gluten.
Gluten Free Donuts:
8. Gluten-Free Donut Holes by Sarah Berg
Most gluten-free donuts are baked, but my son wanted an authentic donut, so with a lot of trial and error, we created the perfect recipe. The dough isn’t easy to work with, but it’s worth the effort.
9. Gluten-Free Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts) by Dalya Rubin
Eating gluten-free doesn’t mean you have to be left out of the Chanukah treats! These gluten-free classic-style sufganiyot will make your holiday that much sweeter.
10. Gluten Free Sufganiyot by Chevy Slomovics and Raizy Janklowitz
We’re very excited to debut our all-new Chanukah creation: They’re fried like a latke, and they taste like a donut! The coconut oil lends them genuine sufganiyah flavor. Best of all, they’re egg-free, and can be made with gluten-free flour, to accommodate all kinds of food sensitivities. Enjoy making them and choosing exciting fillings together with your kids!
11. Gluten Free Brownie Donuts by Fraidy Reisz
Submitted by Fraidy Reisz Most scrumptious “can’t tell it’s gluten free” brownie donuts.
Classic Donuts:
12. Heavenly Donuts by Miriam Fried
It’s donut season. And who doesn’t love a good donut? There is nothing like a fresh donut. Donuts are always best when eaten on the same day they are made. You can freeze the leftover dough and fry fresh.
13. Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts for Chanukah) by Rabbi Hanoch Hecht
14. My Mom’s Sufganiyot by Dini Besancon
I’d like to dedicate this sufganiyot recipe to #DONUTSFORROEY, a staff sergeant who bravely sacrificed his life at the too-young age of 21 fighting against Hamas terrorists.
It breaks my heart to think of such a young soul being lost, and for the family and friends that will need to learn to re-live life without their beloved son, brother, nephew, friend, grandson.
So Roey, these donuts are for you.
May your neshamah have an aliyah and your family know peace again. Thank you for fighting to make the world a better place.
I will do my best to continue your legacy and fight to make the world a better place.
15. Chocolate Doughnuts by Faigy Cohen
Classic flavor profile, light and moist, these chocolate doughnuts with chocolate glaze will have everyone oohing and ahhing at your Chanukah get-together.
16. Perfect Doughnuts by Bruchy Duschinsky
You’ll never believe the lengths I went to to find you the perfect doughnut recipe. Remember those school doughnuts (pillowy bites of deliciousness) that I waxed nostalgic about? So I actually tracked down my elementary school cook and got her exclusive doughnut recipe. The thing is she cooks and bakes in BULK. Think 25 lbs. flour, 60 eggs, etc. I figured I could cut down the recipe to standard household measurements and it would work. It. Did. Not. I tried once— it was a fail. I tweaked the measurements and tried again—another fail. After a third failed attempt, I gave up. Then I tried a proven recipe—with no bulk measurements—that promises soft, light, airy doughnuts that are addictive—and they were! This one used to make the rounds amongst my family and friends every year, origins unknown.
17. Blondy Chocolate Donuts by Sweet Moments: Rega Matok
Golden baked donuts, especially soft and airy, with surprise blondy chocolate cubes found at the first bite and a melted blondy chocolate coating. Perfect for Chanukah!
18. Quick Donuts by Faigy Grossmann
How many doughnuts can you eat over Chanukah? Do you start from Rosh Chodesh Kislev so you can sample one of each flavor out there? It seems that every year the number of varieties grows exponentially! I’ve always been a fan of the traditional yeast-dough doughnuts, but in an attempt to try something new, here’s a recipe with more of a cake-batter base. They’re intended to recreate the taste of an Entenmann’s doughnut, but since I’ve never tasted them myself, anyone familiar with Entenmann’s can let me know how it compares. The benefit of this recipe is that the doughnuts are super quick to prepare. You can have freshly fried doughnuts within 30 minutes! And just like any fried food, they’re best super fresh.
19. One Step Jelly Filled Donuts from the Nitra Cookbook
How to make donuts the easy way! Here is an incredibly easy method to fill a donut, minus the mess! Be sure to just slightly mark the first circle. If you cut down all the way, the sides of the donuts won’t have a good seal and will separate when frying. Feel free to use other fillings besides for apricot jam, such as chocolate, caramel, or dulce de leche. Top with either a frosting, or sprinkle on the classic: confectioner’s sugar. Happy Hanukkah!
