Apple and cranberry Passover charoset is tart and fruity, mixed with pomegranate seeds and a touch of honey for sweetness.
Passover Charoset Recipe
This is my mom’s charoset recipe. Every Passover as a kid, she would make charoset, of course. I remember dunking my matzo into the chunky apple mixture and I knew I couldn’t stop. It is sweet, tart and crunchy.
This apple and cranberry charoset is full of fresh ingredients with just a touch of sweetness from honey. Mom told me to add fresh, whole cranberries (not dried) which gives it a gorgeous color and perfect tart-puckery flavor. I then mellowed the tartness with some honey, fresh orange juice and snappy pomegranate seeds.
What Does Charoset Represent?
Charoset represents the “mud” that the Jews would stomp in to make the clay for building. Anything goes in charoset, apples, fruit, dried fruit, you name it. I’ve even seen charoset truffles and dried fruit charoset, chunky charoset, you name it, there’s a charoset for it.
A Quick Passover History Lesson
The holiday of Passover is a very well known one with most religions. Passover or “Pesach” in Hebrew is the celebration of the Jews exiting from Egypt. In addition, Pass-over literally means that. When God was slaying the 1st born son of Egyptian families, he would “pass-over” Jewish homes. With Passover, comes the festive dinner, called a seder where 6 items are displayed on a seder plate, each representing something significant.
A hard boiled egg represents fertility and renewal, marror or bitter herb (usually horseradish) symbolizes the bitterness the Jews had to go through in slavery.
Charoset, as mentioned previously represents the mud used, a shank bone represents the lamb that was sacrificed because the Jews had to paint the blood of the lamb around their door so that God would “pass over”.
Karpas, another bitter herb (usually parsley) is dipped into salt water and also represents the bitterness and tears hat the slaves endured. And finally, hazaret, which is another bitter green is used to represent the bitterness that he slaves went through, usually lettuce.
More Passover Favorites
- Matzo Almond Fruit Crumble
- Passover Charoset Three Ways: Tropical, Persian and tex-Mex
- Slow Cooker Brisket
- Lemon Saffron Matzo Ball Soup
Apple and Cranberry Charoset
Ingredients
- 2 apples peeled and diced
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
- 1/2 orange zest and juice
- 3/4 cup sweet red wine
- 2 tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and taste for seasoning. Allow to rest in refrigerator for at least 20 minutes so all flavors combine together.
Nutrition
This was was originally published March, 2013 and updated March, 2021 with nutritional information.
Nice, these days I am craving for refreshing fruit salad type of dishes such as your charoset. I enjoyed reading through your post and learning more about the Jewish religion. For a very long time I had no idea what Passover was, it’s not common this side of the world.
Oh yay I am so glad I told the story..I just said a quick version though 🙂
Looks like it is time for me to try charoset for the first time.
Yes! It is so easy! Happy Easter and Passover 🙂
I love this recipe! I just love cranberries and apples together! I’m bookmarking your recipe!
This was always my favorite part of Passover! Love your mom’s recipe!
This sounds good for anytime of year, Samantha!
This looks beautiful and tasty! Thank you for sharing the recipe and the tradition behind your dish.
Wow, if I had had this growing up I would have had a totally different perception of this dish!
I love being introduced to new dishes and this sounds amazing. I love that it has a story to go along with it too. Food takes on a whole new meaning if and when it symbolizes something of importance. Thank you for sharing this recipe and information.
Thank you so much for sharing this lovely post. I enjoyed learning more about the meaning of Passover, and this traditional dish! Sounds very good! 😉
Thank you so much for sharing the short version of the Passover holiday. Your Apple and Cranberry Charoset looks {and sounds} so good.
We used to eat a “seder” dinner on Holy Thursday with another Catholic family. Our charoset wasn’t too appealing…but this was back in the 70’s before you could look up recipes on the Internet. I remember it having chopped apples, walnuts and cinnamon. Yours looks SO much better! Wishing you a Happy Passover!
What a beautiful post with a gorgeous recipe. I love being introduced to new traditions and recipes through #SundaySupper
Charoset sounds delicious! I love the fruit combination in yours…yum!
Yum! I will have to try your mom’s charoset recipe! However, I laughed when I saw that delicious-looking but treif recipe right beneath! Are you testing me?
Hi Beryl! Thank you for the comment..this was a very old post where other bloggers linked in and some are yes, not kosher. I will be updating the post very soon!!