Rosh Hashana is fast approaching and I have a few more holiday desserts I want to share. On Rosh Hashanah it is traditional to eat foods symbolic of our hopes for a good and prosperous new year. The most recognizable of these symbols is the apple dipped in honey, but there are many more symbolic foods associated with Rosh Hashanah, such as gourds, fenugreek, leeks, beets, dates, pomegranate, and the head of a fish. In planning my Rosh Hashana meals I always try to incorporate as many of the simanim (the foods associated with good omens for the new year) as possible throughout every course of the meal. (If you are interested in my full menu, not just the desserts, leave a comment and I will share). This year I thought it would be fun to incorporate several of the simanim into a single cake to make what I call my Good Omen Cake.

This cake has apples, honey, carrots, and squash and is utterly delicious. It is like a cross between carrot cake and the best zucchini bread you ever had. I threw in some brandy soaked raisins, just because it seemed like a good idea, but feel free to leave them out if you don’t want the boozy addition. The cake is not overly sweet so it could pass for a breakfast cake (for a special Rosh Hashana morning treat) but with a nice sprinkle of powdered sugar and maybe a side of vanilla or ginger honey ice cream it is perfect for dessert as well.

Looking for other desserts based on the simanim? Scroll to the bottom of the cake recipe for some of my favorites from the recipe archives.

Pumpkin pot de creme

Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts

Pumpkin Cream Puffs

Pumpkin Strussel Cake

Caramel Apple Ice Cream

Apple and Honey Marshmallows

Apple Galette with Honey Ginger Ice Cream

Apple and Honey Trifle

Easy Apple and Honey Tar

Carrot Cake Push up Pop

Pomegranate Tart