Cherry Juice Recipe
on Aug 04, 2023, Updated Jul 01, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Healthy cherry 🍒 juice recipe (compote). Compote, also known as Kompot in my language, is the drink that will forever change the way you think about fruit juice. This version uses fresh cherries, plums, and golden raisins as well. The combo of deep red cherries and plums produces the most beautiful red-hued drink, which tastes like heaven on a hot summer day.
Why You’ll Love Cherry 🍒 Juice
I grew up enjoying cold glasses of kompot, which my family made from the many fruit trees on our property. Kompot is a staple in Eastern Europe; enjoyed chilled from the refrigerator on warm days or served hot for a winter pick-me-up. When canned and stored properly, kompot can last on pantry shelves well into winter, giving you a taste of summer on a dreary cold day.
How to Prepare Cherry Juice
🧃This incredible beverage can be produced using two different methods: boiling, straining, and chilling, or marinating fresh fruit in sugar water. Whichever method you choose, this is a delicious way to savor summer fruits and create a refreshing drink that everyone will love.
🍏The sweetness and potency of the fruitiness is completely up to you: you can always add less or more sugar or fruit, or you can reduce the concentration by cutting the kompot with extra water when serving.
🍒Don’t throw out the leftover, mushy fruit from your kompot! After straining the leftover fruit, blend it into a thick fruit puree and then use in pancakes, smoothies, spread on toast, and more.
Nonna’s Tip
If the cherries are pitted, you can process the cooked fruits with a touch of sweetener for a delicious fruit puree or compost it as usual. You can also enjoy the stewed fruit on toast with mascarpone or creamy cheese and a drizzle of honey on top.
Variations and Substitutions
Customizing this healthy cherry juice is not only easy but also a fun way to explore different flavors and adapt the recipe to your preferences. From swapping fruits to experimenting with different fruits or spices there are numerous variations and substitutions to make this refreshing beverage uniquely your own.
- Instead of just cherries and plums, you can substitute a combination of various fruits like, pears, peaches, or berries.
- Enhance the flavor with a cinnamon stick or a splash of vanilla extract for a warm and comforting note.
- Add fresh mint 🍃 leaves.
- Fresh ginger slices can give your Compote a spicy kick.
Similar Recipes
If you enjoyed this Healthy Cherry Juice recipe, consider exploring one of my other beverage recipes:
Common Questions
After straining the fruit, you can then blend it into a thick fruit puree. This puree can be used in a variety of ways. You can use it on pancakes, smoothies, or as a spread on toast as well, making the most of every ingredient.
You can enjoy Healthy Cherry Juice (Kompot) in multiple ways. It’s a popular beverage in Eastern Europe. We usually serve it chilled from the refrigerator on warm days or hot for a comforting winter drink as well. When canned and stored correctly, it can also be enjoyed well into the winter months.
This recipe makes 12 cups (250ml) each. You will get a total of 3 litres worth of liquid.
Cherry Juice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3.5 litres filtered water , (1 gallon)
- 8 cups fresh cherries , (pitted is optional)
- 6 red plums, pits removed
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1 apple, cored and halved
Instructions
- Add 3.5 litres (1 gallon) of filtered water to a large pot.
- Add the fruit to the pot and bring to a boil. Semi-cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let boil for 60 minutes.
- After one hour, remove the fruit with a sieve or kitchen spider. Set the fruit aside.
- NOTE: if the cherries are pitted, you can process the fruits with a touch of sweetener for a delicious fruit puree or compost it as usual. You can also enjoy the stewed fruit on toast with mascarpone or creamy cheese and a drizzle of honey on top.
- I like to cool the liquid to room temperature, strain it into a bowl or mason jars, and chill in the fridge.
- Serve over ice and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love how easy this was to make!
All I can say is YUM! This recipe is just so good and such a refreshing little beverage! A sweet treat without all the added sugars! Highly recommend!
What a cool recipe! I stopped buying fruit juices for our house so this was something I had to try! I don’t think I used enough fruit this time, I was just using up what I had left, but it still has a nice refreshing taste!
After straining the fruit, should you squeeze/mash it to get more juice out of it?
Could I add frozen fruit as well?
Love your recipes, videos, and notes!
Hi Nicole, so happy you enjoyed this homemade juice! Yes, you can definitely smash the strained juice to extract the last bits of liquid, and yes, you could use frozen fruit.
I will try this today and was wondering whether I could use the (pitted) fruit after boiling also for the fruit leather? I am happy to receive your advice :-).
Hi beautiful, I have not tried this yet but I don’t see why not! That sounds so delicious.
Can you make this in the instantpot?
Absolutely. I would make on a low setting.