Traditional Passover Desserts: 33 Of The Best

Also known as ‘Pesach’, Passover is a holiday observed within Judaism, celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. This occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of ‘Nisan’ – the first month of ‘Aviv’, or spring.

Typically the month of Nisan represents the ripening of the barley, and the term ‘Nisan’ is taken from the Sumerian ‘Nisag’, which translates to ‘first fruits’.

As such, this time of reflection, celebration, and new life is celebrated through the consumption of traditional Hebrew dishes, all of which have been passed down throughout families for generations.

Some of the more popular dishes are the desserts, and there are numerous traditional recipes that are used to celebrate this holiday. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the best, traditional Passover desserts!

1. Chocolate Matzo Mousse Cake

First on our list, this matzo mousse cake is a commonly made dish in modern Passover celebrations, and is incredibly indulgent.

And for those wondering what ‘matzo’ (or ‘matzah’) is, it is an unleavened flatbread made from a simple combination of flour and water. The traditional Hebrew bread is often employed in various forms of meals, including sweet baking.

This recipe incorporates sweet red kosher wine, bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, and heavy cream to create an elegant, delicious mousse, which can then be layered with the matzo to create the perfect combination of sweet and savory.

2. Passover Fruit Crisp

Taking red wine, dried fruits, spices, nuts, and matzo meal, this Passover fruit crisp is a traditional Jewish dessert designed to celebrate this holy time of the Hebrew calendar.

Light, sweet, and tangy, this really is the perfect combination, and in many ways could be compared to the classic German/Austrian Strudel, the American fruit pie, and the British fruit crumble.

3. Passover Apple Cake

Fruit is obviously an important part of Jewish culture, especially around the month of Nisan, which celebrates the first fruit and grain growth of the new year.

In many ways, this apple cake is the perfect homage to that, incorporating large, fresh apples, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg to create a spiced, fruity dessert perfect for celebrating Passover, and remaining appreciative of new life, new fruit, and the continuation of existence.

4. Passover Cheesecake With Strawberry Sauce

Cheesecake is obviously a classic dessert enjoyed by many throughout the world. 

This Passover cheesecake uses kosher ingredients to recreate this much loved dessert, and uses fresh strawberries, and citrus juice and zest to create a truly fruity, tangy experience that will make a great addition to any Passover celebration. 

5. Matzo Crack

Another matzo dessert, this matzo ‘crack’ is different from cake, and is closer to something like peanut brittle in terms of consistency.

Salty, sweet, crunchy, and chocolate-covered, this dessert is the perfect addition to any table, and is great as a tasty light bite.

Topped with simple homemade toffee, as well as chopped pecans, this is essentially a chocolate covered cracker, which, when you think about it, sounds absolutely amazing.

6. Pear Cake

Layered with juicy pears, and spiced with cinnamon and brown sugar, this really is a moreish, indulgent dessert that, while simple in design, will leave you coming back for seconds.

Using kosher matzo cake meal, this can be consumed guilt free, and is the perfect combination of sweetness, spices, and delicious, fluffy cake that is a great addition to any celebration.

Combined with chopped pecans, this is a crunchy, delicious dessert that is not only perfect for Passover, but for any time during the year.

7. White Chocolate Matzo Bark

Just like the matzo crack, this recipe incorporates crunchy matzo sheets, but coats them in white chocolate, crunchy toasted nuts, dried fruit, orange zest, coconut flakes, and a sprinkle of sea salt to create something utterly irresistible and highly moreish.

The perfect accompaniment to any Passover table, this bark will go down a storm at your celebration, and family and friends will soon be asking for this remarkably simple recipe that has all the taste and complexity of a much more complicated undertaking.

8. Passover Rainbow Cookies

A cookie is the perfect addition to any snack table, and these Passover cookies have an attractive rainbow coloring that are great for putting friends and family in the celebrating mood.

Combining chocolate, almonds, vanilla, seedless raspberry jam, and crunchy matzo cake meal, this recipe does so much with such simple ingredients, creating a gooey, delectable sweet treat perfect to be enjoyed with friends and family. Just make sure you get in quick!

9. Flourless Chocolate Cake

Flourless chocolate cake is somewhat a staple within Hebrew traditions, but in particular with Passover. This is because during the holiday, flour and other rising agents are not considered kosher.

