12 Decadent Passover Cake Recipes
Don't miss our collection of tempting Passover chocolate cakes, apple cakes, almond cakes, and more for the seder table.
How many great cakes can you think of that aren't made with flour, baking powder, or even dairy products? Those are the limitations on bakers for Passover meals for those who follow the dietary laws of this holiday, which this year begins March 27 and ends April 4.
There are many options for Passover desserts, from macaroons to fruit tarts to fruit salads and other fruit desserts and luscious non-dairy sorbets, but if you have your heart set on making a cake, know that the challenges are great. That doesn't mean you don't have any options, though. Eggs can be used so there are sponge cakes rich with egg, flourless chocolate cakes, and cakes made with matzo cake meal for leavening.
Baking without wheat flour can be challenging. It's a different challenge than simply baking something that's gluten-free, as using kosher-for-Passover matzo—rather than flour or gluten-free flours—affects the flavor, density, and appearance of cakes. Matzo meal cannot be substituted for wheat flour one for one—that's why we have developed these special Passover cake recipes.
Chocolate is popular for Passover cakes not only in flourless cakes because it's a popular flavor, and also because its sweet flavor nicely masks the taste of matzo. Matzo and matzo meal products are made with flour and water mixed together and allowed to sit for less than 18 minutes before cooking. During Passover matzo flour or meal takes the place of regular wheat flour because all foods that are fermented or leavened are prohibited. Margarine is used in place of butter in some Passover cake recipes for both greasing the cake tin and in the actual cake.
If you love baking you'll want to try our apple cakes, chocolate cakes, and almond cake recipes for your Seder. Trust us, no one will miss the flour!
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Passover Chocolate-Walnut Cake with Orange
Semisweet chocolate, oranges, and walnuts do double duty in this recipe—chopped chocolate, orange juice and zest, and ground walnuts go into the batter, while the finished cake is topped with melted chocolate, orange rounds, and toasted walnuts.
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Apple Matzo Cake
Lemon zest, honey, and a splash of plum brandy add depth of flavor to this apple cake, while a sprinkling of chopped pecans gives it the perfect amount of crunch.
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Coconut Chiffon Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Team bittersweet chocolate and coconut oil for an irresistible glaze to top this light, airy coconut cake, then finish with toasted coconut.
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Coffee Meringue-Ice Cream Cake
Elevate store-bought ice cream with almonds, ground coffee beans, and flaky salt, then sandwich it between coffee-swirled meringues for a stunning Passover pick-me-up.
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Flourless Apple-Pecan Torte
Apples are spiced with cinnamon and cooked in sweet kosher wine before being folded into the batter for this moist, nutty cake.
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Matzo Chocolate-Mint Ice Cream Cake
Spread matzo crackers with homemade chocolate ganache, then layer with toasted almonds and mini scoops of your favorite ice cream for a Passover dessert that guests of all ages will love.
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Flourless Chocolate-Almond Torte with Cherry Preserves and Kirsch Meringue
Chocolate and cherries are a classic combination—here, we've added kirsch liqueur to both the chocolate cake base and the meringue topping, as well as added a layer of cherry preserves in between them.
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Passover Apple Cake
We love the warming quality that the combination of spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, and ginger—gives this apple-walnut cake.
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Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Torte
Two kinds of chocolate—cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate—are responsible for this luxe cake's intense flavor.
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Carrot-Pecan Cake
Carrots are prepared two different ways for this sweet, earthy cake—half are steamed and mashed, and half are grated—resulting in a texture that strikes the perfect balance between soft and toothsome.
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Chocolate Cake with Espresso Glaze
A generous dose of instant espresso powder brings out the chocolate flavor in both the batter and the glaze served alongside the cake in this recipe.
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Glazed Hazelnut Squares
Toasted hazelnuts are finely ground into a meal for the batter of this Passover-friendly cake, as well as served whole atop the sticky caramel glaze. The recipe also works beautifully with almonds or pistachios.