Here's a closer look at all the best Jewish desserts, including moist apple cake and sufganiyot. These treats are perfect for any occasion, whether a holiday celebration or a relaxing afternoon.
23 Jewish Desserts Everyone Needs to Try
Updated on Jan. 09, 2025
1/23
Rugelach Recipe
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The crisp texture of these crescent-shaped cookies makes them a terrific treat to serve alongside a steaming mug of hot chocolate or coffee. —Becky Phillips, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
These bite-sized cookies are filled with spicy cinnamon and nuts, but you can find lots of other rugelach varieties like raspberry rugelach, cranberry rugelach or chocolate rugelach. They make a great Hanukkah dessert, but I’ll eat these tiny treats any day of the week.
2/23
Chocolate Babka
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 loaves (16 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I love this chocolate babka. It's a rewarding recipe for taking the next step in your bread baking. Even if it's slightly imperfect going into the oven, it turns out gorgeous. Look at those swirls! —Lisa Kaminski, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Babka is a dense braided bread stuffed with sweet fillings like chocolate, cinnamon sugar, apples or raisins. You can thank Jewish grandmothers for its creation, as they would often twist leftover scraps of challah with seeds and nuts for a handy Sabbath snack.
3/23
Apple Cake for Passover
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
55 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Adding a dollop of whipped cream is a sweet addition to this Passover apple cake! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
This apple cake uses matzo cake meal instead of flour, making it kosher for your Passover Seder dessert. It would also be great for Rosh Hashanah since apples are eaten for a sweet new year.
4/23
Chocolate-Stuffed Dreidel Cookies
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These dreidel cookies are sure to spread some smiles this holiday season. Your friends and family will delight in the surprise chocolate filling. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
These cookies are topped with festive Hanukkah decorations, but the surprise chocolate filling is the real showstopper here. To create perfect decorations, use a piping bag and practice your design on waxed paper before adding it to the cookies.
5/23
Jewish Apple Cake
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend from New Hampshire gave me this Jewish apple cake recipe, which took a blue ribbon at the county fair. —Jennie Wilburn, Long Creek, Oregon
Originating from Poland, this traditional Jewish dessert is typically served during Rosh Hashanah. You can also serve this dense apple cake with a cup of coffee for breakfast.
6/23
Passover Macaroons
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These easy coconut macaroons from Herbert Borland of Des Moines, Washington are lightly crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. They're perfect for Passover—or anytime! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
These flourless coconut cookies are particularly popular during Passover, but they’re delicious enough to enjoy all year.
7/23
Vanilla & Cinnamon-Kissed Apple Latkes
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Latkes are crispy fried pancakes, often made with potatoes. This sweet version with apples, orange juice, cinnamon and vanilla falls in the dessert realm. —Candy McMenamin, Lexington, South Carolina
This sweetened version of traditional potato pancakes combines cinnamon, orange juice, vanilla extract and apples. Top them off with cinnamon sugar and they’ll be a dessert you can’t stop thinking about.
8/23
Hanukkah Cookies
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Cream cheese adds richness to these Hanukkah cookies. Decorate them with royal icing or your favorite buttercream frosting and toppings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
These Hanukkah-themed cookies are perfect for celebrating the Festival of Lights. Made with cream cheese and topped with buttercream frosting, these rich cookies should definitely be in your annual Hanukkah desserts rotation. Get the whole family involved in frosting and decorating them.
9/23
Chocolate-Covered Matzo
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My entire family asks me to make this chocolate-covered matzo every Passover and Hanukkah! I've even been asked to ship it across the country. You can use white chocolate, dark chocolate or a combination, or add nuts before the chocolate sets. —Dana Darrow, Nashua, New Hampshire
This treat will easily become one of your favorite Passover desserts. The recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make and guests won’t be able to resist the chocolate-covered crackers. Make it your own by adding toppings like sprinkles or nuts.
