21 Passover Desserts for Your Holiday Seder

From flourless chocolate cake to macaroons, and matzo toffee, we have all the classics and some less expected options.

macaroon sundaes — Credit: John Kernick

The best Passover desserts are often cherished family recipes for macaroons or apple cake, but alongside the classics, there is room at the table for fresh twists on seder sweets. Passover desserts can't include fermented or leavened ingredients, like wheat flour, so cooks get creative with almond flour, matzo meal, and other ingredients. And if you're hosting a kosher seder, you may need a dairy-free dessert, too.

Our recipes range from flourless chocolate cake and macaroons to matzo toffee. They include desserts with fresh fruit, dried fruit, ginger, honey, chocolate, and other tempting flavors; we also included a few sans dairy. They all have one thing in common: You'll want to make these Passover desserts year after year.

01 of 21

Passover Chocolate-Walnut Cake With Orange

Stephen Kent Johnson

Stiffly beaten egg whites give loft to this unleavened cake. The delicious toppings, melted chocolate, orange slices, and toasted walnuts make it extra celebratory.

02 of 21

Strawberry-Rhubarb Rolled Pavlova

Strawberry-Rhubarb Rolled Pavlova — Kate Sears

It looks fancy and no one will ever guess this rolled meringue was easy to make. It's baked in a sheet pan then rolled up around whipped cream, strawberries, and rhubarb jam.

03 of 21

4-Ingredient Flourless Chocolate Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake — Jason Donnelly

Just right for a special occasion dinner, this flourless chocolate cake has just four ingredients and is easy to make. (You will need a springform pan.) We like it served with plenty of whipped cream and perhaps some fresh raspberries.

04 of 21

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

It's easy to make your own version of this luscious treat. Just dip large strawberries in melted semisweet chocolate, then coat in finely chopped pistachios (or any nut you please). These are best made the day you want to serve them, as condensation may form on the chocolate if they stay in the refrigerator for too long.

05 of 21

Sweet Matzo Pie Crust

Aaron Dyer

Crumbled matzo mixed with coconut oil and sugar makes a graham cracker-like crust ready to be paired with your favorite filling: kosher lemon curd and meringue or chocolate ganache.

06 of 21

Thierry's Chocolate Mousse

All you need are five ingredients—chocolate, eggs, butter, salt, and sugar—to make this classic dessert for your seder. Serve with whipped cream; fresh fruit is optional.

07 of 21

Chocolate Passover Cookies

The secret to unleavened cookies that are light and chewy lies in this recipe. Beat egg whites until fluffy and fold them into the chocolate batter to achieve the perfect texture.

08 of 21

Easy Mini Pavlovas

easy mini pavlovas — Bryan Gardner

Individual pavlovas can be customized to suit each guest. Let them help themselves to as much or as little cream and fruit as they like.

09 of 21

Apple Matzo Cake

Flour may be forbidden during Passover, but that doesn't mean you have to forgo cake. Matzo meal makes for a light texture, while a pecan topping gives this favorite apple cake a lovely crunch.

10 of 21

Almond-Coconut Chewy Chocolate Cookies

almond coconut chewy chocolate cookies — Chris Simpson

These fudgy macaroon cookies are studded with coconut and roasted almonds. The fact that these treats are also kosher and gluten-free makes them a love match for Passover—and for life.

11 of 21

Flourless Chocolate-Almond Torte With Cherry Preserves and Kirsch Meringue

Maura Mcevoy

This gorgeous cake delivers cherry flavor in each bite, thanks to kirsch liqueur and a layer of preserves. To make this (or any) recipe kosher for a Passover meal that includes meat, substitute kosher pareve margarine for butter.

12 of 21

Almond-Coconut Macaroons

Perhaps the quintessential Passover sweet, macaroons are light and sometimes chewy, and they are usually made with ground almonds, almond paste, or coconut. This coconut version comes out crisp and is a snap to make.

13 of 21

Coconut Chiffon Cake With Chocolate Frosting

passover coconut chiffon cake with chocolate frosting — Armando Rafael

An airy, cloud-like chiffon cake makes an elegant addition to any dessert buffet. The use of whipped egg whites and coconut oil keeps things kosher.

14 of 21

Matzo Toffee

You might make this confection for Passover, but chances are you'll return to this recipe at other times of the year once you realize how good it is. It's the perfect blend of crunchy and sweet and keeps in the refrigerator for up to five days.

15 of 21

Chocolate Pavlova

Meringue lovers and chocolate lovers unite over this chocolate pavlova. Adding cocoa and brown sugar to the meringue gives it a denser, moister, creamier texture than usual.

16 of 21

Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake

flourless chocolate cake — Jonathan Lovekin

Easy and beautiful, there's a lot to love about this flourless chocolate espresso cake. Not only is it gluten free and suitable for Passover, it's a cinch to make with a streamlined ingredient list and just a few steps. Plus, it tastes like a magical mocha latte.

17 of 21

Pavlova With Rhubarb and Pistachios

Jonathan Lovekin

This dessert is a lovely study in contrasts: The meringue has a delicate, crisp exterior and an ephemeral interior—and then there's the soft, sweet-tart rhubarb and crunchy pistachios.

18 of 21

Coconut-Macaroon Sundaes

macaroon sundae — John Kernick

Seder sundaes, anyone? More cake than cookie, these macaroons are dipped in dark chocolate, and then served with fresh raspberries, vanilla ice cream, and more dark chocolate.

19 of 21

Chocolate-Mousse Parfaits

Chocolate-Mousse Parfait Desserts — Justin Walker

This make-ahead dessert comes together quickly and you can easily leave out the crumbly cookie topping. It's the perfect sweet ending to your Seder that you will make time and time again.

20 of 21

Dark Chocolate-Walnut Date Bar

dark chocolate walnut date bar — Sidney Bensimon

To continue the chocolate traditions, try our dark chocolate-walnut date bar. It's a deliciously chewy and sweet way to end the holiday meal.

21 of 21

Lemon Cream with Blackberries

Sang An

This non-traditional Passover dessert comes together in 15 minutes and packs a delightful lemony punch. It's dairy-free and requires just five ingredients.

Read More:

Related Articles

matzo ball chicken broth soup

19 of Our Favorite Passover Recipes to Serve at Your Seder

Matzo Spinach Lasagna

instant-pot brisket

Instant Pot Brisket

strawberry jam filled doughnuts

14 Hanukkah Desserts You'll Crave All 8 Nights

Pistachio and Dried-Apricot Rugelach

Pistachio and Dried-Apricot Rugelach

A bowl of rectangular and circular shortbread cookies on a textured blue surface

Shortbread Cookies

Walnut and Brown-Sugar Rugelach

Walnut and Brown-Sugar Rugelach

roasted apples in bowl

classic latkes

sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts)

Sufganiyot (Jelly Doughnuts) Are the Sweetest Way to Celebrate Hanukkah

sweet and sour pork on serving platter

Sweet-and-Sour Brisket

kugel muffins

Gluten-Free Potato Latkes

Grated Potato Pancakes

chocolate-cinnamon swirl bread sliced

Chocolate Cinnamon-Swirl Bread