Oven-Fried Potato Latkes
Latkes, or crisp onion-scented potato pancakes, are a traditional Hanukkah dish. Go to any Hanukkah party and you’ll find an apron-clad Jewish mother or grandmother standing at the stove frying and doling them out – a tradition I loved and cherished until I became the poor mother who had to make them. Cooking short-order style, hot oil splattering all over the kitchen, children running underfoot – no thank you! Enter these oven-fried latkes. They’re no healthier, mind you, but just as good, half the mess and so much easier.
Begin by coarsely grating the potatoes and onion together in a food processor or by hand.
Transfer the potato mixture to a fine sieve and press down firmly with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Repeat a few times with fresh paper towels until most of liquid is drained.
Combine the potato mixture with the eggs, salt, baking powder and flour.
Next, get your pans ready. You’ll need two non-stick rimmed baking sheets. Pour 1/2 cup of oil on each one. Don’t be tempted to line the pans with foil to save time on clean-up; I’ve tried it and the latkes stick. With the non-stick pans, the pancakes slide right off and clean up is a breeze. (I cannot emphasize enough the importance of non-stick pans for this recipe; if you don’t use them, the latkes will stick.)
Place the pans in the oven for ten minutes to heat the oil. Wearing oven mitts, carefully remove the hot pans from the oven and drop the potato mixture by the 1/4-cupful on the baking sheets. Flatten just slightly with the bottom of the measuring cup.
Bake for about 20 minutes, until the first side is golden brown. Then carefully remove the pans from the oven and flip the latkes.
Continue baking until the latkes are crisp and brown all over, about 10 minutes more. Drain on a large platter lined with paper towels.
Serve with sour cream and applesauce, if desired.
Enjoy and Happy Hanukah to all who celebrate!
Note: Latkes are best served warm out of the oven. I do not recommend making them ahead of time.
Oven-Fried Potato Latkes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds russet potatoes (2-3)
- 1 medium yellow onion, peeled (about the size of a baseball)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 scant teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- Equipment: 2 heavy non-stick rimmed baking sheets*
Instructions
- Set oven racks in center preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Peel the potatoes, then coarsely grate them with the onion together in food processor or by hand using a box grater. Place potato mixture in a fine sieve and press down firmly with paper towel to remove excess moisture. Stir and repeat a few times with fresh paper towels until liquid is mostly drained. Transfer potato mixture to bowl and mix in eggs, salt, baking powder and flour.
- Fill two heavy non-stick rimmed baking sheets with 1/2 cup oil each. Place pans in oven for 10 minutes to heat the oil. Wearing oven mitts, carefully remove pans from oven. Drop batter by the 1/4-cupful onto baking sheets, spacing about 1-1/2 inches apart. Using the bottom of the measuring cup or a spoon, press down on pancakes to flatten just slightly. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until bottoms are crisp and golden. Carefully remove pans from oven and flip latkes (tongs are the best tool as a spatula may cause oil to splatter). Place pans back in oven and cook until latkes are crisp and golden brown all over, about 10 minutes more. Remove pans from oven and transfer latkes to large platter lined with paper towels. Serve immediately with sour cream or apple sauce, if desired.
- *It is very important to use non-stick baking sheets so the latkes don't stick.
Reviews & Comments
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Can I use instant potatoes?
Hi Arlene, I would definitely recommend fresh potatoes here– sorry!
Made 6x the recipe. It was the absolute hit of my XMAS/Chanukah brunch! I used Simply potatoes which worked wonderfully. I had trouble getting them to brown initially and never added more oil but as there was less oil, they were easier to brown. I froze them and then cooked in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes after defrosting. I did use non stick pans. I would suggest much less oil. Next time I will spread one layer of oil on the pan. They were delicious!
Easiest, cleanest, best, crispiest ever!
Excellent as always! I lined my pans with foil then cut parchment and added to the pans with the oil on top. Made clean up a snap. The family is already asking for them again. Perfect!
Sound perfect! They don’t reheat well?
How about making the potato mixture ahead of time?
