Zefir is a very common Russian dessert. It is very similar to a marshmallow. It has a very delicate and tender texture. You choose your favorite flavor by choosing your favorite Jello mix. My kids favorite flavor is Peach but my favorite is Raspberry. I adapted this recipe from Lea’s place- Leascooking. She has fabulous recipes. Thanks Lea.
Check out her video on how to make Zefir (Note: the video is in Russian, sorry!).
Keep the zefir under a lid to avoid drying- IF there will be any leftovers.
Ingredients:
5 Egg Whites
1 cup + 3 oz. Water
1 Small pack Raspberry Jell-O
3 tsp. Agar-Agar powder ( you can order here)
4 cups Sugar
1 large Lemon
Powder sugar for sprinkle on top
Direction:
Mix the Agar-Agar powder in 1 cup cold water. ( I tried different brand of Agar powder, they don’t work as good for Zefir. If you want to order online see my link above under Ingredients)
Combine Jell-O with 3 oz. boiling water, mix well, set aside and let it soak.
Squeeze the lemon juice into little bowl and set aside.
Pour soaked agar mixture into a saucepan and on medium heat bring it to a boil; lower the heat add sugar, bring it to a boil and simmer for about 2 minutes while mixing constantly.
While your agar mixture is cooking, with mixer on low speed start beating the egg whites gradually increasing the speed to high, beat until firm peaks appear, lower the speed to medium-slow and carefully pour boiling agar mixture in it. Add lemon juice and Jell-O mixture. Turn mixer on high and mix for about 5 minutes.
Line the aluminum foil or Waxed paper on a table.
Pour the zefir mixture into the pastry bag with large “star” tip and by squeezing the bag make circles. ( You can get your bag here)
Sprinkle powder sugar on top. Let it cool down for 30-40 minutes. Stick two halfs of zefir together, so you will get little balls.
Enjoy!!!
These are so tasty, I can have more than 5 at a time!
Thank you 🙂
Thank you Innesa!!! I love how you made it yellow zefirs it looks awesome:) If you leave zefir not covered for a couple of days it will taste exacly like in the store.
Love your pix.
Thanks Lea!!! My sister in-law likes them dry…I like hem soft and moist 🙂 Prefrencess I guess…. Well, in my family they don’t last for long to dry out 🙂
yum-mmmy!!! I’m making it for my husband birthday party on sat. Thanks for posting just in time!
You are welcome 🙂
I’ve seen them only at Asian super markets but not all of them carry this brand. And plus Amazon’s prise is cheaper 🙂
Nice..you’ll have fun making them 🙂
thanks Innesachka
Cook agar and sugar mixture for just 2 minutes?
Or is that supposed to be
cook agar for 2 minutes and then add sugar and cook for additional 2 minutes?
Thanks
Hi Lariska,
the agar mixture itself, you don’t cook much, just when you see some bubbles or it will thicken a little you add sugar to agar, mix it until sugar melted and cook/simmer for 2 minutes. it will get bubbly…
good luck!!! 🙂
Hi Innesa, can you use just unflavored gelatin (knox) instead of agar-agar? What is the difference?
Hi Inessa!
Thank you for the recipe, I would like to purchase the agar but the link
Doesn’t work?
Hi Innesa, can you use plain gelatin instead of agar-agar?
Alla, no its not going to work. It has to be Agar Agar powder.
Zefir is not the same thing as marshmallows!
Hi:) what size of mixer did u use for this recipe?
Mine is 5 quarts.
Thank you