20. Quick Vegan Donuts with Chocolate Sauce by Sweet Moments: Rega Matok
Quick and easy parve donuts with no eggs — suitable for vegans too. They take a few minutes to prepare and are served with hot, shiny chocolate sauce made of just two ingredients.
21. Cocktail Party Donuts by Estee Kafra
Warning: You must be above a certain level of maturity to appreciate these spiked treats. I based them on the flavors of popular cocktail drinks. You can probably come up with your own variations as well. Let us know! I ordered mini doughnuts from the bakery in a few different colors to match the flavors I chose.
22. Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts) from the Dining In Cookbook
There are never enough to last eight days! The sooner you eat these after making them, the better they are, although you will want to give them time to cool first!
23. Extra Easy Donuts from the Nitra Cookbook
Chanuka is not Chanuka without donuts fried in oil. But no one wants to spend lots of time on a complicated donut recipe when they would rather be spending time with their families, watching the menorah. This donut recipe is classic, so easy to make (they only need to rise for 45 minutes!) and come out looking perfect every time.
24. Perfect Sufganiyot (Jelly Donuts) by Marcy Goldman
Sufganiyot are the classic jelly-filled doughnut. Milk makes a richer dough, but using all water is fine for a lighter dough that is also parve (non dairy).
25. Authentic Hungarian Donuts by Faigy Grossman
This out-of-this-world doughnut recipe was submitted by none other than my sister’s Hungarian housekeeper!!! After demolishing an astonishing amount last Chanukah at our family Chanukah party, I felt I had to share this with our Family First readers! She claims the secret is the alcohol in the vodka; it does not allow the oil to penetrate the dough, leaving the doughnuts extra fluffy and not too oily. The dairy ingredients definitely add to the tastiness, however, you can make these doughnuts parve as well, substituting margarine and parve milk for the dairy ingredients.
26. Chocolate-Glazed Cream Donuts by Marcy Goldman
These are as good as they sound. Use the yeasted dough from the Sufganiyot and enjoy this delicious dairy glaze drizzled over them.
27. Cream Cheese Donuts with Glaze by Michal Frischman
When Chanie explained her vision for a cream cheese dough and glaze, I’ll admit I was skeptical. But as my trusty taste-tester neighbors can attest, it worked out great! Make sure to fry them fresh, because eating them the next day is just not the same.
Not-Your-Average Donut:
28. Oreo Cheesecake Donuts by Leah Leora
These quick bread (ready in under an hour) donuts filled with a delicious Oreo cheesecake filling and topped with an icing glaze and crushed Oreos may not make it to the table…
29. Cotton Candy Donut Lollies by Miriam Fried
What better treat for a kid than a cotton candy donut lolly, it’s fun and colorful and sweet. A true candyland experience.
30. Mocha Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze by Brynie Greisman
Mocha is one of my favorite flavors. The chocolate chips on the bottom are a welcome surprise, and topped with a delicious chocolate glaze, it’s irresistible. Try it, and you’ll see what I mean!
31. Doughnut Board with Delectable Dairy Fillings by Chavi Feldman
Think Chanukah, think doughnuts. Better yet, think doughnut board! Have fun with your family and friends by stuffing store-bought doughnuts with these delicious dairy filling flavors along with their respective toppings. Feel free to get creative and add your own flavors and toppings to the mix!
32. Mini-Donut Kabobs by Leah Leora
These adorable mini baked donuts on sticks are sure to please kids and adults.
33. Warm Donut Holes Dessert by Mirel Freylich
Years ago, I attended a simchah that took place in a milchig restaurant. The delicious taste of the dessert stayed with me, and I decided to try to copy the idea. The results were amazing.
34. Precipizi (Fried Honey Balls) by Shachar Banin
35. Chanukah Donuts with Sweet and Savory Toppings by Naomi Nachman
36. Cheese Donuts from the Nitra Cookbook
There is a tradition to eat foods fried in oil on Chanukah in commemoration of the miracle of the oil lamp, and there is also a tradition to eat dairy foods in honor of Judith, who put an enemy general to sleep by feeding him cheeses that made him thirsty and then plying him with wine; once he was asleep, she killed him. Why not combine the two customs with this dairy doughnut?
37. Donut Holes with Orange-Vanilla Simple Syrup by Estee Kafra
Are you one of those nostalgic Creamsicle lovers like me? These doughnut holes, dredged in a syrup reminiscent of pure orange-vanilla goodness, are so easy to make. These were very, very popular in the taste-testing runs!
