How to Make Fritters for Hanukkah

Although not as popular as latkes or sufganiyot, fritters are one of the most traditional foods made for Hanukkah. Jews often serve the neyyappam, or sweet fritters, during Hanukkah and before Yom Kippur. Enjoy these fritters for breakfast or as a dessert during a game of dreidel.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 dried apricots, chopped
• 1 cup semolina
• 1 tbsp. chopped cashews
• Oil
• 2 dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp. dried coconut
• 1 1/2 tsps. honey
• 1 tbsp. chopped almonds
• 1 tbsp. Miracle Whip
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom
• 1 tbsp. golden raisins
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tbsp. sesame seeds

Make Fritters for Hanukkah

1. Pour 2 cups of boiling water into a bowl. Add the sugar and salt to the water and stir until dissolved. Let the water cool to room temperature.

2. Add the flour, semolina, fruit and nuts to the water. Mix the batter until it is smooth.

3. Cover the mixture and let it stand overnight to ferment. Do not refrigerate the mixture--this would interfere with the fermentation process.

4. Heat several cups of oil over medium heat. Before cooking the fritters, add the baking powder and cardamom.

5. Drop the batter into the oil by the tbsp.. Allow the fritters to cook for 5 minutes, or until brown. Place them onto a paper towel to cool.

6. Serve the fritters topped with powdered sugar. They also taste good when topped with fresh fruit and cream.

7. Make a honey dipping sauce for the fritters. Mix 1 tbsp. of Miracle Whip with 1 and 1/2 tsps. of honey.

Tips & Warnings

• Fritters don't have to be flour based or sweet. Feel free to experiment with your ingredients, adding meet or corn based recipes to the mix.
• Make a simple dipping sauce for your sweet fritters using chopped strawberries. Mash them with a small amount of sugar and pour into a small container.
• If you don't have cardamom available, you can make the recipe without it.
• Do not fry your fritters in a deep fryer. You run the risk of burning them or injuring yourself if they fall to the bottom of the fryer.
• Fritters are high in fat and calories, so don't eat more than a few small fritters a day to keep within your calorie budget. Lessen the caloric hit even more by baking your fritters at 350 degrees F until brown instead of frying.