A Sweet Way In: Why I Wrote a Chocolate Seder Haggadah

For years, I’ve loved seeing friends and colleagues post pictures of their chocolate Seders. I’ve even participated in a few. They were always kind of fun—messy, sugar-filled, a good excuse to eat candy and call it Jewish learning. But I never really took them seriously.

Part of that was the presentation. Most of the chocolate Seders I encountered were clearly cobbled together by a synagogue, a Hillel, or a youth group somewhere—black-and-white photocopies of a PDF that had been passed around more times than the Afikoman. It felt like a novelty, not a ritual. Something cute, not meaningful.

But over time, I’ve started to realize something: a chocolate Seder does have a place in our Jewish lives—even if it’s just for fun.

In fact, especially if it’s just for fun.

Because while it’s not going to replace your family’s traditional Passover Seder (nor should it), it might just be the thing that brings someone in who wouldn’t otherwise show up. For those who don’t normally host a 2nd night seder, it might be a reason to get together again. It might be the doorway for a child who thinks Seders are boring. Or for a parent who’s overwhelmed by the holiday prep and wants one moment of joy. Or for a young adult who hasn’t connected with Jewish ritual since their bar or bat mitzvah, but suddenly finds themselves dipping marshmallows into chocolate fondue while talking about freedom.

So I decided to professionally publish a true Chocolate Seder Haggadah that treats this idea with the creativity, care, and intention I believe it deserves.

Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t a deeply scholarly text. It’s light-hearted, fun, and definitely full of puns. But it’s also structured, rooted in the traditional 15 steps of the Seder, and written with a clear goal: to create connection. To take something that’s often dismissed as a gimmick and turn it into a genuine experience of belonging.

No, it’s not a full Seder (although it does have chocolate versions of basically the entire traditional haggadah). It’s not meant to be. What it is, though, is a bridge.

It’s something schools can use before the holiday to get students excited. It’s an activity youth groups can offer during Pesach to bring their communities together. It’s a family-friendly gathering that could take place during Chol HaMoed, or even after the holiday’s over, just to keep the spirit going.

And if someone experiences this Chocolate Seder and walks away smiling, curious, or even just a little more open to Jewish tradition than they were before? That’s a win.

We don’t always have to choose between tradition and creativity. Sometimes, they can sit at the same table—right next to a bowl of chocolate-covered matzah.

Chag sameach.