Will it stay ok overnight?
Hi Marion, Latkes are are best served fresh out of the oven but sometimes that’s just not possible so it’s fine to reheat them. I wouldn’t make the potato mixture ahead of time – it will turn color.
This is THE best recipe for latkes. Easy and my family loved it! I added a little more onion b/c we like the onion flavor. Thank you!
Fabulous recipe! Reminds me of the ones we used to get in Europe at the Christmas markets. Impressed how beautifully the latkes turned out on my first ever attempt. Thank you!
Feel silly, but I can’t seem to find the oven temp for this recipe? Thank you!
No worries! The oven temp is 425 degrees.
How many will this recipe serve?
Hi Sara, it depends upon how many latkes each person eats, but the recipe makes about 18 latkes. Enjoy!
I’d like to double the recipe. How would you alter? stsrt over from scratch for second batch? Thanks!
Hi Sondra, I don’t think you need to start from scratch for another batch. I’d just double all the ingredients and, if you have enough baking sheets, you can cook them all at the same time. If not, just put the second batch in as soon as the first one comes out of the oven. Enjoy!
I made latkes tonite for the very first time and used this recipe. Practicing for my upcoming Hanukkah party. They were “da bomb”! Best latkes I’ve ever eaten. I try to stay away from fried food, but these were worth the caloric splurge. My neighbors agreed!
I tried these for Hanukkah last year and they were amazing! So much easier than frying by hand one-by-one. No one could tell the difference and with a foil-lined baking sheet, cleanup was a breeze!
Worked well as regular fried latkes, the oven baked sticks to the sheet even with lots of oil on a non-stick.
Made these last night to go alongside some steak. Fantastic! Used simply potatoes shredded hash browns. So I didn’t have to grate and drain! They are fresh not frozen, available in most supermarkets! I also don’t own a non stick baking sheet but there is a non stick aluminum foil that works perfect! Allows for easier clean up.
I don’t like to use non stick baking sheets. Has anyone had success with this recipe using silpat or good quality other (ie nordic ware) baking sheet, along with plenty of oil? Or other ideas?
I used regular, non-nonstick baking pans, and I lined them with parchment paper. I used pans that were narrower than the parchment paper, so that I could use one unbroken sheet to fully cover the bottom and sides. The oil stayed on top of the parchment during baking, and nothing stuck. 🙂
I OCTUPLED this recipe so that 150 elementary students could taste latkes, and they were a hit! This recipe is a keeper.
I’ve made these twice – 2 Chanukahs in a row. They were relatively easy and fantastic.
Made this exactly, but instead of a non-stick baking sheet (don’t have) I lined the sheet first with heavy-duty foil, then with non-stick foil before adding the oil- turned out beautifully, and clean up was super easy!
I’ve never made latkes before and was dreading frying because I didn’t want to smell like a latke and get hot while making them. This recipe worked phenomenally! They came out perfectly, and everyone loved them! Can’t wait to make them again next year (or maybe sooner)
Omg just made them and I will never fry again in a pan. These are excellent! !!
This recipe was perfect. The latkes were delicious and crispy. My house did not have that lingering “fried latke smell”, nor did my hair or clothes. And best yet, there was no mess! I also enjoyed putting them in the oven, setting the timer and sitting and reading in between rather than babysitting a frying pan. I did not serve them right away. I reheated them for a few minutes at 375. I will make this recipe from now on.
Just made 5 batches of these for a Chanukah gathering tomorrow night. I hope they reheat OK. They sure taste delicious now, and so much less mess to clean up! Thank you so much! By the way, after reading the comments and worrying about the hot oil, I used non-stick roasting pans instead of cookie sheets. They worked great, even though the latkes were almost touching each other. I also used organic coconut oil, which worked great and did not smoke too much. Happy Chanukah!
If I use parchment paper do I still need to use the same amount of oil
Hi Michelle, I don’t recommend using parchment for this recipe — you need all the oil. Sorry!
These were fantastic! Thank you!!
