Drinks Pair Crispy Potato Latkes With Big-Batch Martinis at a Latke Cocktail Party Here’s everything you need to host the ultimate Hanukkah party. By Lucy Simon Lucy Simon Lucy Simon is a New York-based wine, spirits, and food writer has been with Food & Wine since the spring of 2021. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 29, 2023 Trending Videos Photo: Diana Chistruga Latkes are the ultimate drinking snack. They’re salty, crispy, and rich and beg for a bright, crispy cocktail to sip alongside. These delightful potato pancakes are typically served during Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. For the most festive Hanukkah gathering, serve potato latkes with a range of toppings from classic applesauce and sour cream to smoked salmon and caviar. And of course, pair them with cocktails. We’ve gathered our favorite recipes for perfect potato pancakes, plus party-ready cocktails to pair with them like a big-batch Martini, an Aperol Spritz with a Hanukkah twist, and a classic Champagne cocktail. Chag sameach! 01 of 14 Best-Ever Potato Latkes Diana Chistruga Niki Russ Federman of Russ & Daughters makes the tastiest, crispiest latkes with both scallions and onion, classic baking potatoes, and a sprinkling of matzo meal. This recipe is simple, easy to follow, and can even be made a day in advance. Just crisp up the cooked latkes on a baking sheet in the oven when it’s time to serve. Get the recipe 02 of 14 Frozen Martini Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen This big-batch Martini can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer. There's no ice and no stirring or shaking with the Frozen Martini; With a formula of two parts gin, one part vermouth, and one part water, the ideal dilution is built into the batch. The herbaceous gin cuts through rich latkes for a refreshing pairing. The slightly frozen Martini glides right out of the bottle and into your glass; the garnish is up to you. Get the recipe 03 of 14 Kate's Supercrispy Potato Latkes © Hector Sanchez Long-time Food & Wine food editor Kate Heddings knows her way around a potato pancake. By shredding potatoes with a turner slicer or spiralizer, this recipe yields latkes with lacey, crispy edges. Get the recipe 04 of 14 Hebrew Hammer Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen The Hebrew Hammer pays homage to the flavors of a beloved Hanukkah dessert, sufganiyot, donuts usually filled with jelly and generously dusted with powdered sugar. By dissolving a bit of active dry yeast into sugar and water, this cocktail’s “leavened” simple syrup brings a subtle yeasted flavor that pairs perfectly with applesauce-topped latkes with a dollop of tangy sour cream. Get the recipe 05 of 14 Killer Potato Latkes These classic potato latkes from Andrew Zimmern lean on both mashed, thin-skinned Yukon Gold potatoes as well as shredded baking potatoes. Zimmern’s latkes are both fluffy and crispy — pair these with a cocktail that has a bit more body, like the fruity Hebrew Hammer. Get the recipe 06 of 14 Bottled Manhattan Greg DuPree This pre-batched Manhattan lets you do the work ahead of time without sacrificing freshness or balance. A blend of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and a pop of fruity flavor from a maraschino cherry makes for a classic sip. To balance the drink’s sweetness, pair this cocktail with something salty like latke topped with smoked salmon and cracked black pepper. Get the recipe 07 of 14 Crispy Skillet Latke with Kale Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Audrey Davis This recipe makes frying latkes for a crowd a cinch. Cookbook author Leah Koenig pulls from Ashkenazi traditions with this skillet-fried latke that is sliced into individual servings. Koenig tops hers with sauteéed kale in this recipe, but when it comes to latke toppings, anything goes. Get the recipe 08 of 14 Sababa Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Rich, nutty tahini forms the base of this savory, piquant, and tart cocktail. A zippy bite from zhoug, a spicy cilantro-based sauce from Yemen, is balanced by the sweetness of pineapple juice, rounding out this quaffable drink. The drink has richness and body and can stand up to crispy, loaded latkes with plenty of savory toppings like trout roe or even a bit of jalapeño. Get the recipe 09 of 14 Zucchini Latkes with Red Pepper Jelly and Smoked Trout © Keller & Keller Looking for something a bit lighter? These latkes feature a blend of shredded zucchini and potato that combine for a crispy and savory pancake. Topped with sweet and spicy red pepper jelly and savory smoked trout, they are a great companion to a savory cocktail like the Sababa. Get the recipe 10 of 14 Aperol Schvitz Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen This satisfying, yet sophisticated take on an Aperol Spritz features a classic Jewish-American ingredient: Manischewitz. This craft cocktail carefully harnesses the sweetness of Manischewitz concord grape wine without being overly-saccharine — it’s a genius, grown-up use of a familiar, but somewhat sickly, holiday ingredient. Get the recipe 11 of 14 Celery Root-Potato Pancakes with Green Apple Sour Cream © Tina Rupp Celery root has a fresh, almost sweet flavor and starchy texture that is a natural fit for latkes. These latkes are topped with a tangy sour cream laden with fresh green apple, a combination with calls for an herbaceous gin Martini. Get the recipe 12 of 14 Blackberry Kir Royale Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Champagne is a great match for potatoes in nearly all preparations from mashed potatoes, a classic potato chip, and of course, latkes. A Kir Royale is a classic Champagne cocktail that has a touch of blackberry brandy or creme de cassis. It’s vibrant and effervescent and can be scaled up to party-size with ease. Get the recipe 13 of 14 Potato Pancakes with Smoked Salmon, Caviar and Dill Cream Hanukkah is the perfect time to break out a tin of caviar. These caviar-topped latkes are salty and delicious — pair them with a Champagne-based cocktail like a Kir Royale. Get the recipe 14 of 14 Whiskey Shamash Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Sweet and savory fig, bright lemon, and smooth bourbon combine in this delicious take on a classic whiskey smash from Naomi Levy of Maccabee Bar, a Hanukkah pop-up bar in New York City and Cambrdige, Massachusetts. Get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit