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These Hanukkah Cookies Are The Sweetest Way To Celebrate The Festival Of Lights

You're going to love our latke cookies.

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lakte cookies with toasted potato sticks and apple caramel
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

The Jewish Festival of Lights, otherwise known as Hanukkah (December 7 to 15, 2023), is fast approaching, so we’re getting ready by stocking up on menorah candles, finding where we put that dang dreidel, and making our list of all the foods we want to make this year. We don’t know about you, but we don’t intend to run out of delicious traditional and creative foods the entire 8 days. That means everything we've got to be ready for appetizers, dinner, and desserts. While sufganiyot and gelt often get all the sweet glory, we’ll never turn down a cookie, so we’ve compiled a list of 20 Hanukkah cookies we think would be the perfect addition to you and your family’s celebrations.

Because cookies aren’t the most traditional of Hanukkah desserts, we’re taking inspiration from ingredients, symbolism, and Jewish tradition for the ones we’ve included here. Some, like our apple cookies, our pistachio chocolate chip cookies (with olive oil instead of butter), and our honey cookies, are featured because they include symbolic ingredients. Others, like our latke cookies or our sugar cookie dreidels, are more tongue-in-cheek and resemble various aspects of Hanukkah traditions. We’ve also included a number of cookies more traditional to other Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Passover, because they’re delicious and we honestly think they don’t get enough play. Check out our coconut macaroons, our rugelach, or our hamantaschen if you missed them the first time around this year.

Hanukkah was initially not one of the more important Jewish holidays, only becoming so due to its proximity to other secular winter holidays like Christmas. Because of this, many Jewish people get creative (and multicultural) with the way they celebrate. Though we’re not suggesting decorating Santa cookies as you light the menorah, we have included a number of cookies here from or inspired by other cultures—like our bizcochitos, our panettone cookies, our French macarons, or our kolaczki—in case you’d like to do the same.

1

Honey Cookies

honey cookies
ANDREW BUI

These soft and chewy cookies are traditional for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, but are delicious any time of year. They're beloved by all, young and old, and we can't keep a batch around for long!

Get the Honey Cookies recipe.

2

Dreidel Cookies

dreidel cookies
Andrew Bui

You can use your favorite homemade sugar cookie dough or follow our lead and use a couple store-bought logs. These will turn out so cute, no one mind either way! These work with any small candy, from the mini M&M's we used here to Nerds or Skittles, so have fun with it.

Get the Sugar Cookie Dreidels recipe.

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3

Latke Cookies

lakte cookies with toasted potato sticks and apple caramel
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

No Hanukkah celebration is complete without a big plate of crispy, craggly latkes. If you're more of a sweets fan but want to keep with tradition, we've got just the cookie for you. Our favorite part? A homemade apple caramel as a nod to the applesauce often enjoyed with potato pancakes.

Get the Latke Cookies recipe.

4

Coconut Macaroons

coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate
PARKER FEIERBACH

What's better than coconut macaroons? Chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons. Did we mention you only need 4 ingredients to make these?!

Get the Best-Ever Macaroons recipe.

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5

Ma'amoul

ma'amoul cookies with powdered sugar
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Ma’amoul cookies are a type of Middle Eastern butter cookie that are usually filled with a variety of dried fruits or nuts. Once baked, they’re dusted with a sprinkling of powdered sugar, adding an extra layer of sweetness to every mildly spiced bite.

Get the Ma'amoul recipe.

6

Thumbprint Cookies

thumbprint cookies
Ethan Calabrese

This dough is firm, almost like a shortbread, so to make sure it doesn't crack, roll it into balls until smooth and firm, then gently press your thumb in the center to make sure it doesn't crack. Gently. Feel free to use whatever jam you prefer.

Get the Thumbprint Cookies recipe.

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7

Rugelach

rugelach filled with raspberry and apricot preserves
PHOTO: DOAA ELKADY, FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

A well-known Jewish pastry, the Yiddish word rugelach translates to “little twists.” Cut down the middle of one of these flaky filled pastries, and you’ll reveal stunning swirls of jam or a homemade sweet walnut filling. While these soft and pillowy pastries may look difficult, the dough really is quite simple to make.

Get the Rugelach recipe.

8

Coconut Cookies

gluten free almond flour coconut cookies
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MARY RUPP

Soft, chewy, slightly golden crispy edges with crispy toasted coconut strewn throughout, these coconut cookies are not shy to highlight their star ingredient. Top generously with coconut flakes before baking to ensure you have beautifully golden coconut embedded into each cookie.

