It's traditional to dip apples in honey to symbolize the hope for a sweet year ahead, a practice of which I was aware but never knew the origins. According to Cohen, the reason honey is used (and not some other sweet substance) is its association with the manna—described in the Torah as being "like honey wafers"—provided by God during the 40 years that the Israelites wandered the desert. It is supposed to remind Jews that any sustenance or material benefits that come their way are "solely dependent upon God's grace and favor," he writes.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine