Shavuot brings a distinct sense of festivity—lighthearted and free from heavy traditions or guilt-ridden reflections before indulging in the feast. It could be the holiday's optimistic love stories or just the Hebrew calendar, which places it at a perfect, cheerful moment right after the intensity of Passover. Shavuot is clearly more relaxed, more fitting, and definitely more delicious.
And of course, the cheesecakes. They are undeniably a universal favorite during Shavuot, easily outshining the Hanukkah sufganiyot craze. Year after year, they continue to satisfy every craving. Whether classic and creamy or extravagantly indulgent, cheesecakes always bring joy, just like the holiday they accompany. Enjoy!
The Dazzler: Lehamim Bakery
Savory options feature Yaki Sagi's spanakopita from Kibbutz Be'eri (NIS 110), quiches with various fillings (NIS 110), and cheese platters. For dessert, there's a ricotta streusel cake (NIS 49), a classic cheesecake (NIS 59), cheese blintzes (NIS 62), baked chocolate cheesecake (NIS 71), classic baked cheesecake (NIS 150), and proper tiramisu (NIS 142).
The Complete Experience: Delicatessen
Ruthie Brodo's overflowing Shavuot gift basket includes an impressive delicatessen panorama, and yet represents a mere fraction of the production from the R2M group.
You can find here, among other things, yogurt and blueberry mousse (almond torte base with blueberry coulis, yogurt mousse, white chocolate ganache coating, and fresh blueberries, NIS 112) that leans towards elegant lightness (justifiably so after this holiday meal), a Coffee Bar cheesecake (NIS 118) that can only be described as a creamy white anchor, a citrus Sicilian cassata, Saint Honoré of course, and also a hill of palachinta, trifle, tiramisu, and rice pudding.
On the side, but completely in the forefront, await cheeses from the White Dairy - such as sheep's brie with white mold and a subtle presence, or equally tasty Morbier made from goat and cow milk, highlighting a dark ash stripe in the center.
What else? Muesli bread (NIS 36) rich in dried fruits that only requires butter (but a thick spread), and pecorino sticks, Italian focaccia, and French-Israeli madeleine cookies with milk chocolate, caramelized almond rochers that somehow almost finish themselves, and a beautiful yet disappearing bar of dark chocolate and raspberry, a white Charutzim wine (NIS 89) in collaboration with the Pelter Winery, and countless additional options for packages, deliveries, arrangements, and surprises.
The Rustic: Dallal
The magical patisserie in Tel Aviv's Neve Tzedek neighborhood celebrates Shavuot with a rather decadent collection of options led by Timor Lavi, with a naturally local-rustic vibe.
What’s on the menu here? A biscuit cake (layers of sable Breton and vanilla cheese cream with milk chocolate Mekupelet, (NIS 152) that's even better, the Dallal cheesecake (NIS 138) with strawberries and wood and a cheeky approach to life, arriving pristine and letting others go wild, and also an excellent lemony ricotta and raspberry loaf (NIS 73).
Meanwhile, there's a savory menu that spares you all the work - an open puff pastry with plenty of good things (roasted and caramelized cherry tomatoes, mascarpone and stracciatella from the Ivri dairy, confit garlic, basil, (NIS 68) on top, a giant bourekas (NIS 36) bursting with spinach-ricotta-feta, colorful Focaccia Alla (NIS 48) combining zucchini, Camembert, and purple grapes (NIS 46), and a grissini package (46 shekels) for those moments when everything ends, and yet you can’t stop eating.
The One: We Like You Too
For savory delights, try the "Divine Pastry" (NIS 74), cheese borek tray (NIS 180 for 20 pieces), and spinach-cheese spanakopita slice (NIS 86). Cheese and cracker trays (NIS 290) make hosting a breeze.
The Pinnacle: Mimi
The wonderful baking and sweets chain celebrates Shavuot while maintaining an efficient format of caloric indulgence, but only where it's worth it.
Here, among other things, is a mascarpone pecan tart (mascarpone mousse, pecan praline, caramel toffee, almond sable, white chocolate Chantilly, and pecan crumble, NIS 133 for a 20 cm diameter) that breaks out of the niche box of Shavuot cheesecakes, and it’s a good thing too. There’s also a red berries and vanilla clouds tart (red berries on sable Breton with strawberry-raspberry coulis, NIS 144), a classic baked cheesecake with a wonderful upgrade of a bottom crumble base (NIS 138), and a true queen in the form of a New York chocolate cheesecake (baked cream cheese and chocolate cake, chocolate fudge, and dark chocolate, without wheat flour, NIS 138) that was, and still is, one of the holiday’s highlights.
Besides these, there are cheese brioche with crumble, and ricotta and Amarena cherry krantz (NIS 48), quiches (artichoke, leek and goat cheese, chard, NIS 104), cheese sticks, and sourdough breads, challahs, real cheeses, sauces, and a corner-closing wine.
The Grand: Roladin
The major temptation chain celebrates Shavuot with a bursting gift basket, full of breads and pastries, options, and small (and big) indulgences.
Roldin’s white collection includes, among other things, a new chocolate marble cake (cocoa sable Breton, Basque baked cheesecake with dark chocolate, NIS 169), a Basque cheesecake (sable Breton, cream cheese and mascarpone, NIS 149), creamy and rich as expected, a classic crumb cheesecake (NIS 149), a Royal Cheesecake (sable Breton, baked cheesecake, white chocolate Chantilly, and berries, NIS 159), and a Black Cookie Cream (chocolate brownies, cream cheese, and Oreo cookies, NIS 159) that manages to bring out the best from this complex combination.
