How to Make Fruit Compote (2024)

Sweet fruit compote is the secret to a killer pancake breakfast — and it couldn't be easier to make.

By

Melanie Fincher

Melanie Fincher is a Birmingham, Alabama–based food writer who covers everything from cooking techniques to gadget reviews. She has nearly 7 years experience writing news and lifestyle content.

Published on January 25, 2021

If you ever find yourself with a surplus of fresh or frozen berries (including bruised ones) — you need to make compote. Using ingredients you already have on hand, you can easily transform virtually any fruit into sweet, syrupy compote for use on pancakes, waffles, and more. Learn step-by-step how to make compote for your next big brunch.

What Is Compote?

You're probably familiar with compote from your favorite pancake house — it's that gooey, fruit sauce that's often used as a topping for pancakes and waffles. Compote simply refers to fruit, sugar, and sometimes additional ingredients that have been cooked over a little heat until you get that fruity, syrupy concoction.

Unlike jam or jelly, compote isn't cooked down as much, so the fruit is still mostly intact. Compote also doesn't have any added pectin, