I bet you have already tasted a handful of Jewish sweets without even realizing it. Babka pops into my head instantly since it was one of the earliest yeast doughs I ever mastered.
You must have eaten rugelach or challah bread at some point too. Even if you do not observe Passover or Rosh Hashanah, these treats often sit on store shelves all year long.
Many of these holidays revolve around food and family, so you have tons of delicious options. I gathered 22 of my absolute favorites here to save you time.
1. Rugelach
I could likely purchase a private island if I had a dollar for every rugelach I have baked in my life. These crescent cookies taste incredible, and they are shockingly simple to prepare.
The dough resembles shortbread, but the addition of eggs makes it more pliable. A filling of walnuts, raisins, cinnamon, and brown sugar offers a slightly nutty flavor without being overly sweet.
2. Chocolate Toffee Matzo Crack
This recipe has so many lovable qualities. It is ridiculously simple to assemble. You cannot beat the mix of smooth chocolate, salted toffee, and crispy cracker.
Making the caramel is straightforward since you just boil butter and brown sugar in a pot. You do not need a thermometer or constant supervision for this step.
I prefer using both milk and dark chocolate for color contrast, and I sometimes drizzle peanut butter on top too.
3. Mandel Bread
These cookies resemble biscotti since they are crispy and ideal for dunking into morning coffee. The method involves baking them twice just like their Italian counterparts.
You bake a large flat log until almost cooked, then slice it and bake again for that crunchy texture. This version uses chocolate chips, but you can easily swap those for nuts or dried fruit.
4. Tahini Cookies
Tahini comes from ground sesame seeds and boasts a smooth texture with a mild nutty flavor. You likely use it for chicken sauce or hummus, but putting it in cookies changes everything.
These treats are buttery and sweet, yet the tahini contributes a special quality that is difficult to describe. You really must try them yourself to understand how delicious they are.
5. Lekach (Honey Cake)
People mainly bake this sticky cake for Rosh Hashanah, and it tastes best made ahead so flavors can develop. The cloves, cinnamon, and ginger make it comparable to gingerbread recipes.
However, the inclusion of apple juice and honey creates a much sweeter profile. This dessert stays incredibly moist without needing any glaze.
The honey provides enough sugar on its own, so extra frosting might feel excessive. Try scattering chopped nuts on top if you want an addition.
6. Parve (Adaptable Shabbat Torte)
This simple recipe surprised me with how easily I could modify it. You can assemble it in minutes using whatever fruit happens to be in your kitchen.
I have baked this with colorful berry blends, spiced apples, peaches, and plums. Just make sure to thaw and drain any frozen fruit before tossing it in flour to prevent sinking.
7. Jewish Apple Cake
This dessert represents the typical apple cake styles found in France or Germany. It contains tons of fresh apples for texture and does not taste overly sweet.
The batter uses oil rather than butter to maximize moisture. The recipe notably includes orange juice to lend a subtle citrus note to the crumb.
8. Easy Halva Recipe
Halva serves as a dairy free and gluten free Israeli candy prepared with tahini and sugar. It feels very dense and resembles a moist fudge despite lacking condensed milk.
You must have all ingredients measured before starting because the mixture sets quickly.
9. Egg Kichel (Jewish Bow Tie Cookies)
These crackers are so airy and light that people sometimes call them “nothings.” The recipe requires a large quantity of eggs, which is definitely not a mistake.
You really need that many, and you should use a stand mixer since the dough requires about 20 minutes of work. You finish by rolling the dough in sugar and twisting the strips into bow shapes.
10. Candy Dreidels
These adorable dreidels require only four ingredients that come ready to use from the store. Melting chocolate is the most difficult task involved here.
Pretzels serve as edible handles, but lollipop sticks work if you prefer something solid. I believe the chocolate dipped versions are superior since you can never have too much chocolate.
I also found Hanukkah sprinkles that serve as the perfect decoration.
11. Chocolate Challah Bread
Challah consists of soft white dough enriched with eggs for flavor. Bakers usually braid it, making it excellent for avocado toast, bread pudding, or sandwiches.
Mixing in chocolate makes the loaf incredibly scrumptious. While the dough is simple to prepare, the braiding process can get slightly complicated. It will look fantastic as long as your lines cross over one another.
