Rainbow Apples and Honey Board

This apples and honey board has become one of my most popular Rosh Hashanah recipes over the years, and I think that’s because it looks far more elaborate than it actually is. The entire thing comes together with just one apple of each color (or variety), a bowl of honey, and a little thoughtful arranging. It’s simple, festive, and celebrates one of the sweetest traditions of the holiday without requiring much more than a cutting board and a knife.

Choose a board, not a plate.

A large wooden board or flat platter gives you room to arrange everything naturally and lets the colors of the apples shine. It’s the easiest way to make the finished board feel abundant and inviting.

Mix up the apple varieties…

I mean, OF COURSE! Because the magic here is in the variety. Different colors make the board more beautiful, while different flavors make it more fun to eat. Note that you only need one apple of each color to produce a board that looks like the one above, so a little goes a long way.

…and Add in multiple honey varieties, too!

Don’t stop at the apples! If you can get your hands on a few different honey types (readily available at almost any grocery store—no need to go to a specialty shop), set them all out. Wildflower, orange blossom, clover, buckwheat…it’s amazing how dramatically they can differ in flavor (and in color).

Use lemon to keep the apples from browning.

Keep a small bowl of lemon juice (or water with a generous squeeze of lemon) nearby as you work, and quickly dip each apple slice before arranging it on the board. It won’t make the apples taste lemony, but it will help keep them looking fresh for hours. If you’d rather not dip the slices, a light spritz of lemon juice over the finished board works well, too.

Finish with a few garnishes.

A honey dipper is nice, as are a few edible flowers or fresh herbs. Not necessary, though!