38. Specialty Flavour: Pumpkin Chai Spiced Donut Poppers by Estelle Chait
My favorite donut base is spiced for the holidays! Using a Pumpkin Chai tea concentrate and some specialty spices (cinnamon, cardamom), these donut poppers really pack a fun, surprising flavour that is perfectly subtle. They are fluffy and soft on the inside, with the perfect Krispie Kreme style glaze.
39. Milky Donut Pops by Esty Wolbe
40. Donut Bark by Miriam (Pascal) Cohen
This is one of those ideas that I thought up months and months ago, then stored away, closely guarded, until the right season. Bark is, at its core, a really easy dessert to make. The creative part comes when you start adding toppings — in this case, the toppings are Chanukah themed! You can use store-bought (even leftover) doughnuts, or you can use my really easy baked doughnut recipe.
41. Sufganiyot (Jelly Donut) Ice Cream by Orlie Perl
There is nothing better than having a warm and sweet sufganiyah during Hanukkah. What about having that same sweet treat in ice cream form?
42. Deconstructed Donut Cups by Michal Frischman
My sister Giti gave me the brilliant idea to play off the go-to doughnut fillings for a dessert you can customize to your liking. I originally wanted to make these in tiny premade tart shells, but they were nowhere to be found in my grocery store, so I improvised!
43. Jelly Donut Mug Cake by Sara and Yossi Goldstein
This recipe was featured on our Instagram Stories for Chanukah 2019 #beyondthelatke.
44. Half-Homemade Donut Holes by Rachel Nayman
If you’re always looking for easy food crafts to do with your kids, this is the perfect recipe for you. It couldn’t be simpler, and your kids can get creative with icing and toppings. The sky is the limit!
45. Mini Cheerio Donuts by Shortcuts by Family Table
Donuts that the kids can make themselves? It’s true! These fun minis can be done with any frosting and any sprinkles. Show us your creations! Excuse us while we go eat a couple dozen “donuts.”
46. The Ultimate Chanukah Hot Chocolate Bombs! by Esther Ottensoser
With Hot Chocolate Bombs being the latest rage, I decided to try making them in a donut shape in honor of Chanukah.
This activity is a cool and fun activity for teenagers.
47. Sushi Donuts by Yides Banda
We love this delicious mashup! You can enjoy sushi “donuts” fresh, or in the spirit of Chanukah, battered and fried! Submitted by Yides Banda (Designer Bakehouse and Cookery, Israel) Second Place Winner of the MyKosher.com Chanukah Challenge!
48. Pumpkin Donuts by Paula Shoyer
Pumpkin purée and classic pumpkin pie spices give these doughnuts a soft, comforting texture and taste.
49. White Chocolate Praline Mousse with Praline Donuts by The Peppermill
Need a show-stopping dessert? Layers of white chocolate mousse and crispy crumbs topped with a mini donut satisfy every craving!
50. Butternut Fritters by Estee Kafra
51. Cinnamon Donut Muffins by Estee Kafra
I know this is an interesting name for a recipe, but this recipe is a bit of a crossbreed. Since I didn’t want my kids standing over pots of scalding hot oil, but I knew they’d have so much fun making their own doughnuts, I thought I could make a baked doughnut. These didn’t come out looking like doughnuts, but they taste remarkably like the cake doughnuts we all love. Brushing them with butter, sugar, and cinnamon added that special cake doughnut taste, and so these hybrids — taking the best of both worlds — were born. They are seriously good.
52. Strawberry Cream Donut Cones by Jenna Grunfeld
I’m a big donut person, just not a big jelly donut person—a reality that’s plagued me through my years of Chanukah parties and December school treats. Who doesn’t love sugary fried dough? I just don’t love the squirt of jam that you get when you bite into them. I’d much prefer a generous helping of whipped cream. And while, sure, you could stuff a donut with some whipped cream, why not increase your cream to donut ratio by making the donuts cone shaped?
53. Jubilant Jelly Donut Bundt by Amy
*** KOSHER SCOOP BEST EVER BUNDT CAKE WINNER *** Hanukkah is celebrated with foods fried in oil, like jelly donuts (sufganiyot in Hebrew). This Bundt cake is composed of many small donuts that are filled before baking. The taste is reminiscent of sufganiyot eaten warm while playing dreidel as the candles burn in remembrance of a long ago miracle.
54. DIY Dulce de Leche Cronuts by Family Table Staff
You’ve heard the name. You’ve heard about the lines to get one.
But did you know how easy it was to make a cronut for yourself at home?
