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34 Hanukkah Appetizers To Turn Your Festival Of Lights Into A Party

Enough for all 8 nights, and then some.

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parmesan bread bites topped with sage and hot 
honey
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

We're always looking to turn holidays into more of a party, so though Hanukkah might not be one you associate with raucous merriment, it is still a celebration, and can be treated as such. Like always, the best way to do so is to serve a spread of delectable appetizers before the big meal. We’ve collected 34 of our favorites here, everything from classics to vegan/dairy-free options to enjoy if you’re keeping kosher. They’re ideal for whether you’ve got a whole crew to feed or just want a little nosh as you and your family light the menorah or play dreidel.

For the perfect appetizer spread, we like to hit a couple of categories: You’re going to want some bite-size options, so we’ve included classics like our boursin-stuffed mushrooms, our cranberry brie bites, our fried goat cheese bites, or our harissa deviled eggs (you could go with straightforward ones, but why not spice it up a bit?). Next, you’re going to need some dips. Creamy ones like our dill dip, our everything bagel dip, or our cranberry whipped feta are always fan faves, but don’t worry if your household is avoiding dairy. We’ve also included our best-ever hummus, our vegan chipotle queso, or our Greek skordalia to enjoy before or alongside meat-heavy meals. Whatever you go with, don’t forget to offer a variety of dippers—we’re partial to some veggies, some pretzels or pita chips, and toasty bread, but you do you.

Want even more Hanukkah inspiration? Check out our top Hanukkah desserts, our favorite Hanukkah dinners, and our best Hanukkah latkes. (Hot tip: Make 'em small and serve potato pancakes as apps too!)

1

Boursin-Stuffed Mushrooms

boursinstuffed mushrooms
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Stuffed mushrooms are THE appetizer we make for every party, and while our classic recipe is great, sometimes we like to switch it up a bit. Enter boursin cheese. It adds a little something to these that’ll have your guests coming back for more.

Get the Boursin-Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.

2

Giant Skillet Latke

large latke in a skillet with applesauce, caviar, creme fraiche
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

While frying up an endless supply of latkes is part of the holiday fun, this recipe turns the classic into an impressive dish for brunch or a breakfast-for-dinner meal. It’s all the flavor and crispiness of a traditional latke with less oil, in half the time!

Get the Giant Skillet Latke recipe.

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3

Fried Goat Cheese Bites

fried goat cheese bites
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

Attention cheese boards everywhere: Fried goat cheese bites are coming to steal your thunder. Coated in crispy herby bread crumbs and drizzled with honey, these creamy, melt-in-your-mouth morsels will capture the hearts of all your Hanukkah guests.

Get the Fried Goat Cheese Bites recipe.

4

Homemade Hummus

hummus
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Hummus is one of our favorite dips, made even better by how simple it is to make. Made from blending chickpeas, tahini, and a few other simple ingredients in a food processor, it’s the easiest last-minute appetizer for your Hanukkah celebration.

Get the Homemade Hummus recipe.

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5

Fondue Bites

fondue bites
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you thought fondue belonged in the 1970s, think again! We’ve hauled this retro party classic into the 21st century by turning it into cheesy bite-sized party snacks, perfect for any festive occasion.

Get the Fondue Bites recipe.

6

Parmesan Bread Bites

parmesan bread bites topped with sage and hot honey
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

If you're a fan of garlic knots, this recipe is basically the bite-sized app version, covered in gooey cheese, garlic butter, and fresh herbs. Sage and thyme are used here to add seasonal flavor, but feel free to add any herbs you prefer.

Get the Parmesan Bread Bites recipe.

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7

Bagna Cauda

bagna cauda
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This Italian dip is a buttery sauce made from lots of garlic and anchovies (stick with us) that somehow work together to create a dip that’s a little pungent, a little sweet, and will keep you coming back for more. Trust us, this one belongs on your Hanukkah table.

Get the Bagna Cauda recipe.

8

Honey-Garlic Cauliflower

honey garlic cauliflower
Park Feierbach

Much like our Parmesan cauliflower bites, these little guys have just enough crunch and flavor to keep us going. Craving salt and umami but avoiding dairy? These sticky-spicy bites will save the day.

Get the Honey-Garlic Cauliflower recipe.

