Traditional Winter Spiced Compote with Apples, Plums, and Oranges - photo 1
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Traditional Winter Spiced Compote with Apples, Plums, and Oranges

Drinks New Year's Eve 40 min Medium 10 wyświetleń ~43.03 PLN - (0)
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Description

Traditional, seasonal spiced compote is an aromatic, warming non-alcoholic drink popular in Polish cuisine, especially during the autumn-winter season. It is based on fresh apples, dried plums, and orange slices, with the addition of spices (cinnamon, star anise, cloves) and lemon for freshness. It has an intense, deep color from the plums and orange slices, with a sweet-sour taste and a distinct spiced and citrus note. Served hot as a warming drink during holiday gatherings, caroling, or as an accompaniment to cakes and desserts; it pairs wonderfully with gingerbread, poppy seed cakes, and cheesecakes. The drink is visually appealing with floating orange slices and cinnamon sticks, and the intense aroma of the spices draws attention and invites tasting.

Ingredients Used

Ingredients (11)

Servings:
6
  • Apple 2.5 szt.
  • Dried plums 150 g
  • Orange 1 szt.
  • Lemon 1 szt.
  • Sugar 50 g
  • Water 1500 ml
  • Star anise 3 szt.
  • 🌿 Przyprawy
  • Cinnamon stick 3 szt.
  • Cloves 3 g
  • ✨ Opcjonalne
  • Honey 60 ml
  • Red wine 200 ml
💰 Szacowany koszt dania: ~43.03 PLN (7.17 PLN/porcję)

💡 Kliknij na składnik aby oznaczyć jako użyty

Preparation steps

Preparing the fruits

1

Wash the apples and orange thoroughly under running water. Cut off the ends of the apples, slice each into quarters, and remove the cores with a teaspoon. Do not peel the apples — the skin will add flavor and color. Slice the orange into pieces about 5 mm thick; if the skin is thick or bitter, peel a thin layer off with a knife and then slice. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a small bowl, setting aside the seeds.

Ingredients: Apple, Orange, Lemon
Use a cutting board and a sharp knife. If the apples are very dirty, use a vegetable brush. Remove all seeds from the apples and pits from the oranges to avoid adding bitterness.
2

If the dried plums are very dry, soak them in warm water (about 50°C) for 10 minutes to soften them slightly, then drain. This will release more flavor into the compote.

Ingredients: Dried plums
Use a bowl and water at a temperature close to warm tea — not boiling. Do not soak the plums for longer than 20 minutes to avoid losing their aroma.

Cooking

3

In a large pot with a capacity of at least 3 l, pour in 1.5 liters of water and place it on the stove over medium heat. Add cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves. Heat until the water begins to gently boil (small bubbles at the bottom), which will take about 7-10 minutes from the moment you turn on the burner.

Ingredients: Water, Cinnamon stick, Star anise, Cloves
Use a pot with a thick bottom, preferably 3 l or larger, so that the fruits have enough space. Set the burner to medium heat so that the spices have time to release their aroma without rapidly evaporating the water.
4

When the spices start to release their aroma (after about 3-4 minutes of gentle cooking), add the chopped apples and drained prunes to the pot. Reduce the heat to low so that the liquid simmers gently.

Ingredients: Apple, Dried plums
After adding the fruits, the flame should be low — a vigorous boil will cause the fruits to break down and the drink to become cloudy. Partially cover the pot with a lid to prevent excessive evaporation.
5

Cook the fruit over low heat for 15-18 minutes. After 10 minutes, check the softness of the apples — they should be soft but not completely falling apart; you can pierce them with a fork: if the fork goes in easily, they are ready.

Ingredients: Apple, Dried plums
Use a wooden spoon or spatula to gently stir the fruit every 5 minutes. Do not stir vigorously to avoid breaking the fruit.

Seasoning and sweetening

6

Add orange slices (some peel for aroma) to the pot along with the juice of the squeezed lemon. Pour in the sugar and gently stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar starts to dissolve. Cook for another 3-5 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.

Ingredients: Orange, Lemon, Sugar
If you prefer less sweet drinks, reduce the amount of sugar to 30 g; instead of sugar, you can add honey (see optional ingredient), but add it only after removing the pot from the heat to avoid destroying the enzymes in the honey.
7

Taste the compote with a spoon and assess the sweetness and acidity. If you want to soften the acidity, optionally add 60 g of honey (adding it after removing from heat) and gently stir until it dissolves.

Ingredients: Honey, Sugar
Use a spoon to taste and be careful, the drink will be hot. If you are adding honey, remember that the compote should not be boiling — a temperature below ~50°C will preserve the properties of the honey.
8

If you are preparing the heated version for adults, remove the pot from the heat and pour in 200 ml of red wine. Gently stir. Heat the wine version briefly over very low heat (without allowing it to boil) for 2 minutes, so that the alcohol develops its aroma without evaporating completely.

Ingredients: Red wine
Avoid cooking wine over high heat — rapid boiling removes most of the aromas and leaves a raw alcoholic aftertaste. Optional ingredient: wine.

Finishing

9

After seasoning, set the pot aside for 5 minutes to let the drink cool slightly and the flavors meld. If you want a clearer drink, strain the compote through a fine sieve into a teapot or pot, leaving the fruits and spices behind; if you prefer to serve with fruits, leave them in the liquid.

Ingredients: Apple, Dried plums, Orange
Use a fine sieve or a cheesecloth filter. For serving with fruits, choose a slotted spoon to scoop pieces of fruit into cups.

Serving

10

Serve the compote hot in heatproof glasses or mugs. Decorate each serving with 1-2 slices of orange and one cinnamon stick. If serving with fruit, add one plum and a piece of apple to each glass for visual effect.

Ingredients: Orange, Cinnamon stick, Dried plums, Apple
The best are wide, transparent glasses or mugs that allow you to see the color and layers of the fruits. Use a teaspoon for adding the fruits, and use coasters for hot dishes.
11

If you have prepared a non-alcoholic version in advance, set the compote aside to cool, then store it in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed jar or bottle for up to 5 days. Heat portions slowly over low heat (avoiding boiling, especially if honey has been added) or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Ingredients: Water
Store the compote in clean, dry containers. Use a lid or cover when heating to avoid splattering and loss of aroma.

Fun Fact

💡

The tradition of fruit compotes in Poland dates back centuries and was a way to use dried fruits in winter when fresh fruits were rarely available. Compotes were served both on a daily basis and during festive occasions.

Best for

świąteczne spotkania zimowe wieczory przyjęcia sylwestrowe

Tips

🍽️ Serving

Serve in clear glasses to highlight the deep ruby color. Add a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick as a garnish to each serving. For the adult version, serve with a glass of wine on the side. The compote pairs wonderfully with gingerbread, cheesecakes, and poppy seed cakes.

🥡 Storage

Store the compote in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed jar or bottle for up to 5 days. To reheat, warm it over low heat, avoiding a rapid boil, especially if honey was used. It is not recommended to reboil the version with added wine.

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