Recipes for Shavuot [Main Courses, Sides, & Shavuot Desserts]

Are you preparing to celebrate Shavuot? 

I know I am!

This holiday has a rich Biblical history and is a special reminder to Christians on how God fulfilled His promise and sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It is the perfect reason to gather around the table to feast and fellowship!

So as the time for celebration draws near, I want to share some of my favorite Shavuot recipes to prepare and enjoy with friends and family. 

Also included is a grocery list to print or copy down the ingredients needed.

Look:

Besides recipes, would you like devotionals, activities for kids, and celebration ideas for Shavuot and the other Feasts of Our Lord?

Look no further! 

Click here for free resources that provide Biblical insights and ideas on how to bring the Feasts of our Lord into your home. Get the free course above to enjoy Shavuot (and other holidays) in a whole new way.

Let’s dig in to the recipes!

Main Dishes

1) Cheesy Stuffed Shells

For a wonderful main dish, these cheesy stuffed shells are delicious. Miriam Szokovski shares this recipe over on chabad.org and it is super easy!

Time to prepare: 30-60 minutes

Yields: 25-30 shells

Ingredients needed: 

• 1 onion, diced
• 2–3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 carrots, grated
• 1 stalk celery, sliced thinly
• 3 mushrooms, diced
• 2 tbsps. Olive oil
• 1 egg
• 1 lb. Ricotta cheese
• 1 12-oz. box jumbo shells
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or more, if you prefer)
• 2–3 cups marinara sauce
• Fresh basil (optional)
• Salt

How to prepare:

Here are Miriam’s directions:

1. Sauté the onion in the oil until translucent. Add the garlic, carrot and celery, and cook until wilted. Add the mushrooms and cook 1-2 minutes more. Salt mixture to taste and set aside to cool.
2. Mix the vegetables with the ricotta, parmesan and egg.
3. Cook the shells according to the instructions on the box. Then fill each shell with the ricotta filling.
4. Spread a layer of marinara sauce in the bottom of a baking pan. Place the shells in a single layer, with the opening facing upwards. Pour the rest of the marinara over the shells and sprinkle with fresh basil (optional).
5. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Take the pan out, remove the foil, and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the shells. Return to the oven, uncovered, for another 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

2. Quiche

Quiche is an egg-and-cheese based dish that is not only easy to put together but a classic Shavuot dish as well. Here’s my favorite way to make it.

Time to prepare: 60 minutes

Serves: 6-8 

Ingredients needed:

• 1 9-inch whole wheat, deep dish pie crust
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1½ cups broccoli, steamed and diced 
• 2 cups shredded cheese of your choice
• 1 cup of milk
• 4 eggs
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• (optional) turkey sausage, cooked and crumbled
• (optional) chopped, sauteed onion
• Alternative to broccoli: spinach (frozen, thawed, then patted dry) 

How to prepare:

1. Bake shell at 425°F for 8 minutes.
2. Spread mustard in the pie shell and sprinkle in the broccoli and cheese over it. 
3. Whisk together the eggs, milk, and seasoning.
4. Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

3. Kugel

Kugel is a traditional Jewish baked dish that is easy and fun to make. It’s also perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. For this recipe, you will need a 9x13 pan.

Time to prepare: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Serves: 9-12

Ingredients needed:

• 2 cups sour cream 
• 1 cup cottage cheese 
• 4 ounces cream cheese 
• 5 eggs 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder 
• ½ cup melted butter 
• ½ cup sucanat 
• 1 cup pineapple chunks (save the pineapple juice)
• ½ cup dried dates, soaked in the pineapple juice 
• 6-8 ounces cooked wide egg noodles

How to prepare:

1. Chop up or blend dried dates into small pieces (but don’t pulverize). 
2. Separate the pineapple from the juice and set aside. Warm the pineapple juice (don’t bring to boil) and remove from heat. Add the dates to the warm juice and let soak. 
3. Cook the noodles until they are al dente. Don’t overcook, as they will cook more in the oven later. Drain and set aside in a large bowl.
4. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 pan with butter or a non-propellant spray.
5. Combine the sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, melted butter, and sugar in a mixer. Blend ‌until creamy.
6. Strain the dates and add them to the mixer and the pineapple chunks. Blend. 
7. Pour your blended mixture over your cooked noodles and mix‌. 
8. Pour the mixture into the greased pan and sprinkle some cinnamon over the top.
9. Bake in the oven for 1 hour and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Watch my Kugel recipe video here:

Side Dishes

4. Delicious Challah Bread

Another popular choice for Shabbat and celebrations, this challah bread takes less than an hour to make! It’s my go-to recipe that I use repeatedly. It never lets me down.

