Ensure your New Year is happy and sweet by baking any one of these 23 Rosh Hashanah desserts. The Rosh Hashanah meal is all about apples, honey, round challah and sweet foods that contain the holiday symbols (simanim) along with other special traditional foods. You must have at least one dessert to finish the meal right and enjoy another last, sweet bite.
Rosh Hashanah Dinner
The Jewish New Year is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish religion. The holiday is celebrated during September - October every year. It also signifies the beginning of the fall season while we still enjoy the end of summer’s warm weather - it’s the best of both worlds. Rosh Hashanah dinner dishes usually include fresh-in-season fruit, vegetables and many delicious dishes.
I am sharing with you a variety of kosher Jewish dessert recipes for the holiday. Classic and traditional recipes that are mostly parve (kosher dairy free), with vegan and gluten free options too. All recipes are focused on the holiday staples like apple, honey, pomegranate and the other simanim (symbols). All these ingredients are incorporated into sweet dessert recipes for the holiday eve, Yom Kippur, Sukkot or even for Shabbat. Your family will love these recipes!
Jewish Honey Cake
Among the various Rosh Hashanah desserts available, this is the one you should opt for if you can only select one. Traditional honey cake with cinnamon and coffee flavors, an easy option if you need to bake in advance to save time since it freezes perfectly.
Gluten Free Honey Cake
In case you need a healthier version of honey cake, you’re covered with this tasty gluten free honey cake that is made with almond flour and is also dairy free.
Apple and Honey Cookies
If you prefer a small bite rather than a big cake, these apple and honey cookies are the better option. With dried apples and honey, these cookies are non-dairy and perfect as a little snack or a sweet breakfast too.
Parve Apple and Honey Cake
The apple and honey integration is the main thing when it comes to Rosh Hashanah, and this yummy cake celebrates their combo. It's a simple cake but it is so good.
Dairy Free Apple Pie
If you want a more complicated dessert, try this apple pie. The crust is made with coconut oil to keep it dairy free. The filling is made with rich apples and sugar and it's just so delicious.
Apple Honey Cake (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)
Another tasty gluten free option. This cake is made with almond flour as well. You can whip up this one and the gluten free honey cake and have a variety of gluten free cakes for all the holiday days.
Silan Date Syrup Cake
If you avoid honey for some reason, you can always indulge with a date syrup (Silan) cake. This vegan cake with glaze and pomegranate seeds garnish looks so festive and tastes even better than it looks!
Baked Apple Pie Rice Paper Rolls
An individual dessert that is quick and easy to make. Celebrate the holiday with a rich apple filling and great sweet flavors.
Pomegranate Eton Mess
A no-bake dairy dessert that celebrates pomegranate season and because it's a habit to have pomegranates during Rosh Hashanah, this dish is perfect. You can make it non-dairy if needed while it's a gluten free recipe naturally.
Carrot cake
When I first published this recipe it wasn't for Rosh Hashanah but this dairy free cake is so easy to make. Some people have a habit of having carrots during Rosh Hashanah and this cake fits perfectly.
Gluten free carrot cake
A gluten free version of a carrot cake that is made with almond flour. This cake is moist and full of rich flavor.
Apple Oat Cake
You can’t have too many apple desserts for Rosh Hashanah. This apple cake has oats in it and is very easy to whip up. It's perfect for any weekend as it's also dairy free.
Compote - Fruit Soup
A traditional Jewish dessert that my family likes to have during all high holidays. Can be served warm or cold. Made with dried fruits and is a very light dessert that fits after a heavy sweet holiday meal.
Beet cake
Since beet is one of the holiday symbols (simanim), we always have it during the meal. This beet cake is for when you want to have a dish with beets that isn't a salad. It's a rather unique cake that will surely impress your family and guests. The recipe is vegan and is made with applesauce instead of eggs. So it hides another symbol in it - apples.
Carrot cake energy balls
A no-bake sweet bite that can be served also as a sweet snack. Made with fresh grated carrots, nuts, Medjool dates and cinnamon. A gluten free and vegan sweet bite for the end of Yom Kippur fast or during Rosh Hashanah to incorporate the carrot symbol.
Apple Pie Bars
With only very few ingredients you most probably already have, these yummy apple bars are so easy to whip up. The recipe uses butter hence it’s not parve.
Vegan maple whole pear cake
A fall dessert that has an impressive look. Your guests will be wowed and wonder how you baked whole pears in the cake batter. You can also enjoy this cake in the sukkah while it gets a bit more chilly.
Vegan carrot muffins
Classic fall dessert with carrots. A quick and easy recipe that is moist, sweet and made with applesauce.
Vegan truffles
If you need some chocolate dessert to balance all the apples, honey, beet and carrots, this quick and simple recipe is for you. Made with cocoa powder and maple syrup. This recipe doesn't call for melted chocolate at all. The maple syrup can be substituted for honey if you do want it more Rosh Hashanah related (just note it won't be vegan that way).
Apple muffins
These apple muffins are everything you crave, they’re sweet, cinnamony, moist, and delicious. It's the perfect fall dessert and since it's a combo of apples and fall, it fits the Rosh Hashanah celebration. These muffins are a non-dairy dessert that is made with one bowl and can also be baked as a cake instead of muffins if needed.
Ricotta and Honey Tart
A dairy dessert with creamy ricotta and sweet honey. Looks festive and tastes delicious.
Parve Rugelach
This one is another chocolate option. It has become a habit to have rugelach to break a fast so if you avoid dairy or just need a parve dessert, this is your dairy free option for Yom Kippur end of fast.
Vegan cinnamon buns
Another “breaking fast” recipe here. Although it's also a good dessert if you avoid honey but still want to enjoy the holiday with sweet flavors. As the recipe is vegan it means it’s eggless. Any kid or other family member would love these sweet cinnamon buns for sure.
For other type of dishes and more Rosh Hashanah desserts, check out my rosh hashanah recipe index.
Leave a Reply