Few Hanukkah foods are as loved as the jelly donut. Known in Israel as sufganiyot, these soft, deep-fried, jam-filled treats celebrate the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. If you are searching for kosher Hanukkah jelly donuts, you have two easy routes: start with a ready-to-fry donut mix, or build your own from scratch with a handful of pantry staples. This guide covers both. We begin with our top pick, the Manischewitz Chanukah Donut Mix, a 2-pack where each box includes blue and white sprinkles and powdered sugar. Then we gather everything you need to make your own, from donut fillers and jams to toppings, dipping sauces, dough ingredients, frying oils and the tools that make hot oil safer to handle. Our free printable recipe walks you through the process step by step, and two short videos show the technique. Finally, because Hanukkah is also a latke holiday, we finish with three Manischewitz potato pancake mixes for the other fried favourite on the table.
🍩 Featured: Manischewitz Chanukah Donut Mix
The only Manischewitz donut mix on Amazon, ready for your Hanukkah table.
If you want jelly donuts on the table without building the dough from scratch, the Manischewitz Chanukah Donut Mix is the one to start with. The box comes with blue and white sprinkles and powdered sugar, so you can decorate as well as dust. The two-pack gives you enough for a second batch, which is handy when guests keep reaching for the plate. Check the box for the exact extra ingredients you need to add and for the frying instructions, and look for the kosher symbol and dairy or pareve status on the pack you receive. Planning a baking project with the children as well? We cover the cookie house kits in our Hanukkah gingerbread house guide.
🎬 Watch How Hanukkah Donuts Are Made
Two short videos to see the technique before you start.
Seeing the dough, the frying temperature and the filling step in action takes the guesswork out of sufganiyot. Watch for how puffy the dough should look before it goes into the oil, the golden colour that tells you it is ready, and how the filling is piped in after the donuts have cooled slightly. Then use our free recipe below as your checklist.
💉 Donut Fillers and Syringes
The right tool makes filling jelly donuts quick and tidy.
A donut filler is what turns a plain fried donut into a true jelly donut. A syringe or injector lets you push jam into the centre through a small hole, so the donut stays closed and each bite has filling. The two-syringe set is handy if you want to fill two flavours at once, while disposable piping bags are a low-cost alternative that also work for icing. Whichever you choose, fill the donuts once they have cooled for a few minutes so the jam does not run. These tools are not food products, so there is no kosher certification to check, but wash them well before use.
🍓 Jams for Jelly Donuts
Strawberry is the classic, but a mixed set lets everyone choose.
Strawberry jam is the traditional filling for sufganiyot, and a smooth preserve is easiest to push through a syringe. The Bonne Maman assorted pack is a good way to offer several flavours at one table without buying eight separate jars. Tuscanini adds a kosher strawberry option if you prefer a different brand. If your jam is chunky, warm it gently and stir it so it flows through the filler. Always check the kosher symbol on the jar you buy, since certification can vary by product and by country of manufacture.
Alongside the food and kitchen picks above, we also design our own Hanukkah products. The designs below are made by The Kosher Hub and sold in our own Etsy shop, so you are buying directly from us. They suit anyone hosting a Hanukkah party, looking for a Hanukkah gift or simply adding a festive touch to the holiday table.
🕎 Hanukkah Gifts from Our Etsy Shop
Our own Hanukkah designs, available on Etsy.
🍫 Chocolate, Hazelnut and Apple Butter Fillings
For donuts that go beyond jam.
Chocolate hazelnut spread is a popular filling in Israel and a quick way to make a second flavour. Both spreads here are thick, so warm them slightly or use a wide piping tip rather than a thin syringe. Apple butter brings a cosy autumn flavour that suits the winter holiday. Check the kosher certification on each jar, and note whether a spread contains dairy before serving it at a meat meal.
✨ Toppings and Decorations
Sprinkles, icing and cinnamon sugar for a festive finish.
Hanukkah colours of blue and white make a simple decorating theme, and sprinkles let children join in. A pouch of icing is ideal for drawing a dreidel or Star of David on a filled donut. For an old-fashioned finish, shake warm donuts in cinnamon sugar made with ground cinnamon and sugar. Decorations and colourings can contain ingredients that need certification, so check the packaging for a kosher symbol before you serve to guests.
🥄 Dipping and Drizzle Sauces
Raspberry, chocolate and caramel for dunking or topping.
Serving small dipping sauces turns a plate of donuts into a mini dessert bar. The raspberry sauce balances the sweetness of a fried donut, while chocolate and caramel suit those who like a rich finish. Set out small bowls so guests can dip rather than pour. As with any sauce, check the label for the kosher symbol and for dairy ingredients, particularly if you are serving after a meat meal.
🌾 DIY Dough Ingredients
The base of a homemade sufganiyah: flour, yeast and sugar.
A good sufganiyah starts with a soft, enriched dough, and that begins with all-purpose flour, active dry yeast and sugar. Active dry yeast needs to be proofed in warm liquid until foamy, which also tells you it is still alive. A little sugar feeds the yeast and gives the donuts their golden colour when fried. Our free recipe uses these ingredients along with eggs, milk or a pareve substitute, butter or pareve margarine, vanilla and a pinch of salt.
