By Arielle Weg-Zager
Honey holds a very special place at the table during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It’s customary to eat bread and apples dipped in honey throughout the holiday to symbolize sweetness in the year ahead, and many of the dishes served during the two days incorporate honey in some special way. But for me, the tradition of honey during this New Year will hold an especially important place in my heart.
See, every week my husband and I sit down to a very special Friday night dinner marking the Jewish sabbath. The dinner begins with a blessing over candles, wine, and bread. Traditionally, the bread is symbolically dipped in salt before everyone enjoys, but over the last year, we’ve had the privilege of following a very unique tradition—dipping our bread in honey. This tradition is special for newlyweds during their first year of marriage to bring sweetness into their home and joy into the week ahead. While most Jewish people only eat bread and honey during the New Year, we’ve had the pleasure of marking every week with this sweetness. And for us, the final days of our first year of marriage, and thus the end of the honey tradition, come just days before Rosh Hashanah.
So, this year, as I dip my challah and apples in honey during the Jewish New Year, I’ll hope to bring the joy and sweetness of our beautiful first year married into the year to come. And, of course, we’ll dine on a slew of other honey goodies to get us through the festivities. Here are some of our favorites I hope you bring to your own tables. Shanah Tovah!
One-Bowl Apple Cake with Honey Glaze
When I think of iconic Rosh Hashanah foods, an apple and honey cake is the first thing to come to mind. This recipe comes together in just one bowl and has a decadent honey glaze over the top to bring everything together without becoming overly sweet.
Get the recipe: One-Bowl Apple Cake with Honey Glaze
Apple and Honey Bread Pudding
The classic combo meets fluffy challah bread in this incredible festive dessert. The dish is like your favorite French toast and bread pudding in one, with the addition of apples for pops of freshness. Serve warm alongside a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream for the perfect bite.
Get the recipe: Apple and Honey Bread Pudding
Hot Honey Roasted Carrots
A simple roasted carrot side is always welcome to the table, but topping it with a sweet and spicy honey glaze that gets caramelized in the oven really brings the holiday spread to life. Finish the dish with some fresh parsley and dill to make the flavors pop.
Get the recipe: Hot Honey Roasted Carrots
Apple and Honey Rugelach
These are another great play on the classic holiday duo, this time meeting a classic Jewish cookie. A package of ready-to-unroll pie crust keeps these manageable for the home cook with the same fresh-baked flair I love when hosting guests.
Get the recipe: Apple and Honey Rugelach
Honey-Lemon Chicken
Is it a Rosh Hashanah spread without some kind of chicken? This super quick recipe leans on a quick dip in flour so the chicken breasts turn out nice and crisp with a thick layer of lemony sweet pan sauce. Plus, cooking the chicken on the stovetop helps save oven space for all those delicious honey-laden desserts.
Get the recipe: Honey-Lemon Chicken
Arielle Weg-Zager is the digital editor of SavoryOnline and has been writing about food, nutrition, and health for over 8 years. She collects cookbooks and loves nothing more than cooking elaborate meals for her friends or exploring the local restaurant scene.
