Passover starts Friday, April 3 this year and lasts through April 11. I am in charge of bringing a Passsover-friendly dessert to the seders I will be attending this year, so I have been trolling the internet for ideas and wanted to share some of the best ones with you! Since leaving for college, I’ve either skipped seders or hosted my own - but I haven’t been with my family for one in a long time! Our family seder traditions include my grandfather’s famous matzo ball soup, Mom’s brisket, and the predictable argument over who gets to be the “wise” son.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Jewish tradition, eating leavened bread is banned throughout the Passover holiday for those who observe. “Leavened bread” refers to the process when bread rises in the oven. I actually googled the specific rules around food restrictions for Passover, and they expand beyond things like bread, pasta, etc. Any product made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt is forbidden if it is “leavened”. That’s why you can eat those cracker-esque (read: flavorless) matzoh - even though it is made from wheat, it isn’t leavened! Fun stuff, folks. I generally follow the Passover eating rules just for tradition purposes.

With all of the paleo and gluten-free trends these days (in which I partake) there is an insane amount of awesome, delicious recipes on the interwebs which are Passover-friendly. However, there are some desserts in particular which are traditionally served with Passover meal! Enjoy the list below.

1. Macaroons

Shredded coconut-based macaroons are one of my favorite Passover-friendly treats (or for all year round!). Macaroons usually call for a couple of tablespoons of flour as a binder, but I’ve been successful with swapping almond flour for regular all-purpose if the macaroon recipe calls for it. What luck that Dani California Cooks has a classic recipe from the archives to share with you all that fits the bill for Passover!

2. Flourless chocolate cake

My distant cousin Joyce used to make the most rich, delicious flourless chocolate cake with a unsweetened whipped cream to go with it. The cake was so decadently sweet that the whipped cream added just the right amount of texture and flavor without adding more sugar. . I am planning to do my own take on a flourless chocolate cake recipe to bring to a seder this year - I’ll definitely share the recipe if it is a success! You really can’t go wrong with any baking recipes from David Leibovitz - his recipe for flourless chocolate cake looks simple but very rich.

3. Almond-flour based cake

Using almond flour provides a great nutty, earthy flavor to desserts that I love - and they are totally Passover-friendly. I like the way this almond flour cake in particular looks from Bon Appetit. Paired with fresh fruit, its an homage to spring!

4. Matzo “crack”

This not-so-droolworthy title refers to taking plain pieces of matzo and drizzling great things like chocolate, nuts, melted butter, sugar, more chocolate, caramel, on top. And then eating it, of course. This recipe from Martha Stewart calls for brown sugar and crumbled matzo to make matzo “toffee”.

5. Passover candy

Passover-approved treats include the traditional jelly candies (which everyone hates to love) and other delicious items like homemade chocolate bark. This recipe from the archives is easily customizable - swap the cranberries/almonds for apricots/cashews to get the candy ready for spring!

 

Question for you all: Do you have a favorite flourless recipe that I should consider making for my Passover seder this year?