This Kompot recipe will teach you exactly how to make this traditional non-alcoholic fruit drink that’s incredibly popular in Eastern Europe, especially Ukraine and Russia. This fruit drink is something every family makes at home, and my family is no exception. I’ll teach you the perfect authentic recipe!
Table of Contents
This is our go-to drink all year round, and since my kids like to drink Kompot very warm I make it more often during cold winter days. And the best part about Kompot is that it’s all natural and my kids love eating the fruit that’s left on the bottom of the glass.
It’s a healthy and tasty alternative to soft drinks and fruit juices you’ll find in the grocery store, and it’s a great way to enjoy the tasty fruits you may have lying around. The best part is you can use dried, frozen, and fresh fruits!
What is Kompot?
Kompot is a traditional Eastern European fruit drink that every Ukrainian and Russian family makes at home using a combination of simmered fruit in a large volume of water.
It’s a versatile recipe, allowing you to use a wide variety of fruits such as apples, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, and berries. The fruits are boiled in a large pot of water, with the sweetener added to taste, then strained and served chilled.
You can use any fruit you have on hand, from fresh berries to dried apricots or even a mix of fruits. The best part? Its ability to experiment with different combinations of fruits and spices, such as adding cinnamon or vanilla for extra flavor.
Making Kompot at home is a great way to use up any leftover fruit you have, and it is a healthier alternative to store-bought juices. The taste is incomparable - the natural sweetness and flavor of the fruit are highlighted, with a hint of tartness depending on the fruits you use.
It’s a refreshing and satisfying drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Trust me, you’re going to fall in love with this fruit drink!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: This Kompot recipe requires just a few basic ingredients and simple instructions. Simply add your fruits and sugar to a large pot of water, boil, and let it simmer. It is easy to whip up, and the cooking time is minimal.
- Family Favorite: This recipe is a big hit in my home, especially during the cold winter days. The kids love the taste and enjoy finding the fruit at the bottom of their glass after they've finished the drink.
- Versatile: While this recipe uses dried apple chips, frozen cherries, and frozen raspberries, you can easily mix and match with other fruits like peaches, berries, apricots, plums, pears, or strawberries. This versatility lets you tailor the recipe to your family's taste preferences.
- Delicious: The combination of the dried fruit and the sweetener gives this Kompot a wonderful flavor. It is a sweet, fruity drink that's refreshing when served cold or comforting when served warm.
Key Ingredients
All you need are some simple pantry staple ingredients to make this Kompot recipe at home. You can use any of your favorite fresh or frozen fruit to make this drink. Let's look at them in more detail:
- Water: This is the base of your Kompot recipe, allowing all the flavors of the fruits to infuse into a delicious drink.
- Frozen Raspberries: These add a lovely tartness to your Kompot, balancing out the sweetness of the other fruits. See more detailed instruction post on how to freeze raspberries.
- Frozen Cherries: A classic ingredient in making Kompot, cherries bring vibrant color and sweet, tangy flavor.
- Dried Apple Chips: These give your Kompot a wonderful apple flavor, and also provide a tasty treat at the bottom of your glass.
- Sugar: This sweetener is key to bringing out the natural sweetness of the fruits, but you can adjust the amount to taste.
How to Make Kompot
Making this incredible Kompot is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:
Pour water into a large 12 L pot, enough to allow your fruits to swim freely. Next, add all your ingredients to the pot.
The sweetener of choice here is sugar, but you're welcome to use alternatives like honey, maple syrup, or even stevia if you're watching your sugar intake. Add your sweetener to the pot and place it on the stove.
Here comes the cooking part. Start with high heat, stirring constantly to guarantee that the sugar dissolves completely. This is an important step as it makes sure your Kompot doesn't end up grainy. Once the sugar is dissolved, you can relax a little and just give it an occasional stir.
Now, we want to bring our mixture to a boil. This is where the flavors of the fruits start to infuse with the water. Once it is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. This is your cooking time, and it is crucial for achieving that rich, fruity flavor.
