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The best chocolate desserts for Hanukkah are chocolate babka, chocolate rugelach, sufganiyot with a chocolate glaze, chocolate gelt cookies, cocoa mandelbrot and a chocolate olive oil cake, which honors the holiday’s story of oil and can be made without dairy. In 2026, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends on Saturday, December 12.
Below is a guide to eight chocolate treats for the eight nights, which ones you can make ahead, plus our recipe for a one-bowl chocolate olive oil cake made with cocoa powder.
What chocolate desserts are traditional for Hanukkah?
| Dessert | What it is | Make ahead? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate olive oil cake | Moist one-bowl cake; oil connects it to the Hanukkah story | Yes, 2 days |
| Chocolate babka | Braided yeast bread swirled with a cocoa and chocolate filling | Yes, freezes well |
| Chocolate rugelach | Rolled cream cheese pastry with a cocoa-sugar filling | Yes, freeze unbaked |
| Sufganiyot with chocolate glaze | Fried jelly doughnuts, dipped or filled with chocolate | Best the same day |
| Chocolate gelt cookies | Chocolate cookies pressed with a gelt coin | Yes, 4 days |
| Cocoa mandelbrot | Twice-baked almond cookies, like biscotti, with cocoa | Yes, 1 week |
| Chocolate dreidel cookies | Cut-out cocoa sugar cookies shaped like dreidels | Yes, 1 week |
| Hot cocoa bar | Mugs, toppings and a pot of cocoa for after candle lighting | Set up in 15 minutes |
For the hot cocoa bar, our guide to hot cocoa bar ideas lists toppings and mug setups, and our hot chocolate with cocoa powder makes a pot for a crowd.
Why olive oil cake for Hanukkah?
Hanukkah remembers the oil that burned for eight nights in the Temple, which is why fried and oil-based foods such as latkes and sufganiyot are part of the holiday. A chocolate cake made with olive oil instead of butter fits that tradition, stays moist for days and, made with water or coffee, contains no dairy, so it works after a meat meal. Cocoa powder gives it a deep chocolate flavor without melting any chocolate.
Chocolate olive oil cake: ingredients (one 9-inch cake, 10 slices)
- 1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (43 g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (120 ml) extra-virgin or light olive oil
- 1 cup (240 ml) hot water or hot coffee
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar or chocolate gelt, for topping
How do you make chocolate olive oil cake?
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Oil a 9-inch round pan and line the bottom with parchment.
- Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.
- Add the eggs, olive oil, vinegar and vanilla, then slowly whisk in the hot water or coffee until the batter is smooth and thin.
- Pour into the pan and bake 32 to 36 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool 15 minutes in the pan, then turn out and cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar or ring the top with gelt.
Tips for the best chocolate olive oil cake
- Pick the oil by taste: a mild or “light” olive oil keeps the chocolate in front; a fruity extra-virgin oil adds a peppery note that many people love.
- Use natural cocoa: the recipe relies on baking soda plus vinegar, so natural (non-alkalized) cocoa adds acid and helps the cake rise.
- Coffee or water: coffee deepens the chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee; water keeps it kid-friendly.
- Make ahead: the cake tastes even better on day two. Keep it wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Grevista is a natural, non-alkalized cocoa from Vietnamese Trinitario cacao, which suits this baking soda recipe as written. See sizes on the Grevista cocoa powder page. For more chocolate baking for the season, see our chocolate Christmas desserts and fudge with cocoa powder.
Hosting again at the end of the month? See our New Year’s Eve chocolate desserts for the last party of the year.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hanukkah in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12.
Is chocolate olive oil cake dairy-free?
Yes, as written with water or coffee. Check that your chocolate gelt or other toppings are dairy-free too.
Can I bake it in a different pan?
Use an 8-inch square pan for the same time, or a 9×13 pan for 25 to 28 minutes with a doubled recipe.
What is chocolate gelt?
Gelt means “money” in Yiddish. Chocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver foil are given to children during Hanukkah and used in dreidel games.
Written by the Grevista Editorial Team. Last updated November 4, 2026. How we check facts: Editorial Policy.