10/23
Passover Rainbow Cookies
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The name Rainbow cookie is actually a bit of a misnomer for this classic New York treat. To make the pretty layered confections, you’ll bake three thin cakes, spread jam between them and coat the creation with smooth melted chocolate. —Shannon Sarna, South Orange, New Jersey
Shannon Sarna, a home cook and editor at The Nosher, says this is her family’s most beloved dessert. These classic New York treats are traditionally served in synagogues and at Jewish celebrations, but they actually have Italian roots.
11/23
Sufganiyot
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
40 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Sufganiyot are believed to have first come from Spain, adapted from a similar treat, the sopaipilla. Others say the sopaipilla was borrowed from the Jews. Either way, as a tradition, these Hanukkah doughnuts are an easy one to adopt, especially with this delicious sufganiyot recipe. —David Feder, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
You’ll like these Hanukkah doughnuts a “hole” lot. Filled with raspberries and topped with confectioners’ sugar, you’ll definitely want to grab seconds of this dessert. If you’re a chocolate lover, give this recipe a creative spin by using a Nutella filling.
12/23
Molly’s Sweet and Spicy Tzimmes Cake
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I are always on the lookout for new ways to incorporate Jewish traditions into our interfaith home. Rich with apples, carrots and sweet potato, this sweet and spicy cake is perfect for Rosh Hashanah or any fall holiday. —Molly Haendler, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This rich cake is a play on tzimmes, a traditional Jewish sweet-and-savory dish of baked carrots, sweet potatoes and prunes. The cake gets its sweetness from carrots, sweet potatoes, cranberries and apples, plus plenty of spices, so it finishes with a little kick. Its sweetness makes it the perfect Rosh Hashanah dessert.
13/23
Chocolate Chip Mandelbrot Cookies
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This twice-baked cookie made with oil and almonds dates back to 19th-century Eastern Europe. There are many variations made with different dried fruits and nuts. My chocolate chip version is more modern American. —Kimberly Scott, Kosciusko, Mississippi
Mandelbrot in Yiddish literally means “almond bread.” This cookie consists of almonds, orange zest and chocolate chips for a modern version. Serve it with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and you won’t be able to resist dunking the cookies for a sweet treat.
14/23
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This luscious lemon poppy seed cake recipe uses cake mix and pudding mix for an easy dessert that highlights the classic flavor combination. —Betty Bjarnason, Egbert, Ontario
This uniquely delicious cake is often seen during Purim because the Yiddish word for poppy seed, mohn, is similar to the name of the villain of the Purim story, Haman. The cake can be in the form of a loaf, a Bundt cake or even a towering layer cake.
15/23
Matzo Toffee
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
35 min
Servings
1 pound
From the Recipe Creator:
Once you start eating matzo toffee, you may not be able to stop! Matzo crackers are topped with buttery caramel, chocolate and slivered almonds and then baked to perfection. —Sharalyn Zander, Jacksonville, Alabama
Chocolate- and toffee-covered matzo are classic Passover desserts that many Jewish children grow up on. This matzo toffee recipe creates the perfect crispy bite.
16/23
Rustic Honey Cake
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my boys were young, they couldn’t drink milk but they could have yogurt. This was a cake they could eat. And it’s one dessert that doesn’t taste overly sweet, which is always a nice change of pace. —Linda Leuer, Hamel, Minnesota
Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is filled with sweets like apples and honey as a reminder to have a sweet new year. This rustic honey cake is the perfect dessert for your Rosh Hashanah dinner—or anytime you want a simple yet deliciously sweet cake.
17/23
Homemade Gelt
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
10 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Giving chocolate coins to children, and sometimes to teachers, is a long-standing Hanukkah tradition. This homemade version of gelt uses a miniature muffin pan to mold the coins into shape. The sliced almonds add a nice crunch, but the chocolates can be left plain or topped with other ingredients like sprinkles, crushed peppermint candies or finely chopped candied ginger. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
What’s a game of dreidel without gelt? These waxy chocolate coins wrapped in shiny gold foil have a rich history and are a staple during Hanukkah, especially for kids. You can make homemade gelt when you prepare other recipes for Hanukkah.
