A little potato pancake knowledge goes a long way in December. Hanukkah wouldn’t be itself without latkes. Other parties also come to life with potato-pancake appetizers. And the warm, crisp cakes make a great holiday side dish.
But latkes aren’t all created equal: Choose a Yukon Gold potato over a russet and your cake is extra creamy on the inside; add another root vegetable and it takes on different flavors. Experiment with our variations to find your favorite formula.