Charoset

Charoset is a delicious fruit salad with apples, nuts, wine, and cinnamon spice. This fruity dish is perfect for a Passover seder plate or for enjoying throughout the year.

charoset in two bowls and two apples.


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Easy Charoset Recipe

Charoset (pronounced kha-roe-set and also known as charoses or haroset) is a fresh apple salad and a favorite dish of mine. While some people may eat this apple salad only for Passover, this is a beautiful side dish that can be eaten anytime.

The fact that Passover and Easter are so closely tied means that lots of good dishes can be shared.

Traditional charoset in the form of a paste on matzo represents the mortar used between the stones of the pyramids when the Israelites were in Egypt. The sweetness represents freedom.

What is Charoset?

Charoset salad is made with apples, lemon juice, nuts, spices, wine, and whatever else you care to throw into it. This ingredient mixture is a great one that will delight your taste buds.

If you love all sorts of salads made with apples but have never thought about adding wine, you’ll find that the wine enhances the flavor of the apples.

Why This is the Best Charoset Recipe

This is a small-batch recipe for charoset that transforms it into a delectable salad. With wine, everyone will enjoy the sweet, nutty taste of this charoset recipe.

You can make this easy charoset recipe anytime and serve it throughout the year. In fact, it is so delicious that you may want to eat it every day!

It’s sweet (but not too sweet), crunchy, and juicy. You can’t go wrong with this charoset salad recipe!

Recipe Ingredients

This is a simple, quick, and tasty apple salad with simple ingredients that go together very well. Here’s a list of what you will need:

  • Apples
  • Lemon
  • Toasted Pecans
  • Manischewitz Concord Grape Wine – or other sweet red wine
  • Honey
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
charoset ingredients on a tray.

Ingredient Substitutions

Here are a few ideas for changing up this recipe for your flavor or diet preferences:

  • Charoset without Wine – substitute grape juice for the wine.
  • Nut-Free Charoset – Instead of nuts, use roasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seed kernels, coarsely chopped.
  • Use other Nuts – Substitute different nuts for the pecans. Walnuts or hazelnuts are great options.
  • Vegan Charoset – If you like sweet flavors but are vegan, swap the honey for agave syrup.

Charoset Recipe With Wine – What Is the Best Wine to Use?

This recipe uses Manischewitz Concord Kosher Wine, like mana from heaven, except with alcohol! However, you could substitute the following:

How to Make Charoset

  1. Chop apples quickly, place into a large bowl, and squeeze lemon over the chopped apples.
chopped apples for charoset in a bowl.
  1. Mix wine and honey, and blend well together.
  2. Pour wine and honey over the apples, stir in nuts, and add fresh cinnamon and nutmeg.
chopped apples and pecans for charoset in a bowl.
  1. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving.
charoset with pecans in two bowls.

Apple Charoset Recipe Variations

You can absolutely make this recipe your own! Use this apple charoset recipe as a template and get creative. Here are some ideas:

  • Add some orange zest.
  • Add raisins.
  • Add dates. Charoset with dates is quite popular.
  • Add other fruits like sliced peaches or bananas.
  • Lightly salt the nuts while still warm.
  • Sprinkle ground pistachios over the top for a pop of color and added crunch.
  • Mix apples and pears to make pear charoset.

Recipe Tips

It’s best to use a somewhat thick, sweet kosher wine like a concord grape wine. The apples and nuts will absorb some of the wine while refrigerated, and you’ll have a thicker, less watery dish. 

Hand chop the nuts for the best texture.

How to Serve Apple Charoset Salad

Substitute it for applesauce or cranberry sauce for a refreshing change.

Serve it as a dessert topped with whipped cream or ice cream.

What Goes With Charoset?

Are you wondering what do you serve with Charoset? You can pair it with potato pancakes or pierogis. Or, anything that you would typically serve with apple or cranberry sauce, such as:

Can You Make Charoset Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! Make your charoset the night before, and that’s one less thing to worry about. And it tastes even better after it has sat a while!

How to Store Leftover Charoset

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Understand that the apples may discolor as they begin to oxidize. Charoset is not suited to freezing.

overhead view of charoset in two bowls.

Love apple salad? Try these recipes!

Favorite Apple Recipes

Check out more of my easy salad recipes and the best Passover and Easter recipes here on CopyKat!

charoset in two bowls and two apples.

Apple Pecan Charoset

Charoset is a fresh apple salad with nuts you will love.
5 from 5 votes
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Course: Salad
Cuisine: Jewish
Keyword: Apples, Charoset
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 259kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 apples peeled (I like to use 4 different varieties)
  • 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup red wine Manischewitz Concord Grape
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecans
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg freshly grated

Instructions

  • Chop the apples quickly and squeeze lemon on top to prevent browning.
  • Mix the wine and honey together, and pour the mixture over the apples.
  • Stir in the pecans, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  • Refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 8.3mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.7mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. wedding venues South Florida

    5 stars
    Charoses are often one of the highlights of any Passover meal. The mixture of fruits and nuts is a great combination that brings out a very delightful taste. This recipe on turning it into a salad is really a must-try. A lot of food enthusiast will surely be thrilled to have a taste of it. Thanks for sharing.

  2. catering Fort Lauderdale

    Passover meals whether small ones or big catering events are often being looked forward to because of charoses. These delicious delights of nuts and fruits are really a hit during the feast. Turning it into a salad make it more delectable that will surely be enjoyed by everyone.

  3. I.B.

    I have never tried Charoses before. I love all sorts of salads with made with apple, but I have never thought about adding wine into it. I can’t wait to try this. I feel that the wine will really enhance the flavor of the apples. Thanks for posting this.

  4. Frantasticfood

    Our Charoses recipes look pretty simliar. I think the type people make is dependent on people’s ancestry in terms of being from Sephardic (Mediterranian) or Ashkenazi (Eastern European) descent. This recipe is Eastern European. A Sephardic recipe can have raisins and dates and other fruits like bananas along with nuts and the usual … cinnamon, honey, etc.

    My mouth is watering now. I can’t wait to make our Charoses tomorrow.

    Happy Passover!

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