There’s nothing like a flavorful feast for bringing people together. It’s especially great when the table is groaning with aromatic appetizers, mouthwatering mains, scrumptious sides, and decadent desserts. This list of 25 holiday recipes has it all – soups, salads, breads, cakes, and cookies. No one will go hungry in your house with all these appetizing delights on offer. And when it comes to something sweet, we’ve got you covered. You don’t have to rely on grandma’s baking for treats. Even beginner bakers can join in the fun thanks to easy recipes for challah bread, lekach, and kugel. So get cooking and get eating. There’s no better way to ring in the New Year!
1. Challah
A traditional Rosh Hashanah table isn’t complete without challah. This braided bread is a must on ceremonial occasions, but it’s also a favorite for many families year-round. And it’s easy to see why. With its crunchy crust and pillowy crumb, challah is hard to resist. It’s sweet, but not overly so, making it the perfect vehicle for sauces, stews, and basically any kind of main meal. If you’ve never made challah before, this recipe provides the perfect starting point. There’s no need to be intimidated by all that kneading and braiding, as this recipe walks you through every step with clear instructions along the way. Give it a try and it won’t be long before you become the go-to challah baker in the family!
2. Roasted Glazed Carrot Tzimmes
This bright side is made mostly from carrots, but it’s anything but boring. Carrots of all different colors are roasted until browned and tender, then they’re tossed in a sticky-sweet balsamic glaze. Maple syrup, cinnamon, raisins, and fresh orange add another layer of sweetness to this addictive side that’ll be a hit at any table.
3. Brisket
Soft, tender meat that falls off the fork – you can’t beat a good brisket. This onion-braised beef is cooked low and slow until it’s perfectly melt-in-the-mouth. Serve with lots of bread and vegetables to soak up the juices, because this is a succulent cut that’ll keep you coming back for more!
4. Cinnamon Apple Noodle Kugel
Cinnamon spice and tart apples have to be one of the greatest flavor pairings ever invented. Nestled in a sweet kugel casserole, they’ll add lots of fragrant flavor to your Rosh Hashanah feast. Made with noodles, eggs, applesauce, and cinnamon, this sweet side can also double as a hearty breakfast the next day. If your family’s anything like mine, everyone will go nuts for this rich noodle pudding!
5. Tzimmes
Tzimmes is a Yiddish expression meaning “making a fuss”. This recipe is aptly named since you’ll want to make a big fuss over this tasty dish. A traditional Ashkenazi Jewish side, it’s made with root vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, and yams, along with dried fruit for a hint of sweetness. This is a colorful and healthy side that’ll brighten up any festive spread.
6. Honey Garlic Salmon
This easy recipe is perfect if you’ve invited a crowd over for Rosh Hashanah and you’re starting to panic. Made with just 5 ingredients and ready in less than 20 minutes, it couldn’t be easier to throw together this divine dish. Flaky salmon, baked in a wonderfully aromatic glaze, this impressive main will wow your crowd without the work.
7. Keftes de Prassa (Sephardic Leek Patties)
A traditional Rosh Hashanah treat, these vegetarian patties originated in the Jewish communities of the Middle East and the Mediterranean. They’re made by mashing together potatoes, leeks, breadcrumbs, garlic, and eggs, but every cook has their own version. You can use matzo meal instead of breadcrumbs, or walnuts to replace the potatoes. The beauty of this versatile dish is that it’s reliably tasty, no matter how much you play with the formula.
8. Honey Roasted Root Vegetables with Apples
A drizzle of honey makes roasted vegetables even more delicious, adding something special to their natural baked flavor. A healthy blend of sweet carrots, earthy beets, sharp parsnips, and tart apples, this nutritious side will bring balance to your festive table.
9. Israeli Salad
Vegan and gluten-free, this light salad is perfect if you’ve overdone it during the main meal. It’s a crunchy, tangy mix of finely chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, lemon, and olive oil. Zesty and sharp, this salad is sure to wake up your tastebuds and put you in the party mood.
10. Honey Glazed Carrots
Simple but very satisfying, honey-glazed carrots are the perfect way to highlight the root vegetable’s natural sweetness. And in the Jewish tradition, celebrating Rosh Hashanah with sweet treats means you’ll have a sweet year ahead. So enjoy this healthy side, and give yourself lots to look forward to!
11. Apple Leek Tart
Combining sweet apples, sharp cheddar, and silky leeks, this addictive tart will wow your guests. And it’s easy to make too! There’s no fussing over pastry or rolling out dough. Just use store-bought puff pastry, and you’ll have it assembled in minutes. With its soft cheesy center and buttery flaky crust, this vegetarian pie is definitely a keeper.
12. Challah French Toast
Soft, creamy, and sweet, I can’t get enough of this pudding-style challah. It’s soaked in a rich, custardy sauce and flavored with honey, vanilla, and a hint of cinnamon. Crisp on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, this is one heavenly challah.
13. Carrot Sweet Potato Soup
This easy and economical soup is a great time-saver. Make it before the celebrations start and you’ll have a delicious dish all great ready to go when things get festive. This thick, smooth, creamy soup is full of complex, earthy flavors and autumnal spices – it’s spoon-licking good!
14. Roasted Beet and Apple Salad
Elegant and impressive, this salad is one of those sides that doesn’t take much work but has plenty of wow factor. It’s a mix of roasted beets, apples, walnuts, and feta cheese, all tossed in a sweet and tangy maple vinaigrette.
15. Cinnamon Apple Stuffed Challah
This challah recipe is bursting with sweet fall flavors like tart fresh apples and sweet cinnamon spice. It’s a bit of a project, so get the kids involved and spread the baking love. You’ll make memories as well as delicious bread, so I call that a win, win!
16. Apple Sweet Potato Salad
If you like your salads crunchy and fruity with plenty of bite, this one’s for you. Made with crisp apples, roasted sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds, it’s sweet, savory, and really irresistible. But the magic ingredient is the maple apple cider vinaigrette. It’s so good, I have a hard time not sipping it straight from the bottle!
17. Rosh Hashanah Sweet Basmati Rice with Carrots & Raisins
Sweet and savory, this show-stopping recipe is a tasty alternative to vegetable-based sides. You’ll be surprised at how much flavor you can get from just a handful of ingredients. Basmati rice, carrots, raisins, and onions combine to create something truly special – an aromatic rice loaded with irresistible tastes and textures.
18. Apple Crisp
Apple crisps are popular across many different cultures, communities, and countries. And it’s not hard to see the appeal. Featuring chunks of sweet fruit, piled with a crunchy, crumbly, nutty topping, you can always make room for a bowl of apple crisp. Since it’s the holidays, be sure to serve this with a scoop of ice cream or vanilla custard.
19. Apple Fennel Salad
Fennel is a natural digestive aid, so it’s a great ingredient to sneak into holiday get-togethers. This light, crunchy salad will give your guests something to munch on when they’ve had enough of baked casseroles and rich stews. Made with arugula, goat’s cheese, walnuts, apple, and fennel, it’s big on flavor but light on the stomach.
20. Apple and Sage Roast Chicken
Roast chicken is always a crowd-pleaser, but apple and sage chicken takes things to a whole new level. Give your bird an autumnal twist with fall flavors like apple and fresh sage, and you can guarantee a mouthwatering main.
21. Honey Cookies
It’s tough to host Rosh Hashanah where there are dozens of kids running around the house, getting underfoot, and generally causing chaos. Keep the little ones entertained with these honey cookies. They’re so easy to make, even the tiniest guests can get help making these treats. You can make these ahead of time too. Simply freeze the dough, then pull them out and bake as needed.
22. Applesauce Cake
Made with tangy apple sauce, this cake is a hit on both taste and texture. Intensely fruity and perfectly sweet, it’s also balanced with warm spices like cinnamon, giving it rich depth. Raisins and walnuts provide crunch and juicy bite while the applesauce makes the crumb beautifully moist.
23. Honey Sweetened Carrot Kugel
Also known as parve, this kugel is much like a traditional carrot cake. It differs from the more savory versions, skipping the noodles in favor of a standard flour batter. Flavored with honey, vanilla, raisins, and lemon zest, this kugel is surprisingly satisfying after-dinner treat.
24. Jewish Apple Cake
This gorgeous apple cake recipe is the kind that gets passed down from generation to generation. Once you’ve made it, you’ll want to put it in your family recipe book, too. Thick and rich, with chunks of apple nestled in the moist crumb, it’s the ideal accompaniment to any celebratory dinner.
25. Lekach (Honey Cake)
Honey cake is eaten at Rosh Hashanah as a prayer for the next 12 months. It’s a symbolic blessing, inviting good fortune and good times. There’s certainly plenty of good eating in this moist cake. It’s dense and sticky, with a slightly gooey texture that melts in the mouth. Heavily scented with rich honey, cinnamon, and ginger, it’s the perfect way to round off your Rosh Hashanah celebrations. Click on a star to rate it!
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