18/23
Kugel Recipe
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I made this dish for a party with our friends. It was a big hit! —Lauren Kargen, Buffalo, New York
Kugel can be sweet or savory, and it is usually served as a side dish. This version is sweet enough that you could serve it as dessert!
19/23
Mandel Bread
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This traditional Jewish mandel bread recipe has been passed down in my family for four generations. It tastes wonderful with a cup of coffee, hot cocoa or milk. —Monica Schnapp, Irvine, California
These biscotti-like cookies are perfect for dipping in coffee or tea. They’re often found in Jewish bakeries, but they’re easy enough to make at home if you can’t find them.
20/23
Chocolate Rugelach
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
50 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Many bakeries make these classic pastries, but they taste so much better when they are homemade. Traditionally they are filled with a cinnamon nut mixture, but everything is better with chocolate! —Fern Holody, Lavallette, New Jersey
Chocolate rugelach is my favorite type of rugelach, and that’s saying something because there are so many to choose from! These flaky little pastries are just as good for a holiday dessert as they are for an afternoon snack with some coffee.
21/23
Hamantaschen
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Traditionally called hamantaschen, these crisp, buttery triangle cookies truly do melt in your mouth. It's a good thing this classic Jewish dessert recipe makes a big batch because no one can stop after eating just one! —Mildred Lorence, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Hamantaschen are a specialty dessert for Purim, the Halloween of Jewish holidays. These triangular cookies are filled with anything from apricot to raspberry to poppy seed, and they’re as tasty as they are cute.
22/23
Blintzes
Skill Level
Intermediate
Total Time
40 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These elegant blintzes can be served as an attractive dessert or a brunch entree. The bright cherry sauce gives them a delightful flavor. I sometimes substitute other fruits, such as raspberries, blueberries or peaches. —Jessica Vantrease, Anderson, Alaska
I love blintzes, especially when they’re topped with a fruity topping. These cherry blintzes are easy to make and can be served as a nice breakfast or dessert, but they’re also served on Shavuot when we traditionally eat dairy foods.
23/23
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Skill Level
Beginner
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One bite of this fudgy flourless chocolate cake and you'll see why it's pure pleasure for confirmed chocoholics! A small slice of this rich, dense dessert goes a long way. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
I love to finish a Passover seder with flourless chocolate cake, but that’s not the only time of year I enjoy this gluten-free cake. I make it anytime I need a chocolate bomb of a dessert. It tastes especially good with some vanilla ice cream and berries.
Jewish Desserts FAQ
What Jewish desserts are traditional?
There are many traditional Jewish desserts, and several symbolic foods are incorporated into desserts to make them well-suited for a specific holiday. Rugelach and babka are classic desserts for almost any time of the year. However, they can’t be enjoyed on Passover, when we enjoy flourless desserts like macaroons and chocolate-covered matzo. Apple cakes and honey cakes are traditionally enjoyed on the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah to ring in a sweet new year.
What desserts are best for each Jewish holiday?
Each Jewish holiday has special desserts and symbolic foods. I love incorporating a flourless chocolate cake into my Passover seder, and any dairy desserts (like blintzes or noodle kugel) will go great on Shavuot. Honey and apples are usually incorporated into Rosh Hashanah desserts, and hamantaschen are essential to eat on Purim since they’re shaped like the villain’s hat in the Purim story. And it’s not Hanukkah without sufganiyot and chocolate gelt!
Is rugelach kosher for Passover?
Sadly, rugelach isn’t a Passover dessert. To be kosher for Passover, the recipe can’t contain any flour or leavening, both of which are used in making rugelach. But Passover is only eight days out of the year, so you still have plenty of time to enjoy rugelach. Try other Passover desserts like chocolate-covered matzo or coconut macaroons instead.