The yeast section offers ricotta and pistachio praline krantz, cheese strudel, or a peach cheesecake with almond streusel (NIS 49), and next to it, there are also excellent stripe options such as lemon tiramisu (baked cheesecake, lemon cream, ladyfingers in citrus syrup, and mascarpone cream, NIS 75), both elegant and delicious, or vanilla mille-feuille (NIS 75).
In the savory section, quiches shine (sweet potato and beet, for example, zucchini-spinach, potato gratin, or sweet potato, NIS 75), cheese and Kalamata olive flute, challahs, focaccias, and warm sourdough breads.
The Dreamy: Biscotti
The venerable patisserie institution, led by Rosella Yona, celebrates Shavuot with a rich array of options, under the well-justified concept of White in a Sweet Dream.
You can find here, among other things, baked and chilled cheesecakes, various quiches, elaborate Danish pastries, crispy pastries, and countless other dairy delights.
The special cake collection (NIS 74 per slice, NIS 154 for a 20 cm diameter cake) includes Pavlovina (tart with chestnut crust, cold cream cheese, pavlova meringue, cherry cream, and Amarena cherries) which balances wonderfully between sweet and tangy, creamy, and fruity; a Philly cheesecake with pistachio praline, lemon cream, chantilly cream, and pistachio cream that takes all the goodness of New York and gives it a local twist; Cookie Brownie Cheesecake (shortbread, baked cheesecake, chunks of cookies, brownies, salted caramel cream) sweet without going overboard and chocolaty-caramel; and also a rose-shaped ricotta krantz (NIS 72) that is sweet.
Before dessert (or perhaps during, who's judging), there's also a Basque quiche with zucchini and onions (puff pastry, Parmesan, and cream cheese with caramelized zucchini and onions, 139 shekels) which might not have been a classic Basque dish, but definitely wowed mid-meal; Mykonos (layers of phyllo pastry with zucchini and cheeses, NIS 114); Rosa with Manchego and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (rose-shaped yeast rolls, Manchego cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and Kalamata olives, NIS 72); and another version of the same rose, with feta and chard.
The Princess: Babka Bakery
Desserts feature tiramisu (NIS 69-132), baked cheesecake (NIS 69-118), cheese-pistachio-raspberry cake (NIS 69-126), simple yet winning biscuit cake (NIS 69), and ricotta-apple bread pudding with baked crème brûlée (NIS 69).
The Newcomer: Café Pizzy
Savory options include goat cheese and bell pepper quiche, spinach and mushroom tart, and salad platters for entertaining.
The Perfect Match: Boutique Central
The patisserie chain celebrates Shavuot under the concept of inclusion, embracing a combination of cheesecakes with things everyone loves - both individually and collectively.
Among other things, there's a carrot-cheesecake (layers of carrot cake and mascarpone, NIS 108-148) that wins over with its vibrancy and overwhelming success, a pistachio-lemon-mascarpone cheesecake (NIS 108), a Basque cheesecake with a crusty top and rich interior (NIS 148), Parisienne (fresh strawberry cake with vanilla cream, NIS 76), and Philadelphia (baked cheesecake on a chocolate brownie base, NIS 168).
In addition to these, the boutique central returns, rightfully, to its classics - baked cheesecake, crumb cheesecake, tiramisu, Saint Honoré, biscuit and vanilla cream cake, yeast cheesecake, sugar-free cheesecake, and also two vegan options (tiramisu and Lotus cake).
Its savory section unfolds even before that with colorful quiches (mushroom, potato, onion, broccoli, chard, zucchini), both family-style and individual, and also Parmesan-beet crackers, Parmesan crackers, and vegan crackers.
The Classic: Miki Shemo
Savor sugar-free desserts, quiches, cheese blintzes, and parmesan cookies. Fresh sourdough breads and focaccias, kadayif tart with plum or apricot, and tiramisu are also available.
The Springtime Favorite: De la Paix
Sugar-free crumb cheesecake, ricotta-raspberry pie, tiramisu, and blueberry-sour cherry yeast cakes (NIS 45) are also on offer.
Baking Legacy: Ma'afe Ne'eman
Beyond these treats, they highlight sugar-free options and a variety of savory pastries and quiches.
The Hurricane: Confectionery Shani
The northern (and essentially, all-Israeli) confectionery popularly celebrates Shavuot with many, many variations of sweet cheesecakes, and more.
What's enticing here? Tiramisu-style tortes, crumbled cheese and fruit, layers of cheese-bronze, cassata, cheesecake strudel, Basque, and combinations of cheese and apricot, yeast cakes with cheese and cherry, blintzes and cookies, and also quiches based on mushrooms, eggplant, and goat cheese or ricotta.
At the forefront, Confectionery Sheni presents the Hurricane Cake, a cheesecake with lemon and meringue (NIS 149), drawing inspiration from the turbulent times in which we live - from the lemon cream that recalls the snipers and soldiers to the waves and the sweet cheese that is a collective desire for peace. Exciting.
The Twister: Biga
The healthy coffeehouse chain celebrates Shavuot with an intriguing and tasty alternative dessert.
Biga's crumbled cheesecake mousse cake is based on gluten-free flour, sugar substitute, low-fat cheeses, and with a light sprinkle of lemon zest, providing a light yet rich finish to the meal, pleasing all who avoid (and those who don't avoid anything, actually).