Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It is a chance to reflect on the year behind us, think about the year ahead, and, in one of Judaism’s better planning decisions, eat something sweet.
Sweet foods are an important part of many Rosh Hashanah celebrations because they represent our hope for a sweet new year. Apples dipped in honey are the holiday celebrities, but there is no reason to stop there. Honey cake, apple desserts, sweet challah and cupcakes are all invited to the party.
To help you plan your Rosh Hashanah menu, we selected seven sweet recipes from Israel-based food blogger and recipe developer Veena Azmanov. We are not pretending we invented them. We are just saving you from opening 37 browser tabs while trying to decide what to bake.
Each recipe below links to Veena’s website, where you can find the complete ingredient list and instructions. A quick heads-up before you begin: check each recipe for allergens, dietary requirements and the level of kosher observance in your household. Some desserts may contain dairy.
Why Do We Eat Sweet Foods on Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah is not only about beginning a new calendar year. It is about the kind of year we hope to create.
Eating sweet foods gives that hope a physical form. We dip apples into honey and wish for a year filled with sweetness, goodness and blessing. Many families also dip round challah into honey, bake honey cake or add apples, dates and other naturally sweet ingredients to the holiday meal.
Basically, we are manifesting, but with snacks.
Here are seven Rosh Hashanah recipes that take the sweet-new-year assignment very seriously.
1. Soft Honey Cupcakes With Honey Frosting
Honey cake is wonderful. Honey cake in individual portions with frosting is also wonderful.
These soft, moist cupcakes bring honey into both the cake and the frosting. They feel festive without requiring you to cut perfectly even slices while several people watch and insist they only want “a tiny piece.”
They are also the recipe we have our eyes on here at the JewBelong office. We take our research responsibilities very seriously.
Best for: Families, parties, office celebrations and people who believe frosting improves most situations
2. Round Apple Honey Challah
This recipe might be the most Rosh Hashanah thing ever baked.
It combines a round challah with apples, honey and a spiced apple filling. The round shape is traditionally associated with the cycle of the year, while the apples and honey represent our hope for sweetness in the year ahead. It is meaningful, beautiful and still bread, which means people will actually be excited when you put it on the table.
Serve it at the beginning of your Rosh Hashanah dinner, dip it into a little more honey or save a slice for breakfast the next morning.
Best for: A symbolic centerpiece for the holiday table
3. Easy Honey Cake
Honey cake is a Rosh Hashanah classic for a reason. It is sweet, comforting and tastes like someone’s grandmother knows exactly what she is doing.
Veena’s version is soft, moist and lightly spiced. It is also made with everyday ingredients, so you don’t need to visit four specialty stores or locate an obscure jar of something your supermarket stopped carrying in 1998.
Serve it as is, add a light dusting of powdered sugar or pair it with coffee after the holiday meal.
Best for: Anyone looking for a traditional Rosh Hashanah dessert
4. Honey and Apple Tarte Tatin
Apples and honey are already the most famous Rosh Hashanah pairing. This recipe gives them a French accent.
Tarte Tatin is an upside-down tart made with caramelized apples and flaky pastry. Veena’s version adds honey to the caramel, creating a dessert that feels especially appropriate for the Jewish New Year. The apples become soft and glossy while the pastry bakes crisp and golden.
It looks impressive on the table, but it uses an oven-safe skillet to simplify the process. Serve it warm on its own or add whipped cream or ice cream if your meal allows for dairy.
Best for: A dramatic dessert that combines both apples and honey
5. Caramel Apple Cake
For anyone who believes the correct amount of caramel is “more,” this one is for you.
This layer cake is made with fresh apples and warm spices, then filled and covered with caramel buttercream. A caramel drizzle goes over the top because apparently subtlety was not invited to this particular Rosh Hashanah dinner.
It is richer and more elaborate than some of the other recipes on this list, which makes it a strong choice for a larger gathering or a holiday dinner where dessert is expected to make an entrance.
Best for: Experienced bakers and people who want a serious showstopper
GET THE CARAMEL APPLE CAKE RECIPE
6. Cinnamon Apple Bread
This cinnamon apple bread lives somewhere between breakfast, snack and dessert. In other words, you can eat it all day and refuse to answer follow-up questions.