Definitely use a nonstick pan if you stove-top fry. Would prefer to use the oven method, if I had the non-stick baking sheets.
I always make my latkes ahead because I have to make so many.
Cool latkes completely and put in a gallon size ziplock w parchment paper between layers and freeze.
Put frozen latkes in a preheated 375 oven on cookie sheets lined w parchment paper
Cook until warmed
They are great
Ps. I put the filled baggies on a cookie sheet and place in freezer till frozen. After frozen remove cookie sheet – this holds their shape
What oven temperature do you fry the pancakes at ?
These should go into a 425 degree oven (and set oven rack(s) in center of the oven). Enjoy!
I made this recipe last year for a Chanukah party for University students and absolutely loved it! Worked out so well, so much easier than frying in a pan.
I’m hosting another party this year and will need to make a lot more of them (aiming for around 35 latkes)
Has anyone tried making these slightly early and reheating them? I was thinking about making one batch at 4 o’clock, and then putting them in the oven to warm up at 7 o’clock, just to help with the stress a bit! Has anyone tried this?
Also was thinking about shredding the potato using my spiraliser, has anyone tried this??
How nice Rebecca! While you could make them in advance if necessary, I think these latkes are best served warm out of the oven. I’ve never made them using a spriraliser, so not certain how the results will differ.
Would parchment paper work instead of using oil? Nothing ever sticks to parchment paper, but I wonder if you need the oil to get the correct taste.
Hi Natalya, You definitely need the oil for latkes. Sorry!
Delicious! We usually cook this dish in a cast iron skillet on the stove top but if the oven is already heated or in use this works just as well. Super tasty!
What temp does the oven need to be?
Hi Tracy, It’s 425°F.
I made this recipe this morning, added garlic, breadcrumbs, used parchment paper with less oil. The first batch got a little overdone, but decreased the baking time and second ones came out great. Thanks, Anna
I baked mine at 375 degrees. Really depends on your oven. Enjoy! Anna
I made these with Coconut Oil. Followed the recipe exactly (except for the type of oil). They came out PERFECT!! Thank you so much. No more frying mess all over my stove!
BRILLIANT!!! I’ll never fry again. Two days after a latke frying marathon my house still smells like rancid oil and i was dreading having to fry again for the upcoming weekend. I’ll admit I was skeptical but so impressed with the results. Also need to admit that I didn’t read the ingredient list as thoroughly as i should have so after i had a five pound bag of potatoes shredded I was in for the long haul. I added 4 eggs + 1/2 cup self-rising flour (already has baking powder in it) and hoped for the best. Success! I’m running out to get another 2 heavy duty pans so I can make another huge batch. Thanks Jenn!!
What will happen if u use Idaho potato instead of russet? Thanks
They will be absolutely fine with Idaho potatoes.
How much is 2 lb potato? Meaning, about how many pieces.
About 3 medium potatoes
This is an awesome potato latke recipe! Delicious, and so much easier than pan frying on the stove.
I have an obsession with potato pancakes/latkes, but absolutely hate to stand in front of a pan frying them. This is my standard go to latke recipe – the cooking method is the game changer for me though! I won’t be standing in front of the stove anymore!
I think I need to add a warning: Many cookie sheets will WARP at temperatures recommended in this recipe, and that could send oil spilling to the bottom of your oven! After hearing my cookie sheets go POING! during Thanksgiving baking, I realized that I really should invest in expensive pans before attempting to oven-fry any latkes.
Used parchment and only a few tablespoons of Becel oil. Absolutely no sticking! They are awesome. (P.s., I had a bag of shredded potatoes from the grocery deli so used them. Easy peasy)
Hi Jenn! What kind of grater should I use for the potatoes? Had a mandolin til my husband cut his thumb off… Needless to say they are not allowed in the house anymore lol what’s next best?
Thanks!
Hi Christina, I grate them in my food processor but you can also use a hand grater.
I made these by lining my baking sheet with baking paper and they just slid right off. No messy cleanup.
Great tip, Ila. I know some people were having some issues with sticking so glad to know that works.
