Apple-Spice Breakfast Soup

Updated Feb. 28, 2024

Apple-Spice Breakfast Soup
Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times
Total Time
1 hour
Cook Time
1 hour
Rating
4(138)
Comments
Read comments

Years ago, when I lived in Austin, Tex., I had a little business selling hot cups of soup to vendors and shoppers on the “Drag” in front of the University of Texas. This soup was always a favorite on a chilly day. It’s sweet and spicy, and although you can serve it at lunch or dinner, I prefer it for breakfast, with more yogurt stirred in. Use whole-grain sandwich bread if you can.

Featured in: A Bowlful of Our Daily Bread

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
    Subscribe
  • Print Options


Advertisement


Ingredients

Yield:Serves 6 to 8
  • quarts water
  • 4large tart apples, like Pink Lady, unpeeled, cored and diced about 2½ pounds)
  • cup dark or golden raisins
  • 1teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½teaspoon ground allspice
  • Pinch of salt
  • ¼cup honey
  • 4slices whole-wheat or multigrain bread (about 6 ounces), diced 3 cups tightly packed)
  • 2tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ to 1cup plain yogurt, to taste, plus additional for garnish
  • Thin lemon slices for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

203 calories; 2 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 44 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 29 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 122 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by
Cooking Newsletter illustration

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the water, apples, raisins, spices, salt and honey in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and stir in the bread. Cover and simmer one hour. The bread will fall apart and thicken the soup.

  2. Step 2

    Remove from the heat, and stir in the lemon juice and yogurt. Serve hot or warm, or chill and serve cold. Garnish each serving with a dollop of yogurt and a thin slice of lemon.

Tip
  • Advance preparation: This soup will keep for a few days in the refrigerator.

Ratings

4 out of 5
138 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

Delish. I used apple cider instead of lemon juice, and bumped it up to 3 tablespoons. Instead of cooking it with honey, I served it with maple syrup, so everyone can sweeten to taste (just enough sweet to bump up the apple-y taste). I also used up some loaf ends I've had kicking around in the freezer. I cooked it more like 2 hours, and gently whisked the soup to break up the bread a bit. Although the bits of bread are really nice, so not sure I'd do that again. A keeper!

I’ve made this both with bread as the thickener and with steel cut oats as the thickener. Both are delicious!

I’ve made this both with bread as the thickener and with steel cut oats as the thickener. Both are delicious!

Do you have away to reduce the number of servings and have the recipe reflect that?

I moved to Austin to attend the University where Martha was selling this soup but never had a chance to partake of it then. I wish I had. This was such a treat this morning, here in our Denver house where the temps are single digits this morning. The spices and mild sweetness were so comforting, and the lemon and yogurt really enhanced it. The only personal touch was chopped roasted almonds because I like the crunchy texture of nuts. This soup will now be a go-to breakfast for cold mornings

Private comments are only visible to you.

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.