Charoset

With chopped apples, walnuts, and raisins all sweetened with honey, sweet red wine, and warming cinnamon, this charoset recipe will perfect the must-have addition to your Seder plate. All you need are 8 ingredients and under an hour to complete this classic side dish. Whether you serve it alongside your brisket or with matzo, this charoset should be the one you reach for. Here's everything you need to know:

What People Are Saying:
“Wonderful simple recipe!” - GoldScissors

How To Make Charoset

INGREDIENTS

• Apples: I recommend using Fuji or Honeycrisp apples here. They are slightly tart, and will balance well with the sweet red wine and honey.
• Walnuts & Golden Raisins: I went with walnuts and raisins here, but feel free to swap in your preferred nuts and dried fruit, from pecans and pistachios to dried figs and pomegranates.
• Sweet Red Wine: In this recipe, the key to a good charoset is using sweet, Kosher wine like Manischewitz. The taste borders on grape juice, and lends a sweetness to balance out the tart apples.
• Honey: Honey lends even more sweetness to the charoset, amplifying the sweet red wine. If you end up using a less-sweet red wine (which I don’t recommend), add more honey for more sweetness.
• Lemon Zest: Fresh lemon zest will add brightness to the charoset, adding more depth of flavor.
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds the warming, spiced note to balance out the sweetness and tie the entire dish together.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

One of the best things about making charoset? It requires no cooking—the only effort required is chopping the apples and walnuts. After chopping your apples and walnuts, add them to a bowl along with golden raisins, red wine, honey, lemon zest, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt. Stir to fully combine, then be patient and let it sit for 30 minutes to allow all of the flavors to meld together. Then, you can serve as you please!

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

What Is Charoset?

Charoset is a medley of apples, walnuts, and raisins that's sweetened with honey, spices, and kosher wine. A significant part of the Passover celebration (it represents the mortar used to stack the bricks to make the pyramids), it's a sweet side dish that completes the Seder plate.

How To Serve Charoset

Charoset is often served as a sweet pairing to matzo during Passover, but its versatility doesn’t stop there. It can also be used as a topping to your yogurt for breakfast, alongside your brisket, or even on top of your favorite Passover dessert.

Storage

Charoset can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If preparing in advance, add 1 teaspoon lemon juice to prevent apples from browning. If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for around 3 days.