Welcome to the delightful world of homemade zefir! This Apple and Plum Zefir is a classic Eastern European treat, beloved for its unique, cloud-like texture that's lighter and more delicate than a typical marshmallow. It’s a beautiful confection made from whipped fruit puree, egg whites, and sugar, set with agar-agar. The combination of sweet apples and tart plums creates a perfectly balanced, fragrant dessert that simply melts in your mouth. Making it at home is a rewarding experience that will fill your kitchen with wonderful aromas and leave you with a truly special treat to share.
Apple and Plum Zefir
Ingredients for Apple and Plum Zefir
- 270 g ready-made apple and plum puree
- 600 g sugar
- 45 g egg white
- 8 g agar-agar
- 150 ml water
- vanilla extract or vanilla sugar
- powdered sugar for dusting
How to Make Apple and Plum Zefir
The fruit puree needs to be reduced to evaporate as much moisture as possible, making it thick.
Add 300 g of sugar, bring to a boil.
Prepare the agar separately.
Transfer the plum and apple puree to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce over high heat for about 10 minutes, stirring to prevent it from scorching. You need to evaporate as much moisture as possible from the fruit puree to make it thick.
Add 300 g of sugar and bring to a boil. Cook the puree with sugar for another 5 minutes, until the sugar has completely dissolved. At this stage, add vanilla extract or vanilla sugar to taste.
Separately, prepare the agar. Place the powder in a saucepan and pour in cold water. Let it sit for 8 minutes.
Transfer the cooled fruit puree to a large pot or bowl.
Add the egg white to the fruit puree.
Whip the egg white and fruit puree for 4 minutes until the mixture turns light pink.
Transfer the cooled fruit puree to a large pot or bowl. It might seem like you have few ingredients at this point, but that’s deceptive. During the whipping process, the mixture will expand significantly, which is characteristic of zefir (a traditional Eastern European confection, similar to a marshmallow but with a lighter, airier texture made from fruit puree, sugar, and egg whites). To avoid any panic later, it’s best to use a container with plenty of extra space. For this recipe, a 3-liter pot is used.
Add the egg white to the fruit puree. It’s best to strain it to ensure no impurities get into the zefir.
Using a powerful immersion blender or an electric mixer, whip the egg white and fruit puree for 4 minutes, until the mixture becomes light pink.
Bring the water with agar-agar to a boil, and simmer for 4 minutes.
Bring the water with agar-agar to a boil and simmer for 4 minutes. Add the remaining sugar (300 g) and cook the sugar syrup with agar-agar for 5 minutes.
Start whipping the fruit puree with an electric mixer while simultaneously pouring in the hot agar syrup in a thin stream.
Pipe the zefir halves a short distance apart from each other.
Stick the halves together and place them in a dish with powdered sugar.
Begin whipping the fruit puree with an electric mixer while simultaneously pouring in the hot agar syrup in a thin, steady stream. Whip for about 10 minutes at the highest speed. As the zefir cools, it will begin to thicken and increase greatly in volume. Important! You need a powerful mixer for this recipe. If your equipment isn’t up to the task, it’s better not to attempt this recipe, as you’ll only waste the ingredients.
Fit a large piping bag with a decorative tip. Place silicone parchment paper on your work surface. Pipe the zefir halves, leaving a small space between them. This recipe yields just over 50 halves. Leave the zefir halves to set at room temperature for 18-20 hours.
Using a spatula or a wide knife, remove the zefir halves from the paper. Sandwich them together and place them in a dish with powdered sugar.
Dust the zefir with powdered sugar and place it in a vase or jar.
Dust the zefir with powdered sugar and arrange them in a serving dish or store in a jar. Homemade zefir can be stored for 5-7 days.
And there you have it—your very own batch of beautiful, homemade Apple and Plum Zefir! These airy treats are perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee, or for giving as a thoughtful handmade gift. Don't be afraid to experiment with other fruit purees like apricot, blackcurrant, or raspberry once you've mastered the technique. Store your zefir in an airtight container at room temperature, and enjoy the sweet reward of your efforts. Happy baking!
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