This healthy Charoset recipe is one of my favorite foods to make for Passover.
Best Charoset Recipe
During the Seder, this sweet, fruity dish holds a special, symbolic place, reminding us of the mortar the Jews used to bond the bricks of the pyramids while enslaved in Egypt.
How to Make Charoset
Wondering how to make Charoset? It’s one of those easy Passover recipes made with only 6 healthy ingredients.
All you need to do to make this Charoset recipe is chop up some apples then toss them in the food processor along with the items below.
Remember to pulse gently so the Charoset has some texture, it should be a little chunky like the photo, you don’t want it to turn into a paste!
Charoset
Ingredients
- 2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into cubes
- 2 cups walnuts, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- ¾ cups currants
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine apples, walnuts, cinnamon, juices, and currants
- Pulse briefly until desired texture is achieved
- Serve
What is Charoset?
Are you wondering, what is Charoset?
Free exclusive eBook, plus recipes and health tips, delivered to your inbox.
Traditionally, European, or Ashkenazi Jews, use nuts, fruit, cinnamon, sweet wine, and sugar for this dish.
I make a lower carb Charoset, omitting the sugar and wine. Instead, I use a bit of fresh squeezed orange juice to up the flavor.
To further reduce the sweetness I use currants in place of raisins.
Sephardic Charoset
Jews of Middle Eastern descent, or Sephardic Jews, commonly use dates, figs, dried apricots, almonds, and sesame seeds to make Charoset.
Charoset or Haroset
Tomato or tomato? Charoset or haroset?
“Charoset” uses the guttural sound employed when this word is said in Hebrew, while “haroset” is the version of this word used in English.
Passover Food
In general, Middle Eastern Jews have a far richer culinary tradition than European Jewry and this classic Passover dish is no exception.
My healthy Charoset recipe is a blend of the two traditions, and much lower in sugar than typical Charoset recipes.
Gluten Free Passover Recipes
Charoset is something you can enjoy even if you have a gluten allergy.
My older son, diagnosed with celiac disease in 2001, has always adored this gluten free Passover dish.
Now when he comes home in the spring he asks me to make Charoset even if it’s not Passover and he eats it straight from the mason jar I store it in.
Seder Plate
I usually make one batch of Charoset for our Seder plate, and an extra batch for the boys to snack on.
Passover Charoset Recipe Easy
Haroset is just one of my easy Passover recipes. For more ideas, check out my full Passover Menu.
Apple Recipes
This Pesach dish is one of our favorite apple recipes. If you’re in an apple frame of mind, take a look at these:
Charoset Passover
What do you put in your Charoset? Leave a comment and let me know!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared this Charoset recipe in 2008.
Bina says
I love charoset! I avoid making it during the year so it’s even more enjoyable on pesach. I do mine Jerusalem (yerushalmi) style; apples, dates, walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, wine and a dash of ginger.
Chag kasher v’sameach! Thank you for the great recipes!
cathryn says
this is pretty much my recipe Bina!! I also add pears- love how it adds to the texture. so love seeing everyone’s variations <3
BubbyMC says
I always add a mango to my charoset. And I keep some charoset and mock chopped liver in the kitchen along with some veggies. We like to nosh before the seder.
Elana says
BubbyMC, that sounds delicious!
Onionrecipe says
This will be great for on the go when my son needs a snack.
TANIA from MALTA says
Dear Elana
THANK YOU, for your lovely recipes , recently i had to change my diet to a gluten free food , i will be trying most of the recipes but my question is can i use ( rice flour ) instead of almond flour just in case i don’t manage to buy it here . I will keep viewing this site in future , with thanks
Tania
Elana says
Tania, you’re welcome!
Tracy says
Oh my goodness, I just made your Charoset, what a flavour explosion, I can’t have orange juice so I exchanged it with pineapple juice. I also made the Simple Bread, My husband and daughter love them and they are hard to please, thank you so much for posting your recipes. Tomorrow I am going to cook the chicken with apples and banana cake; I will let you know how I go. Any idea on what I can replace the cream with? Thank you Elana. Tracy.
Elana says
Tracy, you’re welcome!
Celine says
it sounds so healthy, simple, and delicious! I’ll have to give it a try.
Paige says
I love charoset…now, do you have a good tzimmes recipe???
Elana says
Paige, yes I do!
https://elanaspantry.com/tzimmes/
Happy Passover,
Elana
Marissa says
Sounds great. Simple, flavourful and filled with natural goodness. This is my favourite from a kid healthified by me. It’s not gluten free but I thought you could make a gluten free version. I think 1 cup rice flour and 1 cup almond flour instead of spelt flour would work?
My Gramma Florence’s 1950’s recipe for Benito Pudding was the inspiration for these bars. I remember having it as a kid and loving it. It was soft and chewy and slathered with a high sugar, caramely sauce. I am skipping the sauce to avoid the sugar rush and all that goes with it. This is a tasty and easy to go snack.
½ cup butter
½ cup rice milk
2 cups spelt flour (or 1 cup rice flour and 1 cup almond flour?)
½ cup quinoa flakes
2 tsp baking powder
½ cup raisins, soak in water
2 apples, cored and diced
½ cup walnuts, chopped
Turn on oven to 350°.
Melt butter and mix with maple syrup and rice milk.
In a separate bowl mix quinoa flakes, flour and baking powder.
Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and mix well.
Drain raisins and stir into batter along with diced apple.
Lightly butter a 9 inch baking dish.
Pour in batter, smoothing out top.
Bake for 25 minutes until just lightly browning.
amanda says
what a simple and easy dessert! a nice blend of both smooth and crunchy textures as well
Kevin says
This is the first time that I have heard of Charoset. It looks and sounds really good.
Simon says
Kevin…& U don’t pronounce the ‘CH’ like in Churchill, …rather like ???
Might be hard 4 U since English Lang. Has no such letter in its alfabeit
Allen Bennett says
Simon,
You mean we don’t say “Chappy Chanukkah”?:)