Try this amazing DIY Cronut with luxurious dulce de leche glaze and
toasted coconut chips on top!
55. Rendlech from the Nitra Cookbook
Think of these rendlech as a cross between cookies and a fried donut! Coated in liquidy sweet honey and topped with ground walnuts, these yummy cookies will be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!
56. Deep-Fried Chocolate Coins by Ashira Mirsky
Is it a donut? Or a chocolate coin? Why not combine both with this easy recipe for deep-fried coins! Provides all the warmth of fried melted chocolate without using yeast, no waiting for rising, and zero hassle!
57. Sweet ’n Spicy Churros by Faigy Grossman
Churros immediately came to mind when I heard that oil was my “theme.” Delicious and different, churros aren’t difficult to make and don’t require any rising time, making this a perfect project with the kids for Chanukah vacation. I tweaked the typical coating to give it a spicy zing; feel free to play around with it, or just go back to the traditional cinnamon-sugar mixture. When I tried these out with my kids, suffice it to say, they were gone before the oil began to cool!
58. Peanut Chew Jelly Donuts featuring Tuscanini Forest Fruit Spread by Esty Wolbe
This recipe was featured on our Instagram Stories for Chanukah 2019 #beyondthelatke.
Shortcut Donuts:
59. No-Rise Donuts by Esty Wolbe
With this simple Chanukah donut recipe, its perfect dough and delicious glaze, you’ll be frying and snacking in hardly any time at all. For more great cooking, watch Easy Does It!
60. Chanukah Sheet Pan Donuts by Erin Grunstein
s much as we all love the traditional latkes and donuts, I try to change it up a bit. I came up with a sufganiya that still has that delicious fluffiness but is baked and not fried – like a sweet focaccia!
We’ll use a traditional sufganiya dough. After it rises, we flip the dough onto a buttery baking sheet, press it down with our fingers, like a focaccia and allow to rise again, then top with more butter and bake. This yields a fluffy and delicious giant sufganiya.
61. Easy Fried Biscuit Donuts by Samantha Tehrani
62. Fried Challah Sufganiyot by Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah commemorates the successful Jewish revolt against the provincial Greek government of Judea during the time of the Second Temple (between 530 BCE and 70 CE, if you’re curious). Led by the Maccabees, the Jews reclaimed the desecrated temple, but they found only one day’s worth of purified oil to light the menorah, which was required to burn continuously. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, enough time for a fresh supply to arrive.
During the eight days of Hanukkah, we celebrate that miracle by eating foods fried in oil, rivaling Halloween for best gratuitous reason to eat junk food—holiday division. Latkes steal most of the Hanukkah spotlight, but sufganiyot—yeast-raised, jelly-filled donuts—are ever popular. Throughout Israel, bakeries turn into donut factories, producing tray after tray of plump, light, and golden brown beauties. We’ve found that eggy challah dough, enriched with butter and sugar, makes a great donut batter that’s easy to work with. Instead of rolling out the dough and punching out rings as with traditional yeast donuts, we use an ice cream scoop to form and dispense the sufganiyot into the oil.
We love the exotic and festive combination of quince jam and rose petal sugar, but feel free to substitute any jam and sugar combination. May we suggest our Federal Donuts cookbook for inspiration?
If you want to save time, here’s an idea how to fill jelly donuts with a super easy method: One Step Jelly Donuts.
63. Half-Homemade Donut Holes by Rachel Nayman
If you’re always looking for easy food crafts to do with your kids, this is the perfect recipe for you. It couldn’t be simpler, and your kids can get creative with icing and toppings. The sky is the limit!
64. Friday Night Donuts by Estee Kafra
The reason I call these Friday Night Doughnuts is because they can be made with simple challah dough, making them an obvious choice for when you are making challah. The frying though, is the main thing, so of course use any of our fabulous doughnut recipes for this sticky, sweet and fragrant dessert. If you want to save time, here’s an idea how to fill jelly donuts with a super easy method: One Step Jelly Donuts.
65. Easy Fluffy Milchige (Dairy) Donut Holes from the Nitra Cookbook
These donuts can be whipped up in a pinch to fulfill your donut craving when you have no time to let donut dough rise. The dough is very easy to work with, and each donut will really puff up in the oil. Roll each tablespoon of dough for the nicest results. Coat the donuts in confectioner’s sugar or frosting of your choice for a sweet finish!
Looking for non-donut food for your Chanukah party? Check out our Ultimate Chanukah Menu!
Originally published December 2017. Updated and improved December 2024.
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