As such, changes had to be made: and thus came about this delicious Passover dessert.

Using chocolate, margarine, and eggs, this recipe avoids the non kosher ingredients and creates a gooey, chewy, delicious chocolate cake to be enjoyed during the celebrations guilt-free.

10. Matzo Almond Fruit Crumble

Using matzo meal, white and brown sugar, and fresh fruit, this is a simple but delicious Passover dessert, and is a great take on a classic dish loved throughout the world.

Served warm, and topped with yogurt, whipped cream, or labneh, this is the perfect after dinner dessert to leave you with a full belly and a warm, fuzzy feeling.

11. Passover Seven Layer Cake

A Jewish tradition, and one that is much loved by all lucky enough to have tasted it, seven layer cake is the perfect Passover dessert, and one that has been interpreted time and time again in invented (and delicious) ways.

This recipe takes matzo cake meal, potato starch, eggs, and water to create a delectable kosher treat perfect for the whole family.

Covered with semi-sweet chocolate, and topped with chocolate sprinkles, this really is the perfect combination of sweet and savory.

12. Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

This amazing dessert takes all the great things about banana bread (the freshness, tang, and sweetness) and a classic chocolate cake, to create something truly delicious and rightfully special for this important religious occasion.

Topped with walnuts and confectioner’s sugar, this not only tastes great, but looks amazing, and will make you forget about the dietary restrictions which, under certain circumstances, can make Passover meals tricky.

13. Passover Raspberry Squares

These raspberry squares are not only great for celebrating Passover, but also as an on the go snack all year round.

Simple and easy to make, these can be prepared well in advance, making them a stress-free yet delicious addition to any celebration or meal.

They really are the perfect jolt of sweetness, and the freshness of the raspberry jam really comes through, providing you with the perfect little treat when you just need a little sugar. Add these to your Passover celebrations to get everyone in the mood!

14. Apple & Walnut Cake

A slice of this at your Passover celebration is just the ticket after your main holiday meal, and will leave you feeling satisfied and nicely full.

The tanginess of the apples is counteracted by the spice of the cinnamon, and the walnuts provide a nice crunchy texture to the topping of the cake.

What’s more, the moist inner texture makes this a lighter treat than other desserts, meaning that you could always squeeze in a second piece for good measure!

15. Passover Macaroons

A firm favorite dessert around the world, macaroons are a great addition to any celebration, and provide a small, sweet jolt of sugar that is perfect for when your belly is full but you’ve got the sweet cravings. 

Add these to your Passover snack table, and you certainly won’t be disappointed!

16. Dairy-Free Truffles

Another perfect little sweet treat to share with your guests, these dairy-free truffles taste so good you won’t believe they’re kosher!

But trust me, these are totally guilt free, and with a variety of toppings and dustings (such as coconut, pistachios, cocoa, and orange zest), these are a great little mouthful to pass around once the party is winding down.

17. Toffee Marshmallow Matzo

This recipe takes the classic matzo bark to a whole new level, adding gooey marshmallows to create a layer of softness between the sweet chocolate and the crunchy matzo cracker.

Similar to a marshmallow wafer sandwich, these are great finger treats for any Passover celebration, and despite their indulgent, rich taste, they are completely guilt-free and kosher.

18. Kosher Cookies

What can be said about a cookie that hasn’t already been said a million times? These really are a staple of any party, and in many ways are the perfect snack, whether for a celebration like Passover, or for those naughty moments when you need a little sugar.

These kosher cookies use kosher ingredients (as their name suggests) to create this magnificent staple of any buffet table. These can be jazzed up with any number of toppings, but we find that some things are classic for a reason. Enjoy!

19. Pesach Brownies

Like the humble cookie, brownies are also a firm favorite of any snack table, whether it is a get-together, or an important celebration like Passover.

These Pesach brownies are gooey in texture, and add a hint of crunch thanks to their toasted walnut topping. The end result is a moreish, kosher, guilt free dessert that is the perfect sweet treat to share with family and friends.

20. Lemon Bars

Lemon bars are a firm favorite for any celebration, and are a good way of providing a hint of sugar, without getting too full.

This is down to the lemon zest, which offers that hint of tanginess that provides you with a sweet treat, while also cleansing your palate.

These can be modified in any number of ways, but sticking with a simple sugar dusting is a great way to enhance the flavor of the bars without nullifying the other ingredients.