The recipe combines fresh apples, cinnamon, white sugar and brown sugar in a moist, oil-based loaf. According to Veena, the batter takes about 10 minutes to mix and the bread takes about 40 minutes to bake, making it one of the easier options in this roundup.
Serve slices after dinner, put it out with coffee or keep it around for the morning after the holiday meal.
Best for: Beginner bakers, brunch and low-stress holiday preparation
7. Apple Pie Bars With Crumble
Apple pie is delicious. Apple pie bars are delicious and do not require you to serve eight collapsing slices from a pie plate.
These bars have the familiar flavors of apple pie with a buttery base and a crumble topping. Once they have cooled, they can be cut into individual squares, which makes them easy to serve at a large gathering or bring to someone else’s Rosh Hashanah dinner.
They are also a good choice when you want a homemade apple dessert but do not feel called upon to make an actual pie crust. Know your limits. It is the new year.
Best for: Potlucks, large gatherings and easy serving
Which Rosh Hashanah Dessert Should You Make?
Every recipe on this list is sweet and holiday-friendly, but the right choice depends on your time, your baking experience and how many people you need to feed.
For the most traditional option, choose the easy honey cake.
For a symbolic centerpiece, make the round apple honey challah.
For children, parties or easy individual servings, go with the honey cupcakes.
For a dessert that looks especially impressive, try the honey and apple tarte Tatin or the caramel apple cake.
For the least stressful choices, make the cinnamon apple bread or the apple pie bars.
You can also make more than one. Rosh Hashanah lasts longer than dessert does.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sweet Rosh Hashanah Recipes
What is the most traditional Rosh Hashanah dessert?
Honey cake is one of the desserts most strongly associated with Rosh Hashanah. Its sweetness reflects the wish for a good and sweet year. Apples dipped in honey are the holiday’s best-known sweet food tradition, and sweet round challah is also common at Rosh Hashanah meals.
Why are apples and honey eaten on Rosh Hashanah?
Apples and honey are eaten as a symbol of the sweet year we hope will follow. Many people dip an apple slice into honey and say a short prayer asking for a good and sweet new year.
Do all Rosh Hashanah desserts need to contain honey?
No. Honey is traditional, but it is not the only way to bring sweetness to a Rosh Hashanah meal. Apples, dates, pomegranates, sugar and other fruits can also be used in sweet holiday dishes. Some families have different customs based on their community and background.
What is an easy Rosh Hashanah dessert for beginners?
Cinnamon apple bread and apple pie bars are both approachable choices. Honey cupcakes are another practical option because they are individually portioned and do not need to be sliced at the table.
Always read through the complete recipe before beginning. This is good baking advice and, honestly, good life advice.
What Rosh Hashanah dessert is best for a crowd?
Cupcakes and apple pie bars are especially convenient for a large group because they can be served in individual portions. A loaf-style honey cake or cinnamon apple bread is another simple option if you are serving a smaller gathering.
Can Rosh Hashanah desserts be made ahead of time?
Many cakes, breads and bars can be prepared before the holiday, but storage instructions vary. Check the complete recipe for guidance about refrigeration, freezing and how far in advance it can be made.
Are these Rosh Hashanah recipes kosher?
Kosher status depends on the ingredients used, the kitchen where the food is prepared and each household’s practices. Review the complete ingredient list and check whether a recipe is dairy or pareve before serving it with your meal.
Find Even More Rosh Hashanah Recipes
These seven desserts are only a small part of Veena Azmanov’s complete Rosh Hashanah recipe collection. Her collection also includes challah, salads, chicken, lamb, side dishes and more holiday desserts.
Need Help With the Rest of Rosh Hashanah?
Dessert is important. Knowing what the holiday is about is probably also useful.
JewBelong’s High Holidays booklet has the blessings, readings, explanations and rituals you need to create a meaningful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur celebration. It is written in plain English, designed for real people and available to order from Amazon or print for free.
No advanced degree in Judaism required.
Recipe credit: All recipes featured in this article were created by Veena Azmanov. JewBelong selected and described the recipes for this roundup. Please visit the linked original recipe pages for complete ingredients, instructions, dietary information and preparation guidance.
