Hanukkah food traditions are enriched with essence of cultural flavors and austerity of traditions.

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival, which is celebrated for eight days and nights. Hanukkah is romanized as "Channukah" and is also known as "Festival of Lights". The festival is celebrated in memory of the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem. Generally fried foods like "sufganiyot" (jelly-filled doughnuts) and dairy foods like "latkes" (potato pancakes) are eaten during the festival.

Hanukkah- Fried Foods
Jews savor fried foods on the occasion of Hanukkah, in remembrance of the oil that burned for eight days. Generally olive oil is used for frying Hanukkah special goodies. This custom is generally associated with a miracle, where the temple lamp burned for eight days without a trace of oil. The temple was to be re-dedicated during the victory of Maccabees and the Menorah was to be lighted. The high priest of the temple Kohen Gadol noticed that only a small quantity of olive oil remained in the lamp, which he believed would only burn for a day. He forgot the issue, but after 8 days he was puzzled to learn that Menorah has burnt for eight days without a trace of oil. It is believed that olive oil was used for burning the lamp. From that incident began the tradition of frying foods in olive oil. Some of the Hanukkah special fried foods are:
 

Latkes
Latkes are one of the main foods associated with Hanukkah. Jews believe that latkes depict the cheesecakes that were served by the widow Judith. Latke is a typical potato pancake that is prepared by frying potatoes, onions, eggs, and flour in olive oil. Latkes are served with sour cream or applesauce.

Sufagniyot
Sufagniyots are doughnuts filled with strawberry jelly. And they don't have any particular shape and are prepared without the hole. Unlike the other doughnuts batter used for preparing sufagniyot is simply released into the pan containing hot olive oil and when the doughnuts are done they acquire funny shapes. Thereafter, they are dipped into powdered sugar and cinnamon mixture.

Loukomades
Loukomades are honey dipped puffs that symbolize the cake eaten by Maccabees.  Jews love to have these cakes along with zelebi and sufganiyot.

Hanukkah-Dairy Products

Dairy foods are essential part of Hanukkah food tradition. Jews savor dairy products like cheesecake, blintzes, and cheeses during the Hanukkah. Jews savor cheese products in memory of their legendary heroine Judith. According to legend, Judith was a beauty who saved her village from the attack of Babylonians. It is believed that Judith crept into the enemy camp and charmed Holofernes to dance to her tunes. She served Holofernes salty cheese and wine. The salty cheese made Holofernes thirsty and he started emptying the wine glasses one after another. Judith seized the opportunity and beheaded Holofernes, and drove out enemies from the village. Thus, Jews started eating cheeses, and cheese baked products in honor of Judith.

Some of the Hanukkah special Dairy foods are:
 

Hanukkah cookies
 These multi-shaped Hanukkah cookies are usually a hit with the kids.  The cookies are prepared by mixing ingredients butter, orange juice, vanilla, baking powder, all-purpose flour.

Hanukkah Fritters
Hanukkah Fritters are alternatives to traditional Israeli Sufagniot. Many of the American Jews prepare these fritters during Hanukkah using cottage cheese, egg, milk, flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and oil.

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