This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. Snezhana Goldfild wrote in with this recipe for apple kvas (яблочный квас). I knew I had to try it so I purchased ingredients the next day and went to work. It really was as she described it “very refreshing.” It’s easier than the classic bread kvas that I posted earlier and just as good. Looking forward to having kvas more often now that I have such an easy recipe. I mentioned this recipe to my mom and it brought back memories of her childhood; her brothers would go into the forest and collect birch tree juice. Her Mom added yeast and dried pears for color and they would drink Birch kvass all summer long. Now, where do I find Birch tree juice – wouldn’t that be awesome?! Back to the apple kvas – Snezhana mentioned that it can be made with fresh apple juice – I’ll have to visit mom’s juice maker for that. Snezhana – thank you so much for this wonderful kvas recipe. It’s sure to become a family favorite!
Ingredients for apple kvas:
8 cups apple juice (any kind, fresh or concentrate) 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast 1/2 tsp dark molasses (or 1 tsp instant coffee), used for color only 6 cups filtered water
How to Make Apple Kvas:
Fill a 16 cup glass jar with 8 cups apple juice.
Add 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 Tbsp yeast and 1/2 tsp molasses, than stir until sugar dissolves. Finally add water.
Cover with multiple layers of cheesecloth or a cotton cloth and put a rubber band over the rim of the jar. Let stand on the counter for 18 hours, then refrigerate. Once it’s completely chilled, you can remove the cheese cloth and screw the lid on. If you put the lid on while it’s warm, too much pressure will build up inside the jar. This is especially dangerous with a plastic bottle (KA-BOOM!)
Serve Kvas once it’s completely chilled. Notes: Snezhana suggested: 4-8 heaping Tbsp of sugar, (7 Tbsp = 1/2 cup which turned out quite nice!) Instead of using a cloth over the top, you can also poke holes in the lid while it sits on the counter.
