Over 50 Paleo Hanukkah Recipes

From breakfast to dessert, you’ll love spending 8 days celebrating with these delicious paleo Hanukkah recipes!

Hanukkah is almost here, friends! Eight nights of light, laughter, and love. While it’s not a festival mentioned in the feasts God told the Israelites to keep in the Torah, it is still a very special celebration for Jews. Don’t know why? Read on...

A little history.

To fully understand the significance of Hanukkah, you need to get a little history lesson. (Yay!) Let’s go back to the year 167 BC. The Jewish people have been oppressed by the Greeks for years, and the new Seleucid leader, Antiochus IV, is trying to force them to submit to the “superior” Greek way of life and give up their own customs… or else.

The Jews are appalled. But to make sure they know he means business, Antiochus marches his troops into Jerusalem and perverts the most holy thing the Jews have – the Temple. All the sacred things are defiled or destroyed. Antiochus insists that his name is Antiochus “Epiphanes” (aka the manifestation of God), and erects an image of Zeus in the Temple, sacrifices a pig (um… big, un-kosher no-no) on the altar.

The Maccabee.

Swing over to a small Jewish town called Modi-in. Antiochus’ soldiers march in and try to force the people living there to participate in their pig-eating ceremonies. Residing in Modi-in is a priest, Mattathias, and his five sons. They’ve had enough and start a revolt by killing the soldiers. One of the priest’s sons, Judah (nicknamed the Maccabee or hammer) becomes the leader of the revolt.

Employing guerrilla warfare and relying on their knowledge of the hill country and their conviction, Judah and his group of rebels prove that the impossible can happen (anything can happen with God!). In the month of Kislev (around December) the Jewish rebels drive out Antiochus’ soldiers and reclaim the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Feast of Dedication.

Upon their reclaiming of the Temple, the rebels immediately set about restoring the holy things. One of these being a broken menorah (lamp stand), which symbolized the light of God. After fixing the menorah, they ran into a problem when they tried to light it. Their search for oil came up almost dry! There was only enough oil for the menorah to burn for one day.

The priests knew it would take at least 8 days for new oil to be produced, but they lit the menorah anyway. To their amazement, the oil burned for not only one day, but for eight! Long enough for more oil to be made. So the Temple was restored and rededicated and the Jews celebrated it by establishing the 8-day festival of Hanukkah (Hebrew for dedication). 

Now every year, starting on the 25th of Kislev, Jewish people all over the world celebrate the two-fold miracle of Hanukkah: an unlikely military victory, and 8 days of oil in one!

Eight days of deliciousness.

There are a few ways to celebrate the Feast of Dedication. One is by lighting a new candle on the hanukkiyah (usually just called a menorah) after dark every night for 8 days, another being the game of dreydels (tops), and lastly what you’re really here for… food!

Fried food is traditional during Hanukkah to remember the miracle of the oil. Namely latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (Israeli donuts). Most paleo peeps don’t eat potatoes, so the latkes here are made from other firm veggies, for all you no-tater eaters. And I was able to find ONE paleo sufganiot recipe. I haven’t personally tried it yet though, just FYI.

Now that you know all about Hanukkah, I’m sure you’re ready to spend eight days devouring these delicious paleo Hanukkah recipes! 

Hanukkah sameach! (Happy Hanukkah!)

Healthy Paleo Orange Vanilla Waffles from Recipes to Nourish 

Breakfast

Almond Walnut Apple Crisp from Raia’s Recipes

Chocolate Banana Crepes from Raia’s Recipes

Coconut Flour Banana Pancakes with Chocolate Nut Butter Syrup from Raia’s Recipes

Easy French-Style Omelette from Raia’s Recipes

Healthy Paleo Orange Vanilla Waffles from Recipes to Nourish

Pomegranate Smoothie Bowl Rapture from Eat Beautiful

Savory Pumpkin Muffins with Apple & Sage from Raia’s Recipes

Savory Squash Kefir Pancakes from Wholesome Yum (replace kefir with coconut yogurt)

Filet Mignon with Garlic Herb Butter from Wholesome Yum

Main Dishes

Easy Instant Pot Eye of Round Roast from Raia’s Recipes

Fall Apart Tender Short Ribs in the Instant Pot from Raia’s Recipes

Filet Mignon with Garlic Herb Butter from Wholesome Yum (trade butter for olive/coconut oil)

Garlic & Herb Crusted Beef Roast with Red Wine Gravy from Allergy Free Alaska 

Garlic Rosemary Roast Beef and Veggies from Delicious Obsessions

Kale & Herb Stuffed Meatballs from Raising Generation Nourished

Spinach & Garlic Meatballs in the Instant Pot from Raia’s Recipes 

One Pan Garlic Herb Meatballs from Recipes to Nourish

One Pan Roasted Chicken with Citrus Beets from Recipes to Nourish (butter with coconut or avocado oil)

Simple Beef Roast from Raising Generation Nourished

Slow Cooker Rosemary Roast from Raia’s Recipes

Spinach & Garlic Meatballs in the Instant Pot from Raia’s Recipes

Stuffed Delicata Squash with Beef & Cranberries from Wholesome Yum (leave off goat cheese)

Tender Grass-Fed Brisket in the Oven from Real Food Forager (GAPS friendly too!)

Holiday Salad with Caramelized Delicata Squash from Eat Beautiful

Side Dishes

3-Minute Instant Pot Applesauce from Recipes to Nourish

Butternut Squash Latkes from Elena’s Pantry 

Whole30 Latkes with Onions & Garlic from Raia’s Recipes

Carrot Scallion Latkes from Elena’s Pantry

Celeriac Latkes with Onion & Fennel from Real Food Forager (GAPS friendly too!)

Easy 3-Ingredient Cabbage Steaks from Raia’s Recipes

Whole30 Latkes with Onions & Garlic from Raia’s Recipes

Golden Beet Slaw from Raising Generation Nourished

Holiday Salad with Caramelized Delicata Squash and Fresh Sage Vinaigrette from Eat Beautiful

Homemade Cider & Elderberry Cranberry Sauce from Raia’s Recipes

Not Potato Latkes from Real Food Forager (GAPS friendly too!)

Refreshing Turnip & Dill Salad from Prepare & Nourish

Roasted Carrots with Garlic from Prepare & Nourish (GAPS friendly too!)

Twisty Flax Sticks from Allergy Free Alaska

Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies from Delicious Obsessions

Desserts

Almond Flour Keto Donuts from Wholesome Yum

Chocolate Chip Donuts with Chocolate Ganache from Allergy Free Alaska

Chocolate-Dipped Mandarin Oranges from Recipes to Nourish

Grain-Free Chocolate Donuts from Recipes to Nourish

Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies from Delicious Obsessions

Masala Spiced Apple Donuts from Raia’s Recipes

Vegan Sugar Cookies from Healy Eats Real

Molasses-Free Gingerbread Cutout Cookies from Raia’s Recipes

Paleo Apple Fritters from Elena’s Pantry

Paleo Donuts from Eat Beautiful

Sesame & Coconut Halva from Raia’s Recipes

Spiced Dark Chocolate Cake from Raia’s Recipes

Sufganiyot from Learning Lemurs

Vanilla Bean Faux Cheesecake from Delicious Obsessions

Vegan Sugar Cookies from Healy Eats Real

Instant Pot Spiced Apple Cider from Recipes to Nourish

Drinks

Cranberry Apple Switchel from Raia’s Recipes

Cranberry Orange Mocktail from Recipes to Nourish

Hot Mulled Apple Cider from Family Friends Food

Instant Pot Spiced Apple Cider from Recipes to Nourish

Perfect Homemade Hot Cocoa from Raia’s Recipes

Simple & Quick Eggnog from Raising Generation Nourished

Spiced Apple Kombucha from Raia’s Recipes

Winter Wassail from Raising Generation Nourished

Pin this round-up for later! Come back to it again and again, even if it’s not Hanukkah time. 😉