To learn more about the symbolism of Challah bread, as well as enjoy a bonus butter topping recipe, click here.

Time to prepare: 50 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients needed:

• 1-3/4 cups warm water
• 1-1/2 tbsp active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp salt
• 4 eggs
• 6 - 8 cups flour
• 2 tbsp vital gluten (optional, beneficial with fresh-milled flour)

How to prepare:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Add yeast to lukewarm water and whisk.
3. Mix honey and olive oil together and then add to water and mix.
4. Add salt and mix.
5. Add eggs and mix.
6. Add 4 cups of flour and mix. (The whisk won’t work as well with the flour added. A fork will do a good job.) Add gluten if desired. Add additional flour until dough forms a loose ball.
7. Sprinkle a clean countertop with flour and plop the dough onto it. Add another cup of flour and knead. Fold, twist, punch down, and turn dough.
8. Once a good ball is formed, cover with a slightly warm towel, place in a warm location, and let it rise until doubled. It can also be covered with plastic wrap and flipped upside down to double.
9. Once the dough has doubled, split the dough in half. Shape the first half in a circle, flatten out, and cut into 4 or 6 strips. Roll strips to even lengths and braid. Repeat with the remaining dough.
10. Paint the braided Challah loaf with an egg wash (the yolk and white mixed‌).
11. Top with Kosher salt, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or other seed blend.
12. Bake for 30-35 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 190°.

To watch me prepare this recipe, check out this video:

5. Cream Cheese Biscuits

One of many cheese-based side dishes you can enjoy. These lovely cream cheese biscuits take only six ingredients to make – plus, they are good for you! I like to use goat cheese instead of cream cheese for added nutritional value. 

This recipe calls for freshly milled whole grain wheat. If you don’t have a grain mill for grinding grains, you can find organic, fresh-milled flour here.

Time to prepare: 25-30 minutes

Serves: 8

Ingredients needed:

• 2 cups of whole grain flour 
• 1 tbsp salt 
• 1 tbsp baking powder 
• ½ stick butter 
• 1 stick goat cheese or cream cheese 
• 2 cups milk 

How to prepare:

1. Preheat the oven to 450.
2. Mix your dry ingredients of flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl.
3. Cut in the butter. You can use a pastry blender to do this. Combine well.
4. Add in the goat or cream cheese and cut in. Look for the flour and cheese to make pea-sized pieces.
5. Add in the milk and combine well.
6. Sprinkle flour on your surface and roll out the dough to ½ inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out biscuit shapes and place on a cookie sheet.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

I show the exact process in this video:

Desserts

6. Barley Apple Cake

This wonderful cake makes for a great dessert or side dish. Be sure to save this recipe as it is usually a crowd favorite!

Time to prepare: 25-30 minutes

Serves: 12-16

Ingredients needed:

• 1 ½  cups barley flour 
• ½ cup spelt (or hard white wheat, regular wheat, hard red wheat) 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 egg 
• ½ tsp cinnamon 
• ½ cup organic cane sugar 
• 1 cup of milk 
• 1 cup chopped apple 
• ½ cup chopped nuts 
• 1 cup cranberries, soaked in hot apple juice

How to prepare:

1. Begin by soaking the cranberries in hot apple juice (don’t soak in water – this will leach out the tartness). 
2. Use an 8 x 8 pan and prepare with some organic spray to keep it from sticking. You could also use parchment paper as well to line the pan, and that would work really well. 
3. Preheat the oven to 375.
4. Add barley and spelt flour to a large bowl. Add salt, cinnamon, and baking powder. Mix. Add in the cane sugar.
5. In a separate bowl, combine the milk and egg. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix well.
6. Strain the cranberries and add to your bowl. Add in chopped apple and pecans and mix.
7. Pour into the greased pan. 
8. Bake for 15 minutes.

Watch me make it here!

7. No Bake Cheesecake

These are great for making the night before and chilling in the fridge. You can make a pan of this cheesecake or mini cheesecakes in jars. The kids will love them. As a bonus, this no-bake cheesecake is also free of gluten and refined sugar.

