14 Decadent Passover Cake Recipes That Will Help You End the Seder on a Sweet Note

coconut chiffon cake with chocolate frosting
Photo: Armando Rafael

There are many delightful options for Passover cakes, from flourless chocolate and apple confections to light-as-air pavlovas. One thing you won't find in our collection of Passover cake recipes is any dessert made with wheat flour, since foods that are fermented or leavened are prohibited during the holiday.

Instead, there are recipes that use matzo cake meal, tortes made with ground nuts, and sponge cakes rich with eggs. Some of our recipes use margarine in place of butter for both greasing the cake tin and the actual cake. And all are so very delicious, you'll want to bake them year round.

01 of 14

Strawberry-Rhubarb Rolled Pavlova

Strawberry-Rhubarb Rolled Pavlova
Kate Sears

It looks spectacular, but this rolled pavlova is actually easy to make. Meringue is spread thinly and baked to form until golden—so its color contrasts with the jam, sliced strawberries, and whipped cream when it's rolled up around those fillings.

02 of 14

Apricot Torte

apricot torte
Anna Williams

This rich torte is made with ground almonds, gets a lift from egg whites, and is flavored with dried apricots—they also add moisture and texture. It's finished simply with a glaze of apricot jam and thinly sliced almonds.

03 of 14

Passover Chocolate-Walnut Cake with Orange

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Stephen Kent Johnson

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.

04 of 14

Apple Matzo Cake

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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.

05 of 14

Coffee Meringue-Ice Cream Cake

coffee-meringue-mld108857.jpg
Jonathan Lovekin

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.

06 of 14

Flourless Apple-Pecan Torte

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Apples are spiced with cinnamon and cooked in sweet kosher wine before being folded into the batter for this moist, nutty cake.

07 of 14

Matzo Chocolate-Mint Ice Cream Cake

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 cake that guests of all ages will love.

08 of 14

Flourless Chocolate-Almond Torte with Cherry Preserves and Kirsch Meringue

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Maura Mcevoy

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 a layer of cherry preserves in between them.

09 of 14

Coconut Chiffon Cake with Chocolate Frosting

passover coconut chiffon cake with chocolate frosting
Armando Rafael

Team bittersweet chocolate and coconut oil for an irresistible glaze to top this light, airy coconut cake, then finish with toasted coconut.

10 of 14

Passover Apple Cake

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We love the warming quality that the combination of spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, and ginger—gives this apple-walnut cake.

11 of 14

Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Torte

flourless chocolate torte

Two kinds of chocolate—cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate—give this luxe cake its intense flavor.

12 of 14

Carrot-Pecan Cake

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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.

13 of 14

Chocolate Cake with Espresso Glaze

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A generous dose of instant espresso powder brings out the chocolate flavor in both the batter and the glaze that's served alongside this cake.

14 of 14

Glazed Hazelnut Squares

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.

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