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9

Baked Brie In Puff Pastry

baked brie in puff pastry
Andrew Bui

Baked brie is a classic app that pleases all around: It's versatile, delicious, easy to make, and requires a pretty short cook time. We filled ours with raspberry jam, but whatever your favorite is will work (you could even go with some apple butter 😍). Drizzle it with some honey, and you have a warm, cheesy app that feels extra-fancy in no time at all.

Get the Baked Brie In Puff Pastry recipe.

10

Homemade Falafel

falafel in a bowl with a smaller bowl of tahini sauce
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Boasting a crisp, golden-brown exterior and a center that’s soft, tender, and packed with chickpeas and fresh herbs, our favorite homemade falafel recipe hits all those classic Middle Eastern flavors and familiar street food vibes.

Get the Homemade Falafel recipe.

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11

Apple Cheddar Bundles

apple cheddar bundles with puff pastry honey pecans and thyme
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Think this sounds like a strange combo? You've gotta trust us on this one. If the aroma of toasted puff pastry, roasted apples, and nutty cheddar doesn’t wake up your spirit… we're not sure what will.

Get the Apple Cheddar Bundles recipe.

12

Mushroom “Calamari” With Spicy Marinara

mushroom “calamari” with spicy marinara
suzanne clements

Umami-rich oyster mushrooms are lightly battered and fried for this squid-free take on a seafood favorite. You can use other mushroom varieties, but the delicate “petals” of the oyster mushrooms get especially crispy.

Get the Mushroom “Calamari” With Spicy Marinara recipe.

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13

Air Fryer Tahini Black Bean Fritters

air fryer tahini black bean fritter
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: HADLEY SUI

Enjoy these crispy (thanks air fryer!) bean cakes as an app on their own, or sandwich them between slider buns with all your favorite burger fixin’s for really irresistible mini veggie burgers.

Get the Air Fryer Tahini Black Bean Fritters recipe.

14

Classic Latkes

potato pancakes
Park Feierbach

If you ask us, you're not truly celebrating the Festival of Lights without as many crispy batches of latkes as possible. Make these miniature if you're looking for a bite-size app, but trust us—no one will turn down the full-size ones before the meal.

Get the Classic Latkes recipe.

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15

Chipotle Vegan Queso

chipotle vegan queso
Emily hlavac green

This vegan version is so good it's hard to decipher from regular queso dip. Made with cashews in place of cheese, it's awesome for serving alongside or right before a meat-heavy Hanukkah meal.

Get the Chipotle Vegan Queso recipe.

16

Roasted Artichokes

roasted artichokes with lemon and garlic
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: MICAH MORTON

After roasting, the exterior petals can be pulled off, and you can use your teeth to scrape out the delicious, tender insides. We think our simple recipe for Old Bay mayo really complements the artichoke’s lemon-herbal flavor profile, but feel free to swap in everything from tahini sauce to ketchup if you prefer.

Get the Roasted Artichokes recipe.

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17

Spiced Candied Pecans

candied pecans, coated with crackly sugar and powdered spices
Lucy schaeffer

These particular pecans are our #1: SUPER-spiced, crunchy, sweet, and salty. They're great eaten by the handful, as an accompaniment to a cheese board, or even sprinkled over baked brie.

Get the Spiced Candied Pecans recipe.

18

Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip

whipped garlic and herb feta, topped with fresh cranberry sauce, pistachios, and honey
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: SIMON ANDREWS

Fresh feta cheese is combined with herbs, garlic, and cream cheese, whipped until super-smooth, then topped with tart homemade cranberry sauce, toasted pistachios, and honey. The result is a salty, creamy, sweet, tart, and absolutely irresistible dip that's perfect for Hanukkah.

Get the Cranberry Whipped Feta Dip recipe.

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19

Cranberry Brie Bites

cranberry brie bites
Kat Wirsing

Our love for crescent roll recipes is no secret. Why make dough from scratch when everyone loves the canned stuff?! These are a fan favorite every holiday. They always disappear within minutes, probably because the combo of salty, creamy brie, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, and crunchy pecans is PERFECT.

Get the Cranberry Brie Bites recipe.

20

Skordalia

skordalia
Emily Hlavac Green

Skordalia is a creamy, garlicky Greek dip we love to serve at parties. Made from potatoes and walnuts, this dip is smooth and creamy and always a surprise hit. Serve it with toasted pita or veggies for a new Hanukkah favorite!

Get the Skordalia recipe.

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