12. Apricot Hamantaschen
These cookies shaped like hats are a holiday staple in my home for Purim. The buttery shortbread creates a cute package for the jam that reminds me of a tiny galette.
You should stop processing the shortbread mixture once the dough resembles large breadcrumbs. Do not mix it into a ball like you would with pastry.
You finish the process on the counter by gently pressing everything until it sticks to keep the texture crumbly.
13. Chocolate-Filled Hamantaschen
Real chocolate works well in these cookies, but low quality chocolate sometimes burns. I adore this clever recipe for that reason.
You get a rich chocolate filling that makes the treat feel like two desserts combined. The center offers an intense brownie flavor surrounded by sweet buttery shortbread.
14. Dreidel Surprise Cookies
These cookies look adorable on their own and work well for parties if you are rushing. Going the extra mile will make you the talk of the town though.
You simply stack a few cookies and fill the center with candies. You can also fill them with caramel, marshmallow Fluff, peanut butter, or Nutella for a messier but tasty option.
15. Molly’s Sweet and Spicy Tzimmes Cake
Carrot cake fans will adore this lightly spiced dessert. The batter includes orange zest, shredded carrot, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, apple, and sweet potato for maximum flavor.
The sweet potato functions like bananas do in banana bread by adding incredible moisture. You do not need frosting because the cake is so moist. A cream cheese frosting would still be a perfect finish though.
16. Chocolate-Matzo Layer Cake
Icebox cakes allow you to create an impressive sweet treat with very little effort. Using matzo makes it kosher and lets you skip the step of baking cookies.
The recipe resembles tiramisu thanks to the creamy chocolate filling and coffee-soaked matzo. I top my version with chocolate ganache drizzle and Baileys whipped cream.
17. Sweet Lokshen Kugel
I recall eating this at a potluck and assuming it was a savory lasagna dish. I was completely mistaken.
This unique Jewish dessert is definitely a sweet treat that uses soaked raisins and a blend of cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream cheese.
The mixture resembles a cheesecake filling. The baked result has a custardy consistency similar to bread pudding but uses pasta to bind it all.
18. Sufganiyah (Hanukkah Jelly Donut)
Sufganiyot are round jelly donuts similar to the ones you see everywhere. People traditionally serve them for Hanukkah, but they taste delicious whenever you have time to prepare them.
You must rest the dough twice, yet you can still make and eat them in one day. The dough gets rolled and cut between the first two-hour rest and the second rest.
That second rest makes them fluffy and big. I toss scraps in sugar like donut holes immediately after frying. Make sure the large donuts cool down before you fill them.
19. Marak Perot (Compote)
Marak Perot acts as a light fruit soup to finish a heavy celebratory meal. You gently simmer a mix of sugar, water, fresh fruits, and dried fruits until it reduces to a syrup.
Adding lemon juice at the very end brightens the flavor profile. I prefer serving this chilled with a dollop of whipped cream. It also pairs well with a slice of pound cake.
20. Chocolate Babka
Babka consists of yeast dough that is traditionally braided with a sweet filling like cinnamon or chocolate. I find the chocolate version dangerously addictive and try not to bake it too frequently.
You will understand what I mean once you see its stunning appearance and taste it. It destroys all willpower.
You should prepare the dough the night before and rest it in the fridge for the best results. It reaches the perfect rolling consistency by the next day.
21. Hanukkah Dreidel Surprise Loaf Cake
This recipe requires a significant amount of time. You must bake the blue cake first and let it cool completely before cutting it. I recommend using a cookie cutter to get perfectly sized shapes.
You prepare the vanilla cake batter next. Pour half the vanilla batter into a lined pan and arrange the cutouts down the center.
You cover the blue cake pieces with the remaining batter and bake. Cutting into the cooled loaf reveals hidden blue dreidels.
22. Hanukkah Gelt (Homemade Golden Chocolate Coins)
This chocolate gold serves as a typical gift for Hanukkah. You need a specific mold to get the shapes exactly right.
A regular circular mold works, but it will lack the menorah or star designs. You should temper the chocolate if using a regular variety so the coins do not melt.
