Guide Note

Hanukkah cupcakes are festively decorated cupcakes designed to sweeten Hanukkah celebrations. They may be decorated with Hanukkah colors, or with toy dreidels and gelt.

Fast Facts

1. Used to construct a cupcake menorah
2. October 18 is National Chocolate Cupcake Day
3. Baked in individual paper cups
4. Hanukkah colors: Blue, white and silver

Unlike other Jewish holidays such as Passover, there are no special dietary restrictions for the eight days of Hannukah besides the normal Kosher guidelines. Therefore, Hanukkah cupcakes can be made with regular cupcake ingredients. However, since oil is a symbol of Hanukkah, most Hanukkah cupcake recipes feature it as an ingredient.

A cupcake menorah is made with nine cupcakes that each have one candle inserted into the top of the cake. They are then arranged four on either side of the center cupcake, which is raised a little higher than the others. The candles can be lit in addition to the normal menorah lighting ritual.