Get the Coconut Cookies recipe.

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9

Black & White Cookies

black and white cookies
Andrew Bui

Black & whites are a NYC Jewish deli classic, and we can't get enough of them, any time of year. Light and moist, these vanilla-, almond-, and lemon-flavored cookies are the closest you might get to biting into a cloud.

Get the Black & White Cookies recipe.

10

Apple Cookies

apple cookies
Parker feierbach

These snickerdoodle-like cookies are chewy in the center and slightly crisp around the edges. The dough is infused with all the best warm autumnal spices, and each bite is packed with plenty of tart Granny Smith apple chunks. On top is a drizzle of thick white icing to take these cookies OTT.

Get the Apple Cookies recipe.

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11

Hamantaschen

hamantaschen
Erik Bernstein

Hamantaschen are shortbread-like cookies filled with jam that are traditionally served around the Jewish holiday of Purim. Shaped like Haman's hat, the cookies represent the defeat of their enemy. Reminiscent of thumbprint cookies, we love the buttery cookie and sweet jam combo any time of year.

Get the Hamantaschen recipe.

12

Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies

pistachio chocolate chip cookies
Joel Goldberg

Pistachios add a slightly sweet, nutty flavor that will make these cookies feel a little bit elevated, but still just as classic and comforting. Bonus: These are kosher because they're made with olive oil instead of butter!

Get the Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

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13

French Macarons

yellow, pink, and green macarons lined up together
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

When it comes to French desserts, you can’t get more classic or classy than a macaron. Featuring crisp, shiny shells sandwiching a luscious rich filling, these classy French delicacies are sure to impress and delight anyone who tastes them.

Get the French Macarons recipe.

14

Bizcochitos

bizcochitos cookies shaped like stars
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

These anise and cinnamon cookies are the official state cookie of New Mexico and make a great addition to any holiday. We opted for cinnamon-sugar stars and think a Star of David would be lovely. Whatever you choose, the end result will surely be the star of your cookie table.

Get the Bizcochitos recipe.

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15

Tahini Cookies

tahini cookies
Lucy Schaeffer

Tahini cookies are kind of like a more grown-up version of your favorite peanut butter cookie, but way better. They are soft with a slight chew, and the sesame seeds on the outside add a bit of crunch. The flavor is subtle and unique, and might convince you start using tahini in all of your baking projects (like in this easy halva).

Get the Tahini Cookies recipe.

16

Classic Linzer Cookies

linzer cookies with jam
Parker Feierbach

We love the combination of the flavorful, rich cookie and the sweet fruity jam. Linzers are a classic sandwich cookie, which means they're not the fastest to throw together—patience is key, but we can guarantee these are well worth the wait.

Get the Classic Linzer Cookies recipe.

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17

Air Fryer Coconut Macaroons

air fryer coconut macaroons
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: HADLEY SUI

Though more traditional for Passover, these are the perfect bite-size treat for Hanukkah too. For a pink, raspberry version, smash 1/4 cup fresh raspberries into the foamy egg white mixture with a fork and then toss in the coconut.

Get the Air Fryer Coconut Macaroons recipe.

18

Panettone Cookies

panettone cookies
PHOTO; ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLIST; MAKINZE GORE

To think a fluffy, enriched bread can somehow translate into a buttery cookie might seem preposterous. But don’t stop reading! These cookies are the perfect base for the orange peel, currants, dried apricots, chocolate, and almonds from the original, without as strong Christmas connotations.

Get the Panettone Cookies recipe.

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19

Kolaczki Cream Cheese Cookies

kolaczki cookies with jam and powdered sugar
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: DUNCAN FITZPATRICK

Kolaczki cookies are Polish in origin, often made and eaten during the holidays. In the interest of some multiculturalism, we think they'd make for lovely Hanukkah cookies too (sort of like hamantaschen). Some recipes use canned pie filling, though we opted for jam in this version.

Get the Kolaczki Cream Cheese Cookies recipe.

20

Triple Almond Cookies

almond cookies  delishcom
June Xie

This recipe is a carefree, one-bowl affair that yields cute little bites with a whole lot of texture. Almonds make an appearance in three forms in this recipe: almond butter, almond flour, and sliced almonds. Eat them fresh for a warm, cakey bite, or let them cool for a soft-on-the-inside, crisp-on-the-edges experience.

Get the Triple Almond Cookie recipe.

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