Thinking back to our Passover seders growing up, there is one thing that stands out in my mind, more than anything else. I’m standing in my Nana and Papa’s kitchen, helping Nana make charoset (also referred to as haroset or charoises) for the Seder plate. It was one of the things I loved helping with because it meant she would ask me to taste it to make sure it was perfect. And charoset is one of those things that I can eat by the spoonful. It’s that good.
Even though this year’s circumstances don’t allow us to have a traditional seder, I wanted to bring in some of the elements for my kids, to make sure we don’t lose the traditions I grew up with.
For my non-Jewish readers, the Passover Seder is a feast that includes reading, drinking wine, telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other Passover traditions. One of those traditions, is creating the Seder plate. The Seder plate contains symbolic foods for Passover, including a shank bone (zeroa), egg (beitzah), bitter herbs (maror), parsley (karpas) and a sweet paste of apples and nuts called charoset.
Now that you have a little background, I’m excited to share the charoset recipe I grew up with. Nana wasn’t one for writing all of her recipes down, at least that I can remember. She usually just “eyeballed” it. I’ve always done the same for this particular dish, until I realized that if we don’t write it down somewhere, our kids won’t have access to the recipe. And if I’m going to write it down for them, I might as well share it with all of you!
Let me start by admitting that it’s not the prettiest dish. But if you can get past it’s looks, you will fall in love with it as much as my family has for generations. I made a big batch earlier this week (it will keep in the refrigerator for about a week, if it lasts that long) and my kids have been asking for it for dessert every night. I imagine Nana smiling down every single time they take a bite.
Charoset is very easy to prepare. The amount of sugar should be based on your taste. Some may not need any at all, depending on the type of grape juice you use. I do recommend tasting it before you add the sugar and then add as needed.
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Charoset: A Passover Tradition
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
Description
Quite possibly our favorite part of the Passover seder plate. Charoset is the perfect combination of walnuts, apples, cinammon, sugar and grape juice.
Ingredients
- 16 oz walnuts (finely chopped)
- 2 granny smith apples (peeled and chopped)
- ½ lemon (juiced)
- ¾ cups grape juice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 5–6 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Finely chop walnuts in your food processor. I use the pulse setting over and over again until it's evenly chopped. Place chopped walnuts into a bowl.
- Add chopped apples and lemon juice to your food processor and using the same setting, pulse until apples are diced. Add to bowl with walnuts.
- Add cinammon, sugar and grape juice and stir until combined. Let sit for 15-30 minutes and serve with matzoh.
- Cuisine: Jewish
While you can eat it straight out of the container (and we do), it’s really delicious spread on matzoh (egg matzoh is our favorite). My 10 year old described it as tasting like apple pie, and I have to agree that it does have a number of similar ingredients. And even though it’s a Passover tradition, you can make it year round.
If you choose to try our charoset recipe (and I hope you do), I would love to hear your thoughts below. Don’t forget to check out our potato kugel recipe while you’re at it!

Elisha F
April 21, 2020I’ve always wanted to celebrate Passover! It’s a beautiful tradition.
Anzise
April 18, 2020I had no idea about this tradition so thanks for sharing it! Also the food looks delicious. I am going to try your recipe for sure.
Ewa
April 17, 2020I still have a lot of walnuts from the previous year and I am very curious how this dish tastes. I just have to add apples and grape juice to the nearest shopping list and I will certainly try out what Charoset tastes like.
emily
April 17, 2020great recipe, I must try this sometime, looks really different
Vasu Devan
April 17, 2020What a wonderful tradition. Charoset sounds like an amazing dish. Will try at home some day. Is matzoh something like a cracker?
Cha
April 17, 2020I havent tried this one. It’s good to know some of the traditions from other culture. We also have ours – it’s called binignit. 🙂 Btw, that one looks delicious!
★★★★★
Heather
April 17, 2020What is binignit made from? I’d love to hear!
Monidipa
April 17, 2020I have never heard of Charoset.But I can try this after lockdown.
Lyanna Soria
April 17, 2020I’ve never heard or eaten charoset before but that looks tasty. Quite an interesting dish.
★★★★★
David Allen Elliott
April 17, 2020I can see what you mean by the fact it’s not the prettiest of things. But it does sound like it would taste good. Lots of delicious and blended flavors. I would definitely try this out.
Lily
April 17, 2020That’s right Passover was just recently. This looks like a great traditional dish.
katrina Kroeplin
April 16, 2020my boyfriend love this. i will def have to make it for him. thanks for the recipe.
Angela
April 16, 2020I had never heard of this tradition. This sounds very interesting, I will have to give it a try!!
★★★★★
Tisha
April 16, 2020This is great! I love seeing traditions of others. Such great flavor combos!
