Have you already prepared your gifts? How about stocking up on gelt? You know children will be expecting those tasty chocolate coins! Need more ideas for the perfect present? Tap or click here for our holiday shopping guides. Since Hanukkah is observed with many traditions, from lighting the menorah to playing with dreidels and baking, celebrate in style this year with fun apps, meaningful gifts and maybe even a new take on an old recipe.
The best Hanukkah apps for Androids and iPhones
The world is becoming more and more reliant on digital tech. While it’s fun to do things the old-fashioned way, there’s also joy in learning and playing digital games. Here are a few of the best Hanukkah apps your family can enjoy together this year.
Light your own digital menorah even when you’re on the go
Maybe your family is on a holiday vacation. It’s hard to fit a menorah in a suitcase. If you still want to light candles, why not go digital? With Digital Menorah, you can see how many candles you have to light for each day of Hanukkah. Its cute emojis show you how to light in accordance with Ashkenaz customs. It also has religious prayers in English and Hebrew. You can add it to your home screen through a widget, too! It costs $1.99.
Dreidel ARena is one of the best Hanukkah apps out there
This app brings the classic dreidel game to life in 3D. It offers an augmented reality option so you can play on your own table or you can use the virtual setup. Play three free game modes on your iPhone or iPad. Unfortunately, this app is only for iPhones. There are a few similar games for Android users, although they don’t have the same augmented reality features. But if you want to spin a digital dreidel on your Android, check out Dreidelit.
My Menorah 4 Chanukah is one of the best Hanukkah apps for iOS and Android
If you’re celebrating with young kids, download this free 3D interactive game. It teaches little ones Hanukkah songs and focuses on building skills such as color recognition and the ability to understand and work with numbers, perfect for children 3 to 5 years old.
Top Hanukkah gift ideas for your 2022 celebration
If you still haven’t purchased your gifts, it’s time to stop procrastinating. Here are a few gift ideas for the whole family. Anything can be art — even Hanukkah candles! These red, yellow and blue candles are made in Israel with hand-dipped wax. When you burn them, their colorful designs swirl together in a visually magical way. This affordable accessory is full of holiday cheer. It’s the perfect present for someone who needs that finishing touch. This LED menorah reduces the risk of house fires and is safe for use around young children. The battery or USB-powered menorah only requires a push of a button to “light” a candle. This gift is ideal for anyone who wants to celebrate Hanukkah but doesn’t want the hassle or risks that come with wax candles. Spend some time with your children this holiday season and come together over a heartwarming tale about Latke, a shelter dog who finds a home on the first night of Hanukkah.
Impress with new takes on traditional recipes
Traditional Hanukkah recipes include latkes, sufganiyot (doughnuts) and applesauce. If you have a secret family recipe, more power to you, but if you could use a little help, we’ve got you covered. Here are three new takes on classic recipes sure to “wow” your friends and family.
Honey and spice cookies
If you want a flavorful dessert that’s not too sweet, whip up this recipe found at BBC GoodFood. They won’t take long, either. Prep time is only 30 minutes, and they bake in 12 minutes.
Best-ever potato latkes
Unlike its classic counterpart, these crispy potato latkes are decorated with smoked salmon, salmon roe, sour cream and applesauce. If you want to impress your visitors with an elevated dish, give this one a try.
Orange-scented jelly doughnuts
Hanukkah isn’t the same without sufganiyot or jelly-filled doughnuts. Though doughnuts tend to be very sweet, the citrus in this recipe helps balance the flavors. By clicking our links, you’re supporting our research, as we may earn a very small commission. Recommendations are not part of any business incentives.