Sure, sides, salads, and mains are important for a pre or post Yom Kippur fast, but don’t forget the essential role that dessert plays. Whether you want to enjoy something sweet before the fast to ensure you feel completely satisfied, or if you always crave a sweet treat to break the fast, do yourself and your family a favor by planning to make one or two desserts.

In this roundup, we’ve gathered the best Pre and Post-Yom Kippur dessert recipe ideas so you know exactly what to make for both before and after the fast.

Our selection includes recipes that are perfect for the pre-fast meal, offering hydrating, healthy, and filling options to help sustain you through the fast. Think energy balls, grape juice sorbet, and refreshing fruit salad.

For the post-fast meal, we’ve chosen desserts that will satisfy any craving without being overly heavy or rich. Recipes like light and airy chocolate truffle mousse, creamy ice cream pie, and sweet and salty pretzel cookie squares fit the bill perfectly.

Explore these dessert ideas to ensure your pre-and post-Yom Kippur meals are both nourishing and satisfying.

For more Yom Kippur recipes, see our master recipe roundup here!

1. Rorie’s Electrolyte Drink, or Popsicles by Rorie Weisberg

The components of this electrolyte drink were carefully selected. Follow Rorie’s guidelines for the most effective replenishing and nourishing beverage.

2. Fruit Salad by Faigy Murray

Every time I make this, I ask myself why I don’t make it more often! It’s amazing on its own, and it’s delicious spooned over sponge cake, almost like a fruit salsa. But my favorite way of enjoying it is with yogurt and some granola sprinkled on top for extra crunch.

3. Cookie Dough Protein Balls with Vanilla Maple Ice Cream by Rorie Weisberg

Kid-friendly, allergy-friendly, and oh-so-delicious, this recipe is everything you want in a snack, and nothing that you don’t. Rorie recommends sneaking in collagen powder to add some protein no one will know about! Plus, the extra protein balls can be repurposed as chunks in your cookie dough ice cream, although we don’t think your kids will leave any over!

4. Apple-Cinnamon Nut Cake by Avigail Maizlik

Your family will love this delicious cake, perfect for fall and cold weather.

5. Frozen Strawberry-Marshmallow Pie from the Nitra Cookbook

A super easy frozen dessert pie with blended strawberries (fresh or frozen) and marshmallow fluff.

6. Easy Homemade Energy Drink by Marla Rottenstreich

Most bottles of energy drinks are nothing but sugar water, stimulants, caffeine and lots of supplemental content that is questionable. Here’s a natural and easy Homemade Energy Drink.

7. Nut Halva Pie by Brynie Greisman

After a particularly grueling toning class at the gym, my friend RK and I were standing, sweating away, and talking about recipes. How incongruous is that! She told me about this “insanely delicious pie” that I must try. I was game; I’m always on the lookout for new creative ideas. I’ve made it a few times since, and my friends and family went nuts over it, literally. The halva flavor isn’t too prominent here. It acts almost like an adhesive for the nuts to stick to the crust. It’s easy to put together and presents beautifully, too. What’s more, you have a spare crust for making it next time too!

8. Rich Brownie Chunk Ice Cream by Estee Kafra

Vanilla ice cream is the perfect balance for a rich, chocolaty brownie. Why not join them together into one fabulous dessert?

9. Nutty Energy Balls by Chana Landman

These energy bites are much easier than most, with just a handful of pantry ingredients plus one secret ingredient: pourable, healthy mixed nut butter. Made with nothing but cashews and almonds, it’s got less fat, sodium, and sugar than peanut butter, and it’s so much easier to use.

10. Grape Juice Fruit Sorbet by Sara and Yossi Goldstein

No better way to finish off a meal than a delicious frozen treat. This fruity sorbet is made with grape juice, strawberries, and kiwi.

11. Cranberry Boost Electrolyte Drink by Rorie Weisberg

With its sweet, tangy flavor and natural electrolytes, this is an excellent choice for a refreshing non-caffeinated pick-me-up to enjoy throughout the day.

12. Delicious Dessert Style Compote by Leah Klein

This delicious make-ahead dessert style compote is the perfect way to end any meal. It’s easy to prepare and tastes absolutely amazing!

13. Watermelon Energy Shots by Shaindy Siff

Watermelon is a rich source of vitamins and a natural energy booster. This drink is perfect to make for before or after the fast. Stay hydrated!

14. Easiest, Creamiest Mango Sorbet by Mirel Freylich

This sorbet is so smooth, you can serve it straight from the freezer, no defrosting time necessary. It also has that perfectly balanced sweetness you only get from the homemade stuff.

15. Chocolate Truffle Mousse with Cookie Crunch by Chantzy Weinstein

When I first got married, my husband and I would be invited to eat out at friends. Many times we were served mousse for dessert. After the meal, my husband would tell me which ones he liked. After tasting so many different mousse desserts I finally mustered the courage to create my own recipe. What I love about this version is that it’s light and fluffy and not dense. My secret is that I beat the sugar and eggs for a long time. Needless to say, this one is a favorite!

16. Fruit Flan by The Peppermill

This light and airy cake is the perfect ending to a full meal.

17. Very Fluffy Honey Cake from the Nitra Cookbook

18. Fruit Cup with Brandy Sauce by Rivky Kleiman

This is not your average fruit cup. It’s a truly fabulous finale.

19. Coffee Fudge Ice Cream Pie by Brynie Greisman

Calling all coffee lovers to enjoy a sweet, rich, and decadent dessert lekavod Yom Tov! It starts with a coffee cookie base, topped with a store-bought or easy homemade vanilla ice cream, and garnished with a fudge sauce with a creamy velvety texture that’s irresistibly delicious.

20. Chocolate Energy Balls by Faigy Fink

This sweet treat, containing dates, nut butters, chia seeds, and – oh, yes – cocoa powder, is practically guilt-free snacking. A great pick-me-up for the mid morning or mid afternoon slump that will revitalize you rather than send your blood sugar crashing.

21. Watermelon Lemonade Ice Pops by The Peppermill

Homemade ice pops win taste tests every time!

22. Pure Pudding by Rorie Weisberg

Attention women of the world who get hungry right after breakfast – try adding some healthy fat to your breakfast menu and experience the difference. That’s what this recipe is for!   Thick and creamy, with a frozen-yogurt-like texture, this pudding is one that will satisfy you and your taste buds. It’s my personal breakfast favorite. There’s lots of healthy fat inside from the avocado and coconut almond milk. Pair with protein or add protein powder and it will keep you going through the morning! (If you’re not an egg fan, try my protein-and-fat-packed banana nut muffins or nut butter bread, published in Family Table and available on my website.)   Don’t be scared off by the avocado. It adds delicious creaminess, and the other fruits completely mask the avocado flavor.

23. Energy Burst Smoothie by Chevy Slomovics and Raizy Janklowitz

24. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream by Estee Kafra

The cookie dough bakes into a soft sheet of deliciousness, combined with a vanilla ice cream for a cookie-dough ice cream that is sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike! I served it scooped into waffle cups, topped with chocolate syrup, and chopped, toasted nuts and coconut. To all of you who don’t want to use margarine in your cookies, here is your answer!

25. Sweet and Salty Cookie Squares by Erin Grunstein

These sweet and salty squares are decadent bites of heaven. Using Kineret cookie dough makes this easy enough to whip up anytime without taking away any of the flavor!