🛢️ Frying Oil and Finishing Sugar
Neutral, kosher oil for frying and powdered sugar for dusting.
Because Hanukkah commemorates the oil, frying is part of the story, and a neutral oil with a high smoke point works best. Vegetable and canola oils are both widely used for sufganiyot and keep the flavour of the donut clean. Use enough oil so the donuts can float, and keep a thermometer on hand. Powdered sugar is the classic finish, dusted on once the filled donuts have cooled so it does not melt.
🧂 Pantry Extras
Vanilla, salt and an alternative frying oil.
A teaspoon of vanilla and a pinch of salt may be small, but they lift a simple dough and stop the donuts tasting flat. Avocado oil has a high smoke point, which makes it a good frying alternative if you want a different option to vegetable or canola. Whichever oil you choose, use fresh oil and avoid reusing it more than once. Check each pack for a kosher symbol before you buy.
🌡️ Frying Tools
Safe, accurate tools for working with hot oil.
Frying is easiest when the oil stays at a steady temperature, which is why a thermometer is the most useful tool on this list. A heavy pot such as a cast iron Dutch oven holds heat well, and a spider strainer lets you lift the donuts out without splashing. Keep children away from the stove, use a deep pot rather than a shallow pan, and never leave oil unattended. Dry everything thoroughly before it touches hot oil.
🔯 Cutters and Molds
Shape donuts and treats for Hanukkah.
A round cutter is the traditional shape for jelly donuts, but a Hanukkah-themed cutter makes baked or fried treats feel special. Shapes such as dreidels and stars work best for unfilled donuts or cookies, since a filled donut needs a solid centre. The silicone molds suit chocolate, gelt or baked treats and are easy to clean. These are kitchen tools, not food, so there is no kosher certification to look for.
🥔 Not a Donut Fan? Try Latkes
Three Manischewitz potato pancake mixes for the other Hanukkah favourite.
Latkes and donuts share the same frying oil tradition, so many families serve both. Manischewitz mixes make quick work of crispy potato pancakes, and the same oil, thermometer and strainer from this guide work for latkes too. For a full comparison, see our best kosher potato pancake mix for Hanukkah guide.
🔍 What to Look For
Kosher knowledge for buying and making Hanukkah donuts.
Check the kosher symbol. Every food product in this guide should carry a recognised kosher symbol on its packaging. Certification can differ between countries and between product versions, so look at the pack you receive rather than relying on the product photo.
Dairy or pareve? Traditional donut dough uses milk and butter, which makes it dairy, while a pareve version uses a plant-based milk and pareve margarine. Dairy donuts are fine for a dairy Hanukkah meal but should not follow meat. Always read the label to see how a mix or filling is classified.
Frying oil. Choose an oil with a kosher symbol, and use a clean pot. If you plan to serve donuts after a meat meal, many families use a pareve dough and a pareve filling. If you are unsure, ask your local Kashrut Authority.
Fillings and decorations. Jams, spreads, sprinkles and icing can contain gelatin, colourings or other ingredients that need certification. Look for a symbol on every jar and pouch, and do not assume a brand is certified across its whole range.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about kosher Hanukkah jelly donuts.
What are kosher Hanukkah jelly donuts?
Kosher Hanukkah jelly donuts, called sufganiyot in Israel, are fried, yeast-raised donuts filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar. They are kosher when every ingredient, including the oil and filling, carries reliable kosher certification.
Why do we eat jelly donuts on Hanukkah?
Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days, so it is customary to eat foods fried in oil. Donuts and latkes are the two most popular examples.
Are jelly donuts dairy or pareve?
It depends on the recipe. A dough made with milk and butter is dairy, while a dough made with plant-based milk and pareve margarine can be pareve. Always check the label of any mix or filling.
What is the best oil for frying sufganiyot?
Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point and a kosher symbol, such as vegetable, canola or avocado oil. Heat it to about 350°F (175°C) and use a thermometer to keep the temperature steady.
What is the best filling for jelly donuts?
Strawberry jam is the classic choice, but raspberry, apricot, chocolate hazelnut spread and apple butter are also popular. Choose a smooth filling that flows easily through a filler.
How do I fill donuts without a syringe?
Use a piping bag with a small round tip, or cut a small slit in the side of the donut and spoon in the jam. A syringe or injector is quicker and neater.
Can I make Hanukkah donuts ahead of time?
Donuts are best on the day they are fried. You can prepare the dough the night before and leave it to rise slowly in the refrigerator, then fry and fill the next day.
When is Hanukkah in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 runs from 4 to 12 December 2026.
The Kosher Hub is not a Kosher Authority. For any advice please refer to your local Kashrut Authority.
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Understanding Our Kosher Certifications
The Kosher Hub references products certified by recognized kosher authorities, including OU, OK, Star-K, Kof-K, and CRC. Certification symbols and status can change, so always confirm the current kosher status directly on the product packaging or via the certifying agency's own listings before purchasing.