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    Home » Dips & Sauces » Charoset Recipe

    Charoset Recipe

    Last updated: Aug 23, 2022 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    Sweet, sticky, and oh so delightful, this charoset is truly delicious and so easy to make.

    I make it with nuts, raisins, honey, and just a little wine. I simply add the ingredients to the food processor and let it do all the work!

    Charoset served in a white bowl with a spoon and a napkin.

    I don't consider Passover as a particularly tasty holiday. Hanukkah is much better (hello, latkes!). Matzo is not very good (except when made into matzo brei), and the traditional Seder meal, while certainly tasty, is not exactly exciting, culinarily speaking.

    However, charoset is a delicacy. And particularly this recipe is so very good. Made with no apples, it's fabulously smooth, sticky, and sweet. If you like nuts and honey, I think you are going to love it!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need five simple ingredients to make this tasty Passover dish. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    Walnuts: Make sure you use raw and unsalted nuts. These tasty nuts are among my favorites, by the way.

    Raisins: I use 3 oz, and I prefer to use dark raisins, not golden raisins. Though if all you have are golden raisins, you can go ahead and use them.

    Honey: Just ¼ cup adds the perfect amount of sweetness and stickiness.

    Dessert wine: Traditionally you would use a Jewish dessert wine. I often use marsala wine, which is a departure from tradition, but a tasty departure.

    Vanilla extract: Try to use the real thing - pure vanilla extract - and not the artificially flavored stuff. It does make a difference, especially in an uncooked recipe.

    Instructions

    Making my version of charoset is so easy! The food processor does all the work. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    You start by processing the walnuts in your food processor. You want them finely chopped, but you should stop before they turn into walnut butter.

    Now, add the remaining ingredients and process until smooth.

    Remove the blade and give the mixture one last good stir with a rubber spatula, paying special attention to the bottom of the bowl.

    A six-photo collage showing the steps for making charoset.

    Expert tip

    This recipe, as written, yields a fairly small amount - ¾ cup, or 6 servings. But if you're hosting a big Seder, you can easily double this recipe.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is charoset?

    It's a sweet paste made of ground fruit and nuts, traditionally eaten at the Passover Seder. It symbolizes the mortar which the Israelites, enslaved in ancient Egypt, used when forced to work as builders.

    Can I make this recipe without wine?

    Yes. You can simply omit the wine, or you can use 100% grape juice instead of wine.

    What fruits are used in charoset?

    I like to use raisins. If you wish, you can replace the raisins with chopped dates. It's really a very flexible, forgiving recipe, so play with it and use your own preferred ingredients.

    Can you make it low-carb?

    Not really. You could try using a sugar-free honey substitute, but the raisins are still high in carbs. Since I only make this recipe once a year, I enjoy a small spoonful and then move my attention to the other items on the Seder table.

    Variations

    I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you'd like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:

    • You can use chopped dates instead of raisins.
    • You can omit the wine completely, or replace it with 100% grape juice.
    • Pecans work well instead of walnuts. Make sure they're unsalted.

    Serving suggestions

    During Leil Ha'Seder, charoset is traditionally eaten with matzos and with lettuce leaves as part of the religious ceremony.

    If you have leftovers, they're excellent on apple slices, on this almond flour bread, or on this banana bread.

    Storing leftovers

    Leftovers keep well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for about a week. Do take them out of the fridge an hour or two before you plan on enjoying them.

    How to serve the leftovers? You can serve them on matzoh, wrap them in lettuce, or spread them on apple slices. They are also good on this almond flour bread.

    Charoset served in a white bowl with a spoon.

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    Recipe Card

    Charoset is served in a white bowl with a spoon.
    4.96 from 81 votes
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    Charoset Recipe

    Sweet, sticky and delightful, this charoset recipe is also very easy to make. It is made with nuts, raisins, honey, and a little wine.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Jewish
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 156kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    Ingredients

    • 2 oz raw walnuts
    • 3 oz raisins
    • 4 tablespoons honey (80 grams)
    • 2 tablespoons marsala wine (or any dessert wine)
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • Process the walnuts in your food processor until finely chopped, but not a paste.
    • Add the raisins, honey, wine and vanilla extract and process until fairly smooth.
    • Remove the food processor's blade and use a rubber spatula to give the charoset one more good stir, scraping the bottom, until well-blended. 
    • Transfer the charoset to a serving bowl. 
    • If not using the charoset the same day, cover and refrigerate, but remove from fridge 2 hours before serving and give it one final stir.

    Video

    Notes

    This recipe, as written, yields a fairly small amount of charoset - ¾ cup, or 6 servings. If you're hosting a big Seder, you can easily double this recipe.
    This recipe is obviously not low-carb. It's a traditional Jewish recipe that I make for my family once a year during the Passover holiday.

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Adam Rosen

      August 03, 2023 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      I love that this charoset is made without apples! So good. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        August 03, 2023 at 8:18 pm

        You're very welcome, Adam!

        Reply

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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