Kuntala
April 16, 2020Learned about a new tradition, which is interesting. Learned about a recipe which is completely new to me. Looks interesting, a new cuisine to know of.
★★★★★
Claudia Krusch
April 16, 2020So interesting! I thought it had olives, judging by the color! Can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
Marysa
April 16, 2020I have never heard of this dish before. It sounds delicious and it is very pretty, too!
Ashlee
April 16, 2020The purple colour is what drew me in at first! I’m so curious about it, because I was wondering what this food was and it’s all the things I would eat and it’s easy to make so I’m game!
Catherine
April 16, 2020This sounds like a great spread and I have all the ingredients for it. Healthy too! I hope you had a beautiful Passover. Stay safe and be well!
Berlin Maynigo
April 16, 2020Don’t worry. It looks appetising to us. And definitely something I would want to try for my family to experience it as well.
Catalina
April 16, 2020I’ve never tried a Charoset but I am very curious. I will definitely make your recipe!
★★★★★
Amary
April 16, 2020That look delicious, will add to my list because now we have more time to try out new food.
Toni
April 16, 2020That looks really delicious!! Would love to give it a try!
★★★★★
Eileen M Loya
April 16, 2020It looks good! I was reading through the ingredient list and I liked everything that goes in that dish. I will try making this for the family. Love that it is so easy to make too.
★★★★★
Susan
April 16, 2020It’s so wonderful to have family recipes and traditions to share together. This looks delicious… I’ve never tried anything like it.
Kita Bryant
April 16, 2020I love having traditions like this for holidays. This looks like a really tasty dish!
★★★★★
Fatima Torres
April 15, 2020A friend and I were discussing this recipe the other day. She wasn’t sure how to make it. Sending it to her inbox now.
the joyous living
April 15, 2020Happy Passover. I hope you had a great one despite the circumstances. I’ve been lucky to attend several Sedars over my time due to friends’ invites. I love charoset with matzo! thanks for the recipe.
Kathy
April 15, 2020I’ve never heard of this before or tried it. Looks really good though. I may have to give this a try too.
Sherry
April 15, 2020I enjoy reading about the traditions of others. Passover Seder sounds wonderful. I haven’t heard of Charoset before. It sounds yummy.
Myrah Duque
April 15, 2020Even though I’ve never heard of this recipe, it sounds really good and I would make it.
★★★★★
Amy
April 15, 2020This apple recipe sounds delicious! I think the combination of apples and nuts sounds so delicious to me.
Celebrate Woman Today
April 15, 2020Live and learn. I have never heard of this recipe. But the flavors together sound so good.
Lisa Joy Thompson
April 15, 2020I had never heard of charoset before our family went to Israel. We got a chance to taste a variety of amazing traditional Jewish recipes and they were all delicious!
Valerie
April 15, 2020Never heard of charoset before but it looks right up my alley! I will definitely have to try this recipe while in quarantine. I agree about writing down recipes. My grandma did most of the cooking growing up, and she’s starting to get old and no one knows how she made some of our favorite dishes. She is old school and would just “eyeball” things too, so that might be hard to do lol.
Geetha
April 15, 2020First time I’ve ever seen this recipe. Looks delicious and will definitely try it.
Chad
April 15, 2020oh i’ve never heard of Charoset! I love traditions and I love food so this is a must for me lol…Thanks a lot.
Mimi
April 15, 2020I’ve never tried anything like this but it sounds delicious!
Tara Pittman
April 15, 2020This dish sounds so yummy. I need to make it for my boys for luncj
Amber Myers
April 15, 2020I’ve never had this before. I’ll have to try it and see if I like it. I am sure I will!
★★★★★
Anna Elle Liz
April 15, 2020I haven’t had this in forever! I had a 4th-grade teacher who was Jewish and she shared so much about her faith and traditions which I so greatly appreciated. I used to love eating it with matzoh and a side of garlic potato latkes!
Jessica Collazo
April 15, 2020I’ve heard about this dish before but I never heard about this recipe. I always wanted to try it just because I want to know why you guys ate in Passover.
Anne Marie
April 15, 2020The Jewish Passover traditions are very beautiful and ensure that God’s miraculous deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt will never be forgotten. As a Catholic, I have a great respect for the Jewish faith tradition and pray for full unity one day! Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe.
GiGi Eats
April 15, 2020What a funky mix of flavors!! I’ve never heard of this before!
Cristina Petrini
April 15, 2020I am very curious about this recipe in its simplicity and I must also assume in its healthy goodness!
★★★★★
Melissa Cushing
April 15, 2020I have never heard of or tried Charoset but would love to after checking out the yummy recipe. The ingredients sound delightful and I would for sure love to give the traditional recipe a try 🙂
★★★★★