Growing up, Kissel was one of my favorite sweet treats – fruit in a sweet syrupy base. Unlike our Cherry Kissel, This one is great for the cold weather months because it uses dried fruit. You can also use frozen fruit if that is what you have on hand.
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Kissel (pronounced KEE-sell) is a fruit soup that is very popular in Europe, usually eaten as a dessert. This is a winter kissel that calls for dried fruit. You know what’s awesome? You can use any dried fruit you want because it’s always in season! 😉 The cinnamon stick takes this kissel over the top and reminds me of apple cider. And it will make your house smell Amazing!
Ingredients for Winter Kissel (kysil):
2 cups dried fruit (we used about 1/2 cup dried apples, 1/2 cup prunes, 1/2 cup apricots, 1/4 cup craisins)
6 cups boiling hot water
1/2 cup cold water
2 Tbsp potato starch
2-3 Tbsp honey
1 small cinnamon stick
How to make Winter Kissel
1. Rinse and drain the dry fruit then transfer it to a large soup pot along with the cinnamon stick.
2. Cover fruit with 6 cups boiling water. Cover with lid and let the pot sit off the heat for 30 minutes.
3. After the 30 minutes, add 2-3 Tbsp of honey to taste, and place the pot on the stove. Bring it to a boil over med/high heat then reduce heat and simmer on low for 5 – 7 minutes.
4. Mix 2 Tbsp of potato starch with 1/2 cup of cold water and slowly pour it into the soup pot while continuously stirring the soup.
5. Bring the pot back to a boil and immediately remove it from the heat. Serve warm or cold. You can strain the fruit through a sieve if you just want the juice, but we enjoy the fruit way too much to do that.
More Easter European Recipes
If you are looking for more Ukrainian, Russian, or Eastern European recipes, these are some of our favorites that remind me of my childhood.
Winter Kissel Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried fruit, we used 1/2 cup dried apples, 1/2 cup prunes, 1/2 cup apricots, 1/4 cup craisins
- 6 cups boiling hot water
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 2 Tbsp potato starch
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1 small cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Rinse and drain the dry fruit then transfer it to a large soup pot along with the cinnamon stick.
- Cover fruit with 6 cups boiling water. Cover with lid and let the pot sit off the heat for 30 minutes.
- After the 30 minutes, add 2-3 Tbsp of honey to taste, and place the pot on the stove. Bring it to a boil over med/high heat then reduce heat and simmer on low for 5 – 7 minutes.
- Mix 2 Tbsp of potato starch with 1/2 cup of cold water and slowly pour it into the soup pot while continuously stirring the soup.
- Bring the pot back to a boil and immediately remove it from the heat. Serve warm or cold. You can strain the fruit through a sieve if you just want the juice, but we enjoy the fruit way too much to do that.