Time to prepare: 2 hours 15 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients needed: 

• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1 cup cashews
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup (whole milk) Greek yogurt, plain
• ⅓ cup honey
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• Optional toppings: sliced strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, chocolate curls, lemon or lime zest, and candied lemon peel

How to prepare:

1. For your crust, put the dates, salt, and cashews into a food processor and process until the shape of a ball forms. (Dry dates may need a tablespoon or two of warm water added to the mixture.)
2. To make mini cheesecakes, use little mason jars or glasses. This recipe will make for six. Add about a tablespoon of the crust to the jars or glasses (they should be about 1 cup in size) and use a spoon to press it into the bottom of the jar. If using a pan, simply spread out the crust mixture onto the bottom of the pan.
3. To make the cheesecake mixture, add the remaining ingredients (cream cheese, Greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt) in the bowl of a food processor. Process for about one minute until smooth. 
4. Spoon the cheesecake mixture evenly into the 6 jars. Use a spoon to smooth out the top.
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve with your choice of toppings (like berries or other fruit).

8. Chocolate Fruit Dip

This simple fruit dip can be served with freshly cut fruits and berries as a refreshing snack or after-dinner treat. You only need three ingredients and it takes just 10 minutes to whip up!

Time to prepare: 10-30 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients needed:

• 1 can coconut cream
• Cocoa powder
• Stevia or any natural sweetener

How to prepare:

1. Blend the coconut cream, cocoa powder, and stevia in a blender jar.
2. Add some more cocoa powder or sweetener if needed.
3. Chill for at least 20 minutes in the fridge. 
4. Serve with fruits or crackers.

Grocery Lists For Shavuot

To save time and take out the guesswork, here is a full grocery list with all the items needed to prepare this collection of recipes! 

This is so you can see at a glance what is necessary to purchase or what may already be in the pantry. Print these pages or simply copy down onto a piece of paper.

Shopping list for Cheesy Stuffed Shells recipe:

• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Carrots
• Celery
• Mushrooms
• Olive oil
• Egg
• 1 lb. ricotta cheese
• 1 12-oz. box jumbo shells
• Parmesan cheese
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Marinara sauce
• Fresh basil (optional)
• Salt

Shopping list for Quiche recipe:

• 1 9-inch whole wheat, deep dish pie crust
• Dijon mustard
• Broccoli or frozen spinach
• Shredded cheese of your choice
• Milk
• Eggs
• Salt
• Cayenne pepper
• Black pepper
• (optional) Turkey sausage
• (optional) onion

Shopping list for Kugel recipe:

• Sour cream 
• Cottage cheese 
• Cream cheese 
• Eggs 
• Vanilla extract 
• Cinnamon powder 
• Butter 
• Sucanat (brown sugar)
• Pineapple chunks 
• Dried dates
• Noodles

Shopping list for Barley Apple Cake recipe:

• Barley flour 
• Spelt or regular wheat flour
• Baking powder 
• Salt 
• Egg 
• Cinnamon 
• Organic cane sugar 
• Milk 
• Apple 
• Pecans or walnuts
• Cranberries

Shopping list for Cream Cheese Biscuits recipe:

• Whole grain flour 
• Salt
• Baking powder 
• Butter 
• Goat cheese or cream cheese 
• Milk 

Shopping list for No Bake Cheesecake recipe:

• Pitted dates
• Cashews
• Salt
• Cream cheese
• Plain Greek yogurt (whole milk)
• Honey
• Lemon juice
• Vanilla extract
• Toppings: sliced strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, chocolate curls, lemon or lime zest, and candied lemon peel

Shopping list for Challah Bread recipe:

• Dry yeast
• Honey
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Eggs
• Flour
• Vital gluten

Shopping list for Chocolate Fruit Dip recipe:

• Coconut cream
• Cocoa powder
• Stevia or any natural sweetener
• Fruit of choice 
• Crackers of choice

Final Thoughts

I love Shavuot and telling others about this special holiday! If you have never celebrated before, or are still learning about the importance of Shavuot in scripture, this article may help. 

I hope these recipes are a blessing to your family. Which do you think will be a favorite? Leave me a comment and tell me which dish or dessert you are most excited to try.

Happy feasting!