Wonderful recipe but I didn’t think the oil was hot enough even after 10 mins in the preheat mode. Can I raise the temperature to 450 degrees and is safflower oil acceptable? Also, my latkes did somewhat stick even in my nonstick pan. Can I line the pans with nonstick foil first and then add the oil? But this is definitely a 5 star recipe!
Hi Sandy, Yes but definitely keep an eye on them as you don’t want them to burn; you may need to turn the heat back down. Safflower oil should work fine. Also, you might try lining the pan with parchment (see comments; one reader recently had some success with that).
Those of you who are experiencing smoke or fire in your ovens: Please tell us what OIL you used. Some cooking oils are *not* suitable for frying!
BTW this is pretty much my latke recipe, and I can’t wait to try the oven method this year. Thanks!
Have you tried baking these on a Silpat mat, by any chance? I only have regular baking sheets (not a fan of “non-stick” coatings as I’ve seen them come off in the past and silver baked sweet potato fries were just really offputting!) Thanks! These look great and can’t wait to take a stab at them….
Hi Penny, Unfortunately, I don’t think this method would work on a Silpat mat. Sorry!
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We call these potato cakes (Polish) and your recipe is pretty much the same as ours. Pressing the moisture out of the potatoes is a really good idea. The one thing I hate about making them is the frying part. Your idea is wonderful. We will definitely be doing it this way next time we make them.
I am a hash brown lover. I love many things potato especially for breakfast or a snack. I made some changes to this because I like savory and color in things I eat. I shredded the potatoes and added them to a bowl of water w/ 2 teaspoon baking soda that I dissolved to prevent the potatoes from browning and pull the starch out of them. Since potatoes oxidize quickly after exposure to the air, I added them to the water after a pile was made under the grater as I went. To a heated pan, I added veg. oil, diced onion, scallion, 1/4 bell pepper and 3 cloves of garlic that I minced on the grater. I then seasoned and sautéed these w/ granulated garlic and onion powder, salt, black pepper, sprinkle of cayenne pepper until a bit soft.
I strained the water of the potatoes and rinsed under tap and dabbed w/ paper towel to remove as much water as possible. Added them to a bowl and seasoned w/ salt, black pepper, garlic and onion powder, cayenne, fresh grated parmesan cheese, a dash of oregano, parsley and basil and toss together. Add 1/4 cup flour and toss. add sautéed vegs from pan and combine. Add a bit more oil to pan(do not use anew pan or clean the pan, all the flavors are here) if needed and scoop mixture into pan and flatten w/ back of scoop.
These came out so beautiful that they bring tears to the eye. I served them w/ ketchup on the side and ranch dressing. Tasted pretty good w/ my cup of rosemary tea too. Thanks for the recipe Jenn. These were awesome. Next time I may add mozzarella and cheddar and place in the oven. They were super tasty and savory good. My taste buds are still cha cha chaing.
I made these over the Fourth and served them with apple sauce. Delicious, and a lot less calories than the traditional fried latkes.
I made these for the holidays and they were nice and crispy! It is well worth the effort to fully drain the potatoes.
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The potatoes appear cooked in picture. Is that so or are the potatoes shredded uncooked? What is a tip in preventing a oven fire. Terrified of this.
Hi Lori, The potatoes are uncooked. I’ve never had an issue with fire but if you are nervous about it it’s fine to cook them on the stovetop.
Jennifer – these look like a perfect side dish to serve at Easter brunch! However, I have to prepare the brunch at my Mom’s house 1 1/2 hours away…do you think if I make the batter at home and refrigerate that it will turn gray before cooking at Mom’s house?
Hi Susan, Unfortunately, I think it might. Sorry!
A tip that we use in our family for these -add some citric acid (vitamin c) or lemon juce to the potatoe batter to prevent it from turning gray.
Can frozen shredded potatoes be used in place of the russets cooked. These sound yummy!!
Hi Betty, I’m afraid frozen won’t work as well. Sorry!
