Jewish Sweets Community Cookbook
100 recipes from our global community published today
Celebrating the Sweetness of Community: Jewish Sweets is Here!
Today I am celebrating the publication of Sweet & Jewish: A World wide Community Cookbook of 100 Dessert Recipes! This is a community cookbook a collection of 100 recipes contributed by members Jewish community from all over the world.
Community cookbooks are the hidden gem of the cookbook genre because they offer more than just recipes; they provide a snapshot of the people, traditions, and stories that make a community unique. Each recipe is infused with personal history, cultural pride, and the shared values that bind a community together. These cookbooks preserve traditions, celebrate diversity, and create a bridge between generations and geographies, all through the universal language of food.
This is my sixth cookbook, and after all this time, I have to say that my favorite projects are community cookbooks. There’s something so deeply rewarding about collaborating side by side with contributors—it’s endlessly interesting and feels like a warm hug, connecting me to the heart of the Jewish community through stories and recipes.
When I dreamed up this project, I wanted to bring together the global Jewish community through something we all love: dessert.
Let’s dive into what makes Jewish Sweets so special.
What’s Inside: A Taste of Sweetness for Everyone
The recipes in Jewish Sweets are organized into three categories: Dairy, Pareve, and Kosher for Passover, ensuring there’s something for every occasion and dietary need. Every recipe is accompanied by a photograph, as well as the contributor’s story, photo, and bio, giving you a glimpse into the lives and traditions behind these recipes.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the incredible recipes you’ll find in each section:
Dairy Recipes
These rich and indulgent desserts are perfect for Shabbat meals, holiday celebrations, or when you’re craving something decadent.
Alfajores: Sandwich cookies filled with dulce de leche and dusted with powdered sugar.
Kanafe: Shredded phyllo layered with ricotta and soaked in sugar syrup, a nod to the Middle Eastern dessert.
Halva Butter Mochi: A unique blend of pistachios, raspberry, and the chewy texture of mochi.
Hamantaschen with Matcha Red Bean Filling: A modern twist on a Purim classic.
Medovik (Russian Honey Cake): Layers of honey-infused cake and cream, straight from Eastern Europe.
Sufganiyot with Vanilla Custard Filling: The ultimate Hanukkah treat, filled with rich custard.
Magic bars, also known as 7-layer bars, are a rich American dessert made with a graham cracker crust, layered with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, and sweetened condensed milk, baked until golden and gooey.
Rabbi Hillel Norry shared his mother's magic bar recipe in Jewish sweets.
Pareve Recipes
Perfect for meat meals or when you’re looking for dairy-free options, these recipes are full of flavor and versatility.
Apple Chocolate Chip Cake: A moist, sweet cake perfect for Rosh Hashanah or any gathering.
Hushquiliq: Bukharian coiled fried cookies that are crispy and irresistible.
Kanavli: Semolina and coconut cake with a delicate texture and taste.
Makrouds: Semolina pastries filled with date paste, a classic North African dessert.
Spelt Carrot Cake with Coconut Yogurt Frosting: A healthier twist on a beloved classic.
Teiglach: Knotted pastries boiled in syrup, a sticky, sweet treat for the holidays.
Karyn Moscow with Jewish sweets in Australia. Karyn shared her family's Teihlach: knotted pastries boiled in syrup. This recipe traveled with this family from Lithuania ---to -- South Africa -- to Australia.
Kosher for Passover Recipes
Say goodbye to boring Passover desserts—this section brings creativity and flavor to the table with both dairy and pareve options.
Persian Love Cake: A fragrant, nutty dessert with hints of rosewater and cardamom.
Mocha Ganache Macaron Tart: A show-stopping dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Coquitos: Coconut macaroons with a perfect balance of chewiness and sweetness.
Sago Gula Melaka: Sago pudding with palm sugar syrup, a delightful nod to Southeast Asian flavors.
Chocolate Swiss Roll: A Passover-friendly take on the classic, featuring a rolled rich chocolate sponge and creamy filling, capturing the light, fluffy texture and irresistible balance of sweetness that make this dessert so delicious.
Cottage Cheese Brownies: This cottage cheese brownie recipe is high in protein and lower in sugar, offering a rich, fudgy treat with a nutritious twist.
Photo of Manashe Khaimov who shared his Hushquiliq: Bukharian coiled fried cookies recipe.
A Community Effort
This cookbook wouldn’t exist without the incredible contributors who shared their recipes, stories, and traditions.
Each contributor’s story and bio are featured alongside their recipe, creating a sense of connection between you and the baker who shared their recipe in this book.
Photo of Rabbi Andrew Scheer and Izaki-san at the JCC in Tokyo. Izaki-san, the community baker since the 1970s, shared one of the original recipes—a Russian Walnut Biscotti passed down from the Russian refugees who established the community in 1953.
Sweetness Amidst Challenging Times
The journey to completing Jewish Sweets has been bittersweet. As I finalized the book in December 2023, the world was grappling with the aftershocks of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel and a rise in antisemitism globally. It was a difficult time, but it reinforced my belief in the power of small acts of connection.
This cookbook is my way of offering connection & light. Baking and sharing these recipes with loved ones is a small but meaningful act of joy and togetherness.
Photo of me with Jewish Sweets Cookbook in my Paris kitchen, while my Ragdoll kitten, Ari (born Nov. 2024) looks out the apartment window
Celebrate With Me!
As I release Jewish Sweets into the world, I hope it becomes a source of joy in your home. I hope you’ll bake these desserts, share them with friends and family, and find comfort in the stories and traditions that inspired them.
Thank you for celebrating with me. Your support means the world, and I can’t wait to see the sweet creations you make from this book!
Grab your copy of Jewish Sweets today, and don’t forget to share your photos and stories with the hashtag #Jewishfoodhero. Together, let’s celebrate the sweetness of life—one recipe at a time.
To our health & inspiration
Kenden
Amaaaaaazing!!!! I love your passion for connecting through food, and how you keep on doing it.