Wondering what to make for dessert this Rosh Hashana? Wonder no more! Here are 10 amazing desserts, perfect for Rosh Hashana. And bonus, they’re great for Sukkot, too.
These are desserts I have made and personally recommend, desserts I am planning to make this year, or desserts that I really, really, really want someone to make for me. Any takers?! 😉
Honey Desserts
Smitten Kitchen’s Majestic and Moist Honey Cake – I don’t like honey cake. Not even one little bit. But this cake? I love this cake. For those of you who like honey cake, this is the best you’ll ever have. For those of you, like me, who aren’t fans of the genre – this will change your mind. (But only about this specific cake. All others will continue to be not so good.)
Not Your Bubby’s Honey Cookies — In addition to not liking honey cake, I also don’t like honey cookies. (Maybe it’s honey in my desserts that I don’t like?) However, I am once again making an exception for these cookies from Overtime Cook (which were adapted from Kosher by Design’s Teens & 20-Something Cookbook). I made multiple batches of these last year and brought them with us wherever we went. Everyone loved them. I’ve already been asked to make them again this year. And so I will… as should you.
Apple Desserts
Simple Rosh Hashana Apple Cake — They had me at “simple”. The fact that it’s so pretty doesn’t hurt either. Although I haven’t made this cake yet (it’s on my list to make this year), it was posted on Food 52 back in 2009 and has many glowing reviews. If you’re looking for more apple cake recipes, Romanian Apple Cake and Mom’s Apple Cake (from Smitten Kitchen) both came highly recommended on KOAB’s Facebook Page.
Apple Roses — This recipe was all over Facebook last year; I think I even shared the video on the KOAB Facebook page. But then I kinda forgot about it. Fortunately, Google reminded me as I was researching this post. I’m going to try making these roses this year — aren’t they so pretty?
Apple Crisp — I make a lot of apple crisps this time of year. It’s my go-to dessert during Sukkot in particular. Crisps are really simple — sometimes I toss in cranberries just for good measure — and I make them without a recipe. But if you need a recipe, this one from Epicurious looks like about what I do, only I sub in margarine (or canola or even coconut oil). And here’s a “paleo” version of apple crisp, if you’re trying to avoid grains this year. I normally serve my apple crisp with pareve vanilla ice cream from Trader Joe’s, but I just found this recipe for Pareve Cinnamon Ice Cream, which clearly was meant to be served on top of your hot apple crisp. You’re welcome.
Apple Tart / Galette — I consider tarts (or galettes) to be a more rustic version of apple pie. Apple pie is great, too, for Rosh Hashana – don’t get me wrong. But a homemade tart (or a galette) really gives your dessert that special gourmet spark. This one from Healthy Eating for Ordinary People would also be great served with the cinnamon ice cream above. (So yes, pretty much any reason to eat cinnamon ice cream.)
Date Desserts
Medjool Date Balls — I made these for our Simanim Tapas Menu last year and they were a hit with both me and my husband. Honestly, though, our kids would have rather had a cake, but if you’re looking for a more “whole foods” kind of dessert, definitely check this out.
Pomegranate Desserts
Frozen Pomegranate and Cashew Cake — Speaking of “whole foods kinds of desserts”, how stunning is this? I’ve had vegan cheese cakes made out of cashews before and they were to die for, so I’m very intrigued by this one. Warning: On the patchke scale, this one seems dangerously high. (Scroll down to the bottom of the article to find the recipe; and don’t mind the fact that the name of the post is “A Vegan, GF Christmas” 😉 )
Zinfandel and Pomegranate Molasses Sorbet — Oh.my.word. You know I’m a huge sorbet fan – I adore our strawberry sorbet for Pesach (really, for any time of the year). But this? This takes it up about 500 notches. Zinfandel? Pomegranate Molasses? What a special dessert for your yomtov table!
Mini Chocolate Pomegranate Bundt Cakes by Overtime Cook — Stun.ning. And I have yet to make anything from Miriam at Overtime Cook that doesn’t turn out amazing. So, I’m pretty sure these mini bundts are a safe bet. I’m just thinking, though, that I may make this in a regular bundt pan instead, since I have one of those. But, oh, the mini ones are so cute… maybe this recipe is a sign that I need to buy one of these.
And there you have it — 10 delicious Rosh Hashana Dessert Recipes. Enjoy! And let me know what you’ll be baking for Rosh Hashana!
Thanks so much for including my recipes! The chocolate pomegranate cake is great in full size too – just increase the baking time to about 45 minutes!
Thank you!
For decades I made a honey cake recipe from a small SoCal B’nai Brith [I think] cookbook. It was OK because it didn’t taste like the honey cakes of my youth – that tasted like honey. I’m not a fan of heavily infused honey. Years ago I became a fan of Smitten Kitchen. One day I saw her recipe and decided to try Deb’s Majestic & Moist Honey Cake and have never looked back. It is amazing! Looking fwd to trying the honey cookies you posted. I also don’t like pumpkin with only a couple of exceptions but that’s another holiday altogether. Shana Tova to all. May we know peace…
I made the honey cookies and they were a big hit. If you leave them in too long, they get crunchy and rather hard. I liked the ones that came out softer. I’ll have to pay more attention next time cuz there will be a next time. thanks for the recipe, Mara. Shana Tova and G’mar chatima tova.