After the cooking time is up, remove your pot from the stove and let it cool. As it cools, you'll notice the fruit sinking to the bottom of the pot. This is completely normal and just means your Kompot is ready to be enjoyed!
So, there you have it! Your delicious easy Kompot is ready to serve!
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Recipe Tips
- Use a Large Pot: A large pot is essential for this Kompot recipe. This makes sure that there's enough space for the ingredients and the water, allowing the flavors to mix well.
- Choose Quality Ingredients: The flavor of your Kompot heavily depends on the ingredients you use. Opt for homegrown or fresh market fruits like cherries, raspberries, and dried apple chips for a rich taste.
- Stir Constantly Until Sugar Dissolves: Initially, stir the mix constantly until the sugar dissolves. This will help avoid any gritty texture in your drink and guarantees a smooth, sweet flavor.
- Let it Simmer: After bringing the mix to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. This cooking time allows the flavors to blend, enhancing the overall taste of your Kompot.
- Allow to Cool: Let the Kompot cool down after removing it from the stove. The fruits will sink to the bottom, infusing the water with more flavor.
- Enjoy the Leftover Fruit: Don't waste the fruit at the bottom of the pot! They're tasty, soaked in sweet Kompot syrup, and can be a delicious treat after enjoying your drink.
- Experiment with Different Fruits: Feel free to experiment with different fruits. Strawberries, peaches, plums, apricots, and other berries can also make a delicious Kompot.
- Adjust Sweetness: Adjust the amount of sweetener to your liking. If you prefer a less sugary Kompot, consider using stevia or maple syrup as healthier alternatives to sugar.
Substitutions and Variations
This delicious Kompot recipe is perfect as is, but if you're looking to change things up, here are a few variation ideas you can try:
- Berries: If you're a fan of all things berry, this variation is for you. Replace some of the apple chips with a mixture of frozen strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. The blend of berries will give the Kompot a unique flavor and add a pop of color to your drink.
- Sweeten with Honey: For a natural sweetener alternative, try replacing sugar with honey or maple syrup. You'll be adding a distinct flavor to your Kompot while keeping it sweet and satisfying. Depending on your taste, adjust the amount of sweetener as desired.
- Citrus: If you love the refreshing taste of citrus, add the juice and zest of one lemon to your Kompot. This will give the drink a tangy flavor that contrasts beautifully with the sweetness of the fruits. Plus, it is a great way to add a burst of vitamin C!
- Stone Fruit: If you enjoy the taste of stone fruits, substitute some of the dried apple chips and frozen cherries with dried apricots, peaches, or plums. Remember to remove the pits before adding them to the pot. This variation will give your Kompot a richer, deeper flavor due to the unique taste profiles of these fruits.
- Spices: To add a warm touch to your Kompot, especially during the colder months, consider adding some spices. A stick of cinnamon or a pinch of vanilla can enhance the flavor of your drink, making it even more comforting and delicious.
Serving Suggestions
- Start your day on a refreshing note by enjoying a glass of Kompot with your breakfast. The sweet and tangy flavor of the cherries and raspberries will wake up your taste buds.
- For a lovely afternoon treat, serve chilled Kompot alongside your favorite cookies or pastries. The fruity flavors will perfectly compliment the sweetness of the baked goods.
- Spice up your dinner by serving Kompot as a palate cleanser between courses. Its light, fruity taste can refresh your taste buds and prepare them for the next flavorful dish.
- Kompot makes a great base for a fruity cocktail. Mix it with a splash of vodka or rum, add a bit of lemon, and you've got yourself a delicious homemade cocktail.
- For a healthy and satisfying dessert, serve the leftover fruit from the Kompot. The fruit, soaked in the sweet Kompot mixture, will have a unique, delicious taste.
- On a hot summer day, turn your Kompot into a refreshing popsicle. Just pour the cooled drink into popsicle molds, freeze, and enjoy a sweet, icy treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use a variety of fruits in the Kompot recipe. In this particular recipe, we use home-grown dried apple chips, frozen cherries, and frozen raspberries from our garden. You can also use dried pear chips and frozen strawberries. If you don't have home-grown fruits, supermarket fruits work just as well!
The taste of Kompot can vary greatly depending on the fruits and sweeteners you use. It is usually sweet with a natural fruit flavor. In this recipe, the dried apples, cherries, and raspberries give the Kompot a sweet, tangy taste.
Yes, you can use fresh fruits in a Kompot recipe. However, using dried or frozen fruits allows you to enjoy this delicious drink year-round, regardless of what's in season. Just remember to remove any pits from stone fruits like cherries and plums before boiling.
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerating: Refrigerating your leftover Kompot is the easiest way to keep it fresh. Simply pour the Kompot, including any leftover fruits, into a glass jar or an airtight container. It can last in the fridge for up to a week. Remember, always keep your Kompot in the coldest part of your fridge and not on the door.
Reheating: If you, like my kids, prefer your Kompot warm, reheating it is simple. Pour out the amount you want to consume into a saucepan and gently heat it over low heat
Freezing: Freezing Kompot isn't generally recommended. Though it won't harm the drink, the texture of the fruits can change after freezing and defrosting, becoming mushy and less enjoyable.
Recipe Card
Easy Homemade Kompot Juice Recipe (Slavic Fruit Drink)
Ingredients
- 8 Liters water
- 12 oz. frozen raspberries
- 2 lbs. frozen cherries
- 12 oz. dried apple chips
- 1 ½ cup sugar
Instructions
- Pour water into a large 12 L pot, enough to allow your fruits to swim freely. Next, add all your ingredients to the pot.
- The sweetener of choice here is sugar, but you're welcome to use alternatives like honey, maple syrup, or even stevia if you're watching your sugar intake. Add your sweetener to the pot and place it on the stove.
- Here comes the cooking part. Start with high heat, stirring constantly to guarantee that the sugar dissolves completely. This is an important step as it makes sure your Kompot doesn't end up grainy. Once the sugar is dissolved, you can relax a little and just give it an occasional stir.
- Now, we want to bring our mixture to a boil. This is where the flavors of the fruits really start to infuse with the water. Once it is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. This is your cooking time, and it is crucial for achieving that rich, fruity flavor.
- After the cooking time is up, remove your pot from the stove and let it cool. As it cools, you'll notice the fruit sinking to the bottom of the pot. This is completely normal and just means your Kompot is ready to be enjoyed!
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This recipe was originally posted on January 7, 2015 (original picture below). I updated the pictures and the post for a better user experience. This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
Oksana BARBIN says
My kids love this drink. I make it a couple times a week now! This way I know that their juice is in the most purest form!
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Agree with that! Homemade always tastes best! 🙂
Danielle Meacham says
I drank this a lot while I was in Russia and it was my FAVORITE! But I am trying to figure out how they bottled it for months later. I know we’d grab a bottle made months before. How do we bottle it? I remember the boiling and bottling and flipping upside down but I was 12 and cannot remember the steps.
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
No, this version of Kompot is different from the one you can in jars. The one you’re talking about is more of a juice version, which is used for making kompot. I’ll post plums canned juice soon.
Barb says
What is the fruit in the first picture?
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Lol, that's a plastic pomegranate. ?
Olga says
Valya, i tried a few of your recipes, ur amazing! keep up the amazing work 🙂
valya'stasteofhome.com says
Thank you so much Olga! 🙂
Natasha says
Oh wow! A walk down a memory lane! Mom used to make all the time. I remember apples and cherries. Not sure of other fruit. I Absolutely love, LOVE this stuff 🙂
valya'stasteofhome.com says
I know what you mean. Thanks Natasha! 🙂
ksenchan says
I adore kompot and love your version of it (in fact, I am going to make it right now for breakfast). I have a cranberry one on my blog, but my grandma makes kompot out of whatever is available at the time - it really is a wonderfully versatile drink!
valya'stasteofhome.com says
You are right! You can make kompot out of any fruits you can think of. That what I had in my freezer and pantry. Thanks Ksenia 🙂
Olga says
What is your blog?