The fantastic five

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Chanukah is almost upon us — eight days during which we’re ENCOURAGED to eat fried foods.

If doughnuts are at the top of your must-have list, here are five doughnuts (and doughnut-inspired bakes) worth every calorie:

1. The vegan ones:

No one needs to miss out with these dairy-free delights from Australian chef, Shannon Martinez of Smith & Deli. These cinnamon-dusted doughnuts will keep everyone happy.

vegan nutsw

Photo from Smith & Deli-cous

2. The Sephardi fritters:

Leah Koenig’s bimuelos are the rustic-looking, Sephardi equivalent to doughnuts. Coated in cinnamon and cardamom, they are a real flavour of the Middle East and so small you can definitely manage more than one.

Bimuelos hero Large

Photo: Linda Pugliese

3. The doughnut bake:

If you reach peak frying at any point in during the eight days — yes, it can happen — then this gorgeous, giant baked doughnut, slathered in chocolate and showered in multicoloured sprinkles from Fabienne-Viner Luzzato is for you.

giant baked doughnut

Photo: Inbal Bar-Oz

4. Go-to gluten free nut:

Lisa Roukin has a huge catalogue of gorgeous gluten free options including these fabulous baked ‘nuts slathered in indulgent caramel sauce.

gluten free lisa r

Photo: Lisa Roukin

5. Festive mash up:

With chestnuts on sale everywhere at this time of year, Silvia Nacamulli’s glamorous chestnut sufganyot are the ultimate mash up. Indulgent chestnut ganache will have your guests swooning with delight.