Leivasupp (Estonian Bread Soup)

Leivasupp is a traditional Estonian dessert soup made from dark rye bread, spices, and dried fruits. Sweet, hearty, and comforting, it’s a nostalgic dish that showcases the warmth of Estonian home cooking.

Ingredients

• 0.5 lb (0.23 kg) dark rye bread, cubed
• 6 cups (1.4 liters) water
• 1/2 cup (0.25 lb / 0.11 kg) sugar
• 1/2 cup (0.25 lb / 0.11 kg) raisins
• 1/2 cup (0.25 lb / 0.11 kg) dried apples or apricots, chopped
• 1 cinnamon stick (2 g)
• 1 teaspoon (5 g) ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon (5 g) vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Prepare the Bread

   Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. Add the cubed rye bread, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the bread is soft and mushy.

2. Add Ingredients

   Stir in the sugar, raisins, dried apples or apricots, cinnamon stick, ground cloves, and a pinch of salt.

3. Simmer

   Continue simmering on low heat for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the dried fruits are plump and the flavors have melded.

4. Blend and Finish

   Remove the cinnamon stick. Puree the soup with an immersion blender or in batches using a regular blender. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Serving

Serve Leivasupp warm or chilled, garnished with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This dessert soup is perfect for a comforting treat or a unique sweet finish to a meal.