Dipping the apple in honey on Rosh Hashanah is said to symbolize the desire for a sweet new year. Why an apple? In Bereshit, the book of Genesis, Israel compares the fragrance of his son, Jacob, to sadeh shel tappuchim, a field of apple trees.

Scholars tell us that mystical powers were ascribed to the apple and people believed it provided good health and personal well being.

Some attribute the using of an apple to the translation of the story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit which caused the expulsion from paradise.

Some maintain in the phrase “go you way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,” sweet refers to apples and honey.

Here are some apple desserts, not using honey, for the New Year.

1 1/2 lb. apples
4 cups water
1 cup sugar
2 vanilla beans
1/3 cup lemon juice
3 tbsp. confectioners’ sugar (optional)
2 tbsp. flavoured brandy or 2 tbsp. liqueur

Halve apples and remove cores. In a sauceplan, place water, sugar and vanilla beans. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and apples. Cook until apples are tender. Add confectioners’ sugar, cool and chill.

Puree fruit in processor or blender with some of poaching syrup. Add brandy or liqueur.  
 

 
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. allspice
1 1/4 cups unsweetened applesauce
1 cup raisins
1/3 cup rum
 
Preheat oven to 350. Grease a bundt or tube pan. In a food processor or mixer, blend margarine, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and applesauce. Blend. Add raisins and rum. Spoon batter into pan. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean,
 

 
This recipe is fun to use for fancy cupcake pans or mini pans.
 
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 3/4 cups sugar substitute
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups cooked unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp. vanilla
 

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin tins. In a mixer or food processor, combine oil, eggs and sugar substitute.

Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, applesauce and vanilla and blend. Spoon into greased muffin tins. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a couple of muffins comes out clean.  

Sybil Kaplan is a journalist, book reviewer, lecturer, food writer and cookbook author who lives in Jerusalem.