This Hanukah, consider these food gifts for your loved ones, from actual edible presents to food-themed ideas.
Growing up, my parents made sure that we had a little gift for each night of Hanukkah. Most were very small and a healthy percentage of the presents were practical (like school supplies), but now that I’m a parent, it strikes me as a lot to keep up with. That’s why I’ve compiled this list of Hanukkah food gifts to make all our lives a little easier this season!
As a people pretty obsessed with food (you’ve heard the adage, “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat!” to sum up Jewish holidays), it seems like a natural lane for me to step into as the Jewish editor of a food site.
So here are a dozen food gifts — some edible, others just on theme — to hopefully inspire you this holiday season. (And if that’s not enough, explore all of our edible gift ideas.)
Happy Challah Days Hanukkah Card
Giving your grandkid a Hanukkah card with a check for $18 in it? Instead of buying a mass-produced, generic option from Target or another retailer, opt for this silly one from a one-woman design shop. (I’ve met Kristal, the owner, and she’s lovely. She also has two other Hanukkah cards for sale, including a “Let’s Gelt Lit” option.)
Chocolate Gelt
Speaking of gelt, it’s an absolutely essential part of the Hanukkah tradition, but somehow, I still often forget to grab some. This milk chocolate gelt sold by the famed Jewish Museum in Manhattan comes from a Fair Trade, farmer-owned company, so you can feel good about where your dollars go. (They also have a dark chocolate version, but if you’re buying for kids, the sweeter milk chocolate is most likely the way to go.)
‘Latkes’ Crewneck Sweatshirt
What more could you ask for during Cozy Season than a warm crewneck declaring your love for fried Jewish food? If you received only this for Hanukkah, dayenu. Coming from an Etsy shop with almost 1,000 reviews for an average of 5 stars, this is a great option. (My wife works at Etsy, but I’ve shopped there since long before her tenure — they’re pretty hard to beat.)
Sufganiyot Doughnuts
Hanukkah doughnuts, also known as “sufganiyot,” continue the theme of foods fried in oil (you know, the whole story behind the holiday and the miracle of lights). This gift box allows you to ship someone a dozen mini doughnuts representing a range of options but including the classic jelly-filled choice. These marzipan donuts are pretty adorable if you ask me.
Russ & Daughters Chocolate Babka
More than anything else on this list, the chances that I order myself some of this babka is extremely high. I’ve done it before! Having previously lived in New York City and made my way through some of the top Jewish bakeries in the country, I can confidently say the chocolate babka from the legendary Russ & Daughters is one of the two best I’ve ever tasted. You know, the more I write this blurb the more I realize I am definitely going to order some.
Jewish Foods Sticker Book
It’s exactly what it sounds like — a book of stickers, all of different Jewish foods. Yes, this is a particularly great idea for kids. But some adults (cough cough, me) would still be pretty happy to receive it! The 450+ stickers cover everything from cholent to hamantaschen.
Sufganiyot Donut Purse
A purse… shaped like a Hanukkah donut… honestly, what more do I need to say here? This seems pretty self-explanatory. Be the envy of everyone at shul!
Hanukkah-Themed Apron
The Jewish home cook in your life needs a holiday-themed apron, and this one from Modern Tribe is one of the best I’ve found on the market. Trust me, they’ll need it when making latkes, among other things.
“My Mushy Matzah Ball” Book
This children’s book explores a range of Jewish comfort foods — including latkes, of course! It’s a great way to introduce little ones to the tastiest parts of our culture.
Hanukkah Terry Kitchen Towels
Kitchen towels are the opposite of tote bags. While I can’t seem to give away the latter faster than they pile up for some reason, I’m of the mind that you can never have enough kitchen towels. We go through them almost as fast as we used to burn through burp cloths when our daughter was still an infant. Adding a Hanukkah-themed option (or two) to hang from your dishwasher or oven adds a little flair to your kitchen and is a convenient way to make cooking just a little easier.
Hanukkah Food Gift Box
Need a big gift that can feed a whole family? This chocolate-oriented Hanukkah gift box is full of foods they’ll love. From popcorn to pretzels to a chocolate menorah, there’s plenty to enjoy — it even comes with two “Happy Hanukkah” lollipops.
Matzoh Ball Soup Temporary Tattoos
The Gefilteria is trying to make gefilte fish cool again, and they’re mensches for that (though I refuse to get on board, even after having my mom’s homemade version that is far better than that canned garbage). If you know someone who loved their cookbook, The Gefilte Manifesto, then they may be a good candidate for this carp in a bathtub dad hat. But the Jewish children in your life will appreciate the Gefilteria’s temporary tattoos of matzoh ball soup — even if you can’t get them to pretend gefilte fish is any good.
Related Gift Ideas
Here are some other great options to consider: