Easy Fruit Compote (2024)

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Easy Fruit Compote (1)

Looking for a simple dessert? It doesn’t get easier than fruit compote over vanilla ice cream. Compote is fresh, saucy and sweet, and ready in as little as 15 minutes.

You can make compote ahead of time and warm it up or throw it onto the stove after dinner. Serve it on ice cream for dessert, yogurt or toast the next morning, or anything else that could use some fruity flavor. You really can’t go wrong.

Easy Fruit Compote (2)

What is compote, exactly? Compote is a simple fruit sauce made with pieces of fresh (or frozen) fruit and some sugar, cooked briefly on the stove. You could call the end result a textured fruit sauce or chunky fruit syrup. I call it magic.

Instead of sugar, I use a small amount of maple syrup or honey to make naturally sweetened compote. Since it’s liquid, you can easily add more to taste after cooking if your compote isn’t quite sweet enough.

Compote is not as thick as jam or jelly, and it’s meant to be consumed relatively soon after making (it will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator). It’s not designed to be canned or preserved for the months or years ahead. Compote is so easy to make that you can throw together a batch at a moment’s notice!

Easy Fruit Compote (3)

Compote fruit options

I’ve used a few of my favorites in these photos (I made separate batches of strawberry, blueberry and peach compote). Here’s a more extensive list of fruit you can use to make compote:

  • Strawberries
  • Peaches
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blackberries (keep mind there will be seeds in the finished product)
  • Cherries
  • Pears
  • Apples (technically applesauce)
  • Cranberries (here’s my cranberry sauce recipe)
  • Or any combination of the above, like a frozen berry blend

Can I make compote with frozen fruit?

Yes, you can! Frozen fruit is a great option for compote because it does’t need any advance preparation (like peeling or slicing) and it naturally develops a soft, jammy texture as it warms up.

No need to defrost frozen fruit before adding them to the pot. Your mixture will take a few extra minutes to come to a boil, but the final product should be just as good.

Watch How to Make Easy Fruit Compote

Easy Fruit Compote (4)

Uses for compote

You can think of compote like jam or jelly (but better). Serve it over:

In my cookbook, I made sundaes with strawberry balsamic compote, vanilla ice cream, and chopped nuts. How do you like to serve it?

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Totally optional extra flavoring ideas

This fruit compote is so good in its most basic form, truly. If you want to add some extra complexity, though, try any of the following. The list gets a little crazier as it goes on.

  • Lemon zest or orange zest (1/4 teaspoon added before cooking)
  • Ground cinnamon or ginger (1/4 teaspoon added before cooking)
  • Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon added after cooking)
  • Balsamic vinegar (1 to 2 teaspoons added after cooking)
  • Lemon juice or orange juice (1 to 2 tablespoons added after cooking)
  • Fresh mint or basil leaves (add after cooking)
  • Freshly ground black pepper (to taste, add after cooking)

Please let me know how you like this compote and how you use it in the comments! I’m always so eager to hear how my recipes turn out for you.

If you’re craving more simple, fruity desserts, don’t miss Ali’s no-bake yogurt tart, my gluten-free almond cake with berries on top, blueberry crisp or creamy peach and honey popsicles.

Easy Fruit Compote (6)

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Easy Fruit Compote

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  • Author: Cookie and Kate
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups 1x
  • Category: Dessert, sauce
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Classic

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star

5 from 62 reviews

Learn how to make fruit compote with this easy recipe! You can make compote with fresh or frozen fruit. It’s delicious on ice cream, yogurt, toast, pancakes, waffles and more! Recipe yields about 2 cups compote.

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (16 ounces) fresh or frozen fruit (for the photos, I used fresh strawberries, peaches, and frozen blueberries)
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • Dash of salt
  • See optional flavoring ideas given above recipe

Instructions

  1. To prepare the fruit: If you’re using fresh strawberries or peaches, cut them into thin slices. If you’re using small berries like blueberries or raspberries, you can use them whole. If you’re using frozen fruit, no need to defrost or slice them before using.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine your fruit of choice, sweetener of choice and dash of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. This will take about 5 minutes for fresh fruit or 10 minutes for frozen fruit.
  3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium. If you’re using chunky fruit or prefer a smoother consistency, mash the fruit with a potato masher or serving fork until it reaches your desired consistency. Continue simmering, stirring often, until the compote has condensed to about half of its original volume, about 5 minutes.
  4. Remove the compote from the heat. I’m generally satisfied with my compote at this point, but if the compote isn’t sweet enough for your liking, you can stir in a more sweetener, to taste. If you’d like it to be more smooth, mash it some more.
  5. Let the compote cool for a few minutes before serving. Allow leftover compote to cool completely before covering and refrigerating for up to 10 days.

Notes

Make it vegan: Use maple syrup instead of honey, and serve with vegan accompaniments.

▸ Nutrition Information

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #cookieandkate.

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Easy Fruit Compote (2024)

FAQs

What makes it a compote? ›

Compote is a simple fruit sauce made with pieces of fresh (or frozen) fruit and some sugar, cooked briefly on the stove. You could call the end result a textured fruit sauce or chunky fruit syrup.

How do you thicken fruit compote? ›

If you would like your compote to be thicker , you can add a thickening agent such as cornstarch (make sure to mix it well in water before adding to the compote) or pectin. Simply simmering the fruit for longer with sugar also helps to boil off the extra juice.

What is the difference between stewed fruit and fruit compote? ›

A compote is simply preserved or cooked fruit. Your mum probably called it stewed fruit, so compote is just a new name for an old favourite. Compote is French for 'mixture' and back in medieval Europe, it was a dessert of whole fruits cooked in water with sugar and spices.

What's the difference between jam and compote? ›

Jam is made from crushed or chopped fruit and sugar, and has a chunky texture. Jelly is made from fruit juice and sugar, and has a smooth, translucent texture. Compote is made from whole or large pieces of fruit that are cooked in a syrup made from sugar and water.

What's the difference between compote and puree? ›

Coulis can be made by pureeing fruits or vegetables, whereas compote is prepared by cooking down fruits until soft. Coulis is basically a fruit in pureed form, but compote has additional ingredients like spices and dried fruits, which lend a complex flavor.

How long does homemade fruit compote last? ›

Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. To keep compotes for longer, freeze, in batches, in plastic containers so you can defrost only as much as you need. Spices Oriental flavours such as star anise, ginger and cardamom are fantastic for fruit with a rich flavour, such as plums and berries.

Should compote be served warm or cold? ›

Compotes are delicious served all by themselves as a dessert at the end of a meal. They are usually served warm but are sometimes chilled.

What goes with fruit compote? ›

8 Ways to Serve Compote
  • Top off a custard. A fruit compote can be the star of a dessert. ...
  • Use it as a side for cheese platters. ...
  • Mix in with yogurt. ...
  • Add to French toast. ...
  • Sweeten a scone. ...
  • Adorn meat. ...
  • Spoon atop cheesecake. ...
  • Serve it on its own.
Dec 13, 2021

What is a mixed fruit compote? ›

Compote or compôte (French for stewed fruit) is a dessert originating from medieval Europe, made of whole or pieces of fruit in sugar syrup. Whole fruits are cooked in water with sugar and spices.

What is a coulis vs compote? ›

Compote: Fresh or dried fruits that have been slowly cooked in a sugar syrup. Confit: To cook in fat at a low temperature (under 200 degrees F). Coulis: A pureed and strained fruit sauce. Crème Anglaise: A custard made of egg yolks and cream that is cooked on the stove-top.

What is similar to compote? ›

Jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade, compote, and chutney all involve some combination of fruit, sugar, and heat, and they rely on pectin — a natural fiber found most plants that helps cooked fruit firm up — for texture.

Can you eat compote on its own? ›

This tasty compote is a delicious dish that uses fruit that is fresh, frozen, dried and canned. It's great on its own and can also be enjoyed with porridge, pancakes or yoghurt.

What is a compote vs sauce? ›

The Culinary Institute of America considers compote to be one of two types of fruit sauce: there's coulis, made with smooth, pureed fruit and then there's compote, which is a chunky mixture.

Why is it called a compote? ›

The name is derived from the Latin word compositus, meaning mixture. In late medieval England it was served at the beginning of the last course of a feast (or sometimes the second out of three courses), often accompanied by a creamy potage. During the Renaissance, it was served chilled at the end of dinner.

What's the difference between compote and kompot? ›

Compote. While the terms “kompot” and “compote” may sound similar, they refer to slightly different culinary creations. Kompot is a beverage made by cooking fruits or berries with water, whereas compote typically refers to a sweet, thickened fruit mixture often served as a dessert or accompaniment to other dishes.

What is the difference between a compote and a comport? ›

A comport dish are a compote dish are often confused. In fact, the origin of the word comport is a 16th century variation of compote – so they are connected. Some people suggest that the difference between the two is that compotes have lids, whereas comports don't.

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