This charoset recipe is a blend of apples, walnuts and honey, all mixed together to make a sweet spread that’s an essential part of any Passover meal. Charoset is quick and easy to make, and is always a big hit with family and friends.
When the spring holidays roll around and I’m celebrating with family, I always put out a big meal with rack of lamb, matzo ball soup and of course this fresh and delicious apple charoset.
Passover is one of the biggest Jewish holidays of the year, and you can’t have a Passover dinner without charoset. This blend of apples, cinnamon and honey is an essential part of the holiday, and it also happens to be totally delicious!
What is the significance of charoset?
Charoset is a paste or spread made from fresh and dried fruit blended together with nuts. This dish is featured on the seder plate during Passover and it represents the mortar that the Israelites used to make bricks when they were enslaved in ancient Egypt. Charoset is sweet to offset the bitterness of the horseradish on the seder plate (maror). The mix o sweet and bitter signifies the optimism of the seder.
How do you make charoset?
Start by shredding or dicing your apples into small pieces. Place the apples in a large bowl along with chopped walnuts, honey, cinnamon, lemon juice and sweet kosher wine. Mix everything together, then let it sit for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator to let the flavors meld. Serve with matzo if desired, and enjoy!
Tips for the perfect dish
- I like to use a firm, sweet apple for this dish with a crisp texture. Some of my favorite varieties include Braeburn, Pink Lady, Envy, Honeycrisp or Fuji. You can also do a blend of different types of apples. Try adding a little Granny Smith for a sweet and tart charoset.
- This dish can be made with either shredded or diced apples, it’s really just a matter of personal preference.
- You can use a food processor with a shredding blade to make quick work of the task of chopping the apples.
- I recommend toasting your walnuts for the best flavor. You can put them in the toaster oven for a few minutes, or cook them in a dry pan over medium heat until they’re golden brown and fragrant. Keep a close eye on the nuts as they can burn quickly!
- Need to make this dish without alcohol? Substitute grape juice instead of the wine.
Can charoset be made in advance?
This dish actually tastes best if it has at least 30 minutes to chill in the refrigerator. I recommend serving your charoset within 8 hours of when it is prepared. This dish is not a good candidate for the freezer, as the apples will become watery if frozen and thawed.
Flavor Variations
While this dish is great as-is, you can add other ingredients to the mix to customize the flavors to your taste.
- Fruit: Try adding in raisins or chopped dates. You could also add fruit that goes well with apples such as pears.
- Nuts: Swap out the walnuts for almonds or pecans. Not a fan of nuts? Feel free to omit them,
- Flavorings: Amp up the flavor of your charoset with add-ins such as lemon zest, ground or crystallized ginger or freshly grated nutmeg.
This charoset is the perfect blend of sweet flavors and is amazing when served on a piece of matzo. Charoset is not just for the holidays, you’ll find yourself making it all year long!
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Charoset Video
Charoset
Ingredients
- 4 cups apples shredded or finely diced
- 1 cup toasted walnuts finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sweet red wine such as Manischewitz
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours. Serve with matzo crackers if desired.
wow I absolutely love this idea with fruit and on crackers its on my list of must makes for our New Year party tomorrow thanks for posting so glad I ran across this!
Looks tempting and delish. And the ingredient combo sounds a healthy option. Can’t wait to try.
This sounds so delicious! My family love apples so we definitely need to give this a try!
My family and I love this recipe! I can’t wait to make this again soon!
Can’t wait to try this!
My family will go crazy over it for sure! Looks amazing!
I can’t wait to give this a try! My family and I love apples! This is going to be a hit here!
I seriously loved how easy this is to make!! So tasty!
This charoset is seriously making me hungry!
Recipe was so easy to follow and it came out perfect, thank you!