Eastern European Chocolate Desserts

Written by
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.
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Barbara Rolek
Updated 01/31/20

Eastern Europeans love chocolate and they have some of the finest-grade chocolate at their disposal to create luscious desserts.

Remember to use good-quality chocolate in these recipes to create decadent treats. In most cases, chocolate chips just won't do.

These recipes, but these will give you a head start at baking your way into a loved one's heart.

  • 01 of 07

    Hungarian Trifle (Somloi Galuska) Recipe

    Hungarian Trifle or Somloi Galuska on a plate.

    Landrausch/Getty Images

     

    This decadent Hungarian trifle recipe is known as somloi galuska (shom-loh-ee gah-LOOSH-kah), and is made with three different-flavored sponge cakes, pastry cream, raisins, walnuts, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.

  • 02 of 07

    Jewish Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe

    Gluten free flour-less chocolate cake
    Shilpa Harolikar / Getty Images

    This flourless chocolate cake recipe is perfect anytime but especially for Passover because it contains no flour, which, along with other leavening agents, is forbidden by the Torah during the eight days of Passover.

  • 03 of 07

    Hungarian Esterhazy Torte Recipe

    Hungarian Esterházy torte on a plate.

    Максим Крысанов/Getty Images

     

    Hungarian Esterhazy torte is a rich dessert consisting of chocolate buttercream sandwiched between four layers of sponge cake. It is purportedly named after 19th-century Prince Esterhazy of Hungary, whose was related to Austrian royalty (and all their fabulous desserts!).

  • 04 of 07

    Hungarian Dobosh Torte Recipe

    Hungarian dobosh torte recipe

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

    Dobosh Torte, also known as drum torte, is a rich Hungarian sponge cake consisting of seven layers filled with rich chocolate buttercream and topped with caramel. It was invented by and named after Hungarian (some say he was Austrian) pastry chef Jozsef C. Dobos in 1884.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below.
  • 05 of 07

    Croatian Bajadera Torte Recipe

    Croatian Bajadera Torte on a plate.

    Master2/Getty Images

     

    This is an easy no-cook, no-bake dessert that the kids can help make. This would make a terrific edible gift especially if wrapped in a pretty box.

  • 06 of 07

    Hungarian Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe - Sutemeny Rigo Jancsi

    Hungarian chocolate mousse cake on a plate.

     
    Proformabooks/Getty Images

    This traditional recipe for Hungarian Chocolate Mousse Cake has a delightful history. Rigo Jancsi was a famous Hungarian gypsy violinist. In 1896 while in Paris, Jancsi played for Prince Josef and Princess Klara. Fascinated by his swarthy good looks, she fell in love. Klara left her husband and children to follow Jancsi who divorced his wife. The affair didn't last but the cake Rigo created with a confectioner in Klara's honor did.

  • 07 of 07

    Jewish Chocolate Babka Recipe

    Jewish chocolate babka recipe

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

    This chocolate babka recipe was appropriated from the Poles by Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jews. As with most recipes, changes were made over the years. Instead of being baked in a swirly babka pan the Poles use, most Jewish people bake it in a loaf pan and, often, add a streusel topping. It's a delicious, rich version that is most commonly made in chocolate, cinnamon and almond varieties and, in my opinion, surpasses most Polish babkas I've tasted.