Believing that I simply HAD to use low-sided non-stick pans as the recipe asserted, I ran out to buy a pair for this recipe. I wound up with oil on my kitchen floor and an oil fire in my oven….which mercifully burned itself out before the firemen arrived! The pans were so awfully hot I couldn’t handle them safely. So I finished the job using my initial idea…I “oven-fried” my latkes, with great success, in my deep sided calphalon roasting pan.
I was so excited to make these for my stepdaughter–who has proclaimed on multiple occasions how much she loves latkes. She was so happy to see a tray of latkes awaiting her in the kitchen this morning! I thought I was somewhat conservative with the salt this go ’round, but I’ll be even more so next time. Also, I used 3 potatoes and doled out what I thought were reasonable portions, but I only ended up with about 9-10 latkes. The latkes—though salty—were great and easy to make!
Hi Jenn,
As you know Hanukkah starts Thanksgiving… I am trying to combine both traditions with out over shadowing turkey day. What are your thoughts on sweet potato latkes?? Should I change anything? I am thinking if making them as an app with some kinds of spice nut garnish. Thoughts, suggestions… Comments! and yes I am already obsessing over Thanksgiving
Hi Candi, You can use this recipe for sweet potato latkes (minus the spices if you want to make them kid-friendly, although they are incredible as is):
http://www.onceuponachef.com/2010/12/curried-sweet-potato-pancakes.html
But you can use the oven frying technique used in this recipe. Let me know if you have any questions 🙂
I did something wrong I bought russet potatoes shredded them and they turned gray and tasted awful. Not sure what I did wrong.
Hi Mary, That is very strange. It could be how they were stored or the type of pan you used. Did they turn gray before or after you cooked them?
If potatoes sit out too long before they are fried or baked they turn grey. Grating them alternately with the onion helps. If you are not going to cook them right away you have to keep them soaking in water and when ready to mix in other ingredients, drain really well. Squeeze out the water with your hands. Mix in other ingredients and oven or pan fry.
I used to live in Bnei Brak which is a very religious area. I’m not. Anyway I’d popped into a neighbor and she was making latkas that were like little pancakes. She put the potatoes onion egg flour salt and pepper into the blender. Then spoonfuls put into the oil. They were delicious. The only problem was by the end I was left with cold ones or over fried from the oil but the kids loved them. Yours look like I want to eat them right now at 2.30am in bed. With 2 cats watching me!
Loved these for the Holidays! Perfect that you don’t need to fry them, great option and just as delicious!
I made these with cornstarch instead of flour to make them gluten free and they turned out great! I love potato latkes but usually can’t eat them out in restaurants so this is perfect to make at home. Thanks!
I’m always looking for new breakfast brunch dishes, but so many of them are on the sweet side. Not my thing. These latkes are delicious and quite easy to make. I garnished some with a little sour cream and chives, and others with a little smoked salmon and dill.
Perfect way to make Latkas without getting grease all over the kitchen! Thanks for great recipe idea.
Using the oven is genius! I love latkes but can never make them fast enough. Delish!
Pinned this recipe a while back and finally got around to making it today to bring to Rosh Hashanah dinner. I had 14 potatoes so since the original recipe called for 3 potatoes I multiplied the recipe by 4… not a great idea :^( I thought that 8ish teaspoons of salt was an awful lot so I reduced it to 5 teaspoons. They came out WAY too salty. On a positive note, I loved the oven frying method and will definitely make this recipe again… albeit with much less salt! Thanks for the recipe :^)
Also, I used nonstick pans as the recipe states but I still had a bit of sticking… I think that next time I will use non-stick Reynolds aluminum foil because nothing sticks to that! I love that stuff :^)
Did using non-stick Reynolds wrap work for oven frying the latkes? Did you use any oil with that?
Ruth, you do not need non-stick foil for this. I pulled this from the recipe to help: You’ll need two non-stick rimmed baking sheets. Pour 1/2 cup of oil on each one. Don’t be tempted to line the pans with foil to save time on clean-up; I’ve tried it and the latkes stick. With the non-stick pans, the pancakes slide right off and clean up is a breeze. (I cannot emphasize enough the importance of non-stick pans for this recipe; if you don’t use them, the latkes will stick.) Hope that helps!