21. Chocolate Covered Strawberries

For something so delicious, these really couldn’t be more simple to make, and what’s more, they are completely kosher, making them the perfect addition to any Passover table.

With fresh strawberries and chocolate chips, all you need to do is melt the chocolate and dip! Then simply chill them until the chocolate hardens to create the perfect plate of sweet treats for you and your guests to enjoy.

22. Honey Lime Rainbow Fruit Salad

Honey has always been included in Passover cooking, thanks in part to the fact that it is kosher – with honey being considered a harmless byproduct of what a honey bee does.

This fruit salad takes sweet, fresh seasonal fruit, and combines them with a simple honey and lime dressing that is equal parts tangy and rich.

This makes a great centerpiece to any table, and can be paired with toppings such as yogurt to make a light, refreshing dessert.

23. Mixed Berry Fruit Cups

The same goes with these fruit cups, using sweet, fresh seasonal berries, and combining them with a drizzle of lemon juice and a sprinkle of sugar.

They’re really simple, and require almost no effort to make, allowing you to provide a somewhat healthy dessert option for those in your group who don’t fancy cake.

24. Coconut & Berry Passover Tart

Perhaps one of the most attractive desserts on this list, the coconut and berry Passover tart just makes you want to take a slice.

And what’s more, despite looking so enticing and sweet, it is completely kosher, meaning you can enjoy it to your heart’s content. Just be sure to save some for everyone else!

25. Lemon Olive Oil Cake

This zesty little number is a great light cake that will go down perfectly with your Passover guests.

Laden with lemon extract, lemon zest, and even limoncello, this cake just tastes like summer, and in many ways is the perfect representation of a religious holiday based around looking forward and appreciating new growth.

26. Passover Profiteroles

Profiteroles are a mainstay at most events and celebrations, due in part to their small size, their creamy filling, and their chocolate covered outer shell.

Indulgent and delicious, these profiteroles incorporate eggs, confectioner’s sugar, and various oils to create a beautiful cream substitute perfect for Passover celebrations.

28. Chocolate Caramel Macaroon

These chocolate, caramel macarons are another great take on a classic, utilizing almond flour to make them completely kosher and delicious.

These are a great bitesize snack for Passover celebrations, and will be a hit with your family and friends. Maybe hide a couple for yourself, as something tells me that will be gone in a flash!

28. White Wine Granita

This dessert combines the two best things in life: fresh fruit and alcohol. Taking white wine, and combining it with frozen mango chunks, fresh strawberries, fresh mint, and edible flowers, this is a light dessert with a twist.

29. Chocolate Hazelnut Macaroon Torte

Creamy, indulgent, and oh so delicious, this takes everything great about the macaroon and makes it into a thin, chocolate cake that is just begging to be eaten.

Perfect to share with family and friends during this holiday period, this is a dessert you certainly won’t regret!

30. Passover Cream Puffs

Everyone loves a cream cake, and these Passover cream puffs are the perfect, bitesize adaptation of this classic party dessert. Kosher and guilt-free, these really are a worthy addition to any dessert table!

31. Bittersweet Chocolate Agave Shots

These really couldn’t be simpler to make, and are quirky, after dinner treats that will be a firm favorite amongst all of your guests. Taking pure agave, unsweetened cocoa powder, sea salt, boiling water, and olive oil, this dessert shot is one to remember!

32. Orange & Ginger Poached Pears

These poached pears really are something special. There is just something timeless about them, and the combination of ginger, sugar and pears creates a dessert that feels both light and spring orientated, whilst also strangely perfect for the winter months.

33. Passover Apple Pecan Pie

Last but not least, the simple pie is a staple in most parts of the world, and is a favored dessert by many.

This Passover pie adapts two American classics – the apple pie and the pecan pie – to create the perfect sweet treat that you and your guests can all share. Honestly, what could be better?

Final Thoughts

And there we have it, 33 of the best, traditional Passover desserts!

What’s surprising is the sheer variety of beautiful, delicious desserts that are incorporated into this important holiday, and just how many of them have become mainstays not only as a Passover treat, but also in everyday life.

So, if you happen to be at a Passover celebration, or if you are lucky enough to sample some of these fantastic desserts, then why not give them a try? Something tells me you won’t be disappointed!