Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year.  It is the anniversary of the creation of Man, a time when we acknowledge G-d as Creator of the entire universe.  We recognize not only G-d’s historic role in the world but G-d’s continuous presence in our lives.  During services we pray to G-d to grant us a happy and healthy new year.  The shofar (an instrument made of a ram’s horn) is blown to serve as a wake-up call to repentance.

This is one of the most important holidays of the Jewish calendar and begins the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and the fast day of Yom Kippur. During the ten days we ask people for forgiveness for any sins we may have committed against them and then on Yom Kippur we fast and spend most of the day in the synagogue asking G-d for forgiveness for our sins and praying that G-d grants us a year of peace, health, prosperity and happiness.

Cooking for Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is one of the the holidays when I entertain large groups, so I try to make a few recipes and double and triple those, rather than focus on variety. The New Passover Menu cookbook is a collection of the recipes I cook for my family and guests all year long, not just on Passover. See below for recipe ideas for Rosh Hashanah meals.

Baking for Rosh Hashanah

My first baking priority for Rosh Hashanah is making sure I have enough challahs to serve the crowds I entertain. Make sure to count the challahs you need for lunches as well as dinners when planning. I make individual challah rolls for each guest and give each person a small bowl of honey to save time passing everything around to 20 plus people. Try to get your challah baking done at least 2 weeks before the holiday. All the recipes in The Kosher Baker and The Holiday Kosher Baker have storage instructions so you know what you can bake in advance and freeze.

Baking for Yom Kippur Break Fast

All baking must be done in advance of Yom Kippur as we are not permitted to cook on the holiday. I prepare my grandmother’s dairy kugel in advance and freeze it, as well as babkas and cookies that I can thaw during the holiday and be ready to serve when the fast is over.

Whole Wheat Challah with Onions and Poppy Seeds

Big Batch Challah

Dark Chocolate and Honey Mandelbread

Sweet and Savory Challah Poppers

Chocolate and Cranberry Mandelbread

Matcha Mandelbread

Everything Rugelach

Honey Cake Cupcakes with Toasted Icing

Blueberry Tart with Almond Cream

Cranberry Babka

Apple Pie Babka

Apple Pastry Pie

Babka Bundt Cake

Apple and Almond Olive Oil Cake

Apple Upside Down Cake

Chocolate and Pecan Honey Cake Bread

Chocolate, Zucchini and Walnut Muffins

Cranberry and Raspberry Rugelach

Apricot and Berry Strudel