By Kristin Sidorov
Bring on the Festival of Lights! Hanukkah’s eight nights of celebration include some beloved dishes served at large feasts with rich sides and decadent desserts. Keep your celebration simple with these lightened-up recipes and creative twists on some of the holiday’s favorite dishes, and you’ll feel celebratory long after the latkes.

—Slow Cooker Brisket with Cranberries and Dried Apricots (Inside the Kaganoff Kitchen)

—Buckwheat Cheddar Blini with Smoked Salmon (HuffPost Kitchen Daily)

—Beet and Carrot Latkes (Joy of Cooking)

—Lighter Noodle Kugel (The Back Burner)

—A Roasted Twist on Applesauce (Food 52)

Photo by John Becker