A great variation of my mother’s homestyle potato cakes. Very tasty and I love the oven method.
I dont eat fried foods. I just dont. If I am in Israel, I will eat falafel but thats the main exception. These were a delicious amazing not-substitute. The whole family loved them. SO good and SO easy.
Use a heavy pan, one that wont warp when the oven heats up – its annoying.
These are awesome
What a great idea!
I cut back on the oil a little bit and it didn’t affect the cooking process at all.
And I used a scallions for a bit of color.
I like the other comment about using shredded carrot & zucchini as well. May try that next time!
These are fantastic and a favorite with my kids!
This is such a great idea. I love latkes, but absolutely hate the mess of frying things.
Every bit as good as the more “traditional” pan-fried ones – but easier and the pancakes come out really well – crisp and uniform.
I tried these for Hanukah, and they were a huge success. They have the perfect combination of warm, tender inside and crispy exterior. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing! It is a great idea!
Thanks for this. As an added comment, my church makes these (in Schuylkill County, PA, they’re called “bleenies”) and people love them here, regardless of nationality. My kids love them!
Much neater way to make latkes and my kids like them better because they’re not as greasy. Excellent recipe.
These just have to be a little healthier than frying. The certainly are not as messy. That’s why I don’t fry. The clean up is too much work. I forget how good something tasted fried after I clean up.
Looks really good! cant wait to try them!
wow, love the idea that I can oven fry them!
I am totally in the mood for breakfast even though it’s the middle of the afternoon. These look perfect!
THESE ARE AWESOME !!! I have tried a ton of different recipes but like this one the best and heres why. Most Latkes and most go soggie quick and these are nice and crisp. Like them best with sourcream and my husband likes them best with apple sauce, both are good. = )
Hi there!
I made these for my family for Hanukkah (late, since my niece was in Scotland for a college semester). We loved how easy it was to do in the oven, but 2 issues came up that I’m not sure how to overcome:
1. First, although my oven was at the correct temperature (I use an oven thermometer) the oil smoked so much when we went to take the pans out the first time, that the whole house filled with smoke.
2. The taste was good – but something was still missing… I did follow the recipe, but they didnt quite taste like the stove top kind. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Betty
oven baked potato latkes were AWFUL.
yes. fry them. uses less oil Her recipe Is the worst one. i ever made. much too salty and too greasy. Her recipe takes forever to bake in the oven. i cannot give this recipe one star. I might dump the whole batch in the garbage. cannot serve it to company for Chanukah.
I made these a few weeks ago and they were a huge hit! No frying so no mess.
Using a sieve to remove the moisture is a great technique. Really makes a difference in the final result. Thanks for the good advice.
definately want to try this. hate the mess of frying. this will allow me to have potato pancakes more often. thank you.
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I made these last night for my boyfriend and his friend. Absolutely delicious!! I cant wait to make them again.
I always say I am going to make Latkes and then never do because of the hot oil, short-order style of cooking…I am using your recipe tonight! Yum!
These were the best latkes I have ever had! Thanks for the recipe.
These are unbelievable! Thank you have changed the way I make latkes!!!!
I’ve never, ever made latkes, but just need to jump in and make those little beauties! Thanks!
I love latkes. I have also done a vegetable version of this adding grated carrots and zucchini to the potatoes and onions. Great recipe. Thank you.
Just had to add – if you have a potato ricer, they are perfect for removing the water before cooking. I use that method for hash browns.
These look fantastic! We often enjoyed these growing up; not because we are Jewish, but because my parents knew good food!
I made the fettuccine bolognese yesterday and it was a huge hit. I have two teenagers that went back for seconds…and thirds!
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
I am going to try these for sure! We love latkes for Hanukkah but I hate the mess. What a great idea.
These look fantastic! I am making these for my hubby for sure. We love hashbrowns and potato pancakes so these are right up our alley 🙂