Rosh Hashanah desserts come with big expectations — and sometimes, big letdowns. How many honey cakes have we politely nibbled through, pretending they weren’t dry enough to double as a doorstop?
But a new year deserves better. It’s 5786, and we’re manifesting sweetness that actually delivers. Dessert should taste like a promise fulfilled, not like an obligation to tradition.
Whether you’re apple-obsessed, honey-happy, or just here for something sticky and irresistible, we’ve rounded up the Rosh Hashanah desserts you’ll actually want to eat long after the holiday’s over.
For more Rosh Hashanah content, check out Unpacked’s holiday guide and roundups of the best round challah recipes and Jewish New Year cocktails.
Cakes
- Apples and Honey Upside Down Cake by Jake Cohen
- Gluten-Free Honey Almond Cake with Pistachios, Strawberry + Hibiscus Rose Syrup by My Darling Lemon Thyme
- Honey Apple Bundt Cake by Tori Avey
- Apple & Honey Round Babka by Jamie Geller
- Fresh Mint Olive Oil Cake with Labneh and Honey by Molly Yeh
- Caramel Apple Cake by Baran Bakery
- Sunflower Pomegranate Honey Cake by Jamie Geller
- Honey Cake by Smitten Kitchen
- Russian Honey Cake by Samin Nosrat, Michelle Polzine
- Cinnamon Babka from Claire Saffitz
Cookies
- Chocolate Covered Caramel Apple Cookies by Jamie Geller
- Apple Cinnamon Snickerdoodles by The Country Cook
- Glazed Apple Cookies from All Recipes
- Lemon Pomegranate Cookies by Seduction in the Kitchen
- Honey Walnut Cookies from All Recipes
- Apple and Honey Sandwich Cookies by Sheri Silver
- Pecan Pralines by Lisa Donovan
Ice cream/Sorbet/Mousse/Custard
- Salted Honey Ice Cream by Sheri Silver
- Apple Pie Ice Cream from Leigh-Ann Wilkes
- Pomegranate Sorbet by the Redhead Baker
- Honey Cake Ice Cream by Everyday Jewish Mom
- Pear and Red Wine Sorbet by Martha Rose Shulman
Tarts
- Butternut Apple Tart by the Forest Feast
- Apple Tart Squares with Honey Glaze by Eitan Bernath
- Apple Mosaic Tart with Salted Caramel by Smitten Kitchen
- Magic Apple Plum Cobbler by Smitten Kitchen
- Tahini Apple Tart from Andy Baraghani
Other desserts
- Baklava with Honey and Cardamom by Aly Miller
- Tahini-Date Salted Caramels by The Kitchn
- Tahini Caramel Apples by Molly Yeh
- Pomegranate Cardamom Apple Pie by Vaughn Vreeland
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts by Erin Jeanne McDowell
- Apple Dumplings by Smitten Kitchen
- Tayglach by Micah Siva
- Saffron-Ginger Pears by David Tanis
