Sugar-Free Homemade Belev-Style Pastila
Incredibly tender and airy, it melts in your mouth - so delicious! Belev-style pastila is a homemade Slavic dessert made without sugar from just two ingredients: apple puree and gelatin. Unlike the traditional version, this one is much faster and easier to make, yet the taste is very similar!
Updated : 29 January, 2026
Easy
About 30 min.
Ingredients
360 grams
Apple puree
14 grams
Gelatin
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
How do you make sugar-free homemade Belev-style pastila? Prepare the ingredients. Baby applesauce from jars works best - it’s sugar-free and very tasty. You can also bake apples and blend the flesh with a blender. Choose sweet varieties so the pastila turns out sweet without sugar. Use instant (quick-dissolving) gelatin.
Step 2
Take a glass or metal bowl that can be heated. Pour in the puree. Add the gelatin and mix. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.
Step 3
During this time the gelatin will bloom, and the puree will thicken.
Step 4
While the gelatin is blooming, place a saucepan of water over high heat. Choose a size so the bowl with puree can sit on top. The water level should be low enough that it does not touch the bottom of the bowl. When the water boils, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Set the bowl on the saucepan. Stir constantly until the gelatin fully dissolves (melts). The puree will become runny again. Do not bring it to a boil.
Step 5
Remove the bowl from the heat and wait until the puree is almost completely cool. Start whipping with a mixer on high speed. The mixture will gradually thicken and lighten. It took me quite a while - about 10 minutes. I started whipping while the puree was still warm, which likely affected the time. The mixture is ready when it looks like whipped egg whites in texture.
Step 6
Take a suitable pan (mine was 23×14 cm / about 9×5.5 in) and line it with plastic wrap. Pour in the whipped puree and smooth the top. Refrigerate to set; I left it overnight. During this time, it will become pastila-like.
Step 7
Remove the pastila from the pan and peel off the wrap. Slice it with a knife lightly greased with vegetable oil. It cuts easily and doesn’t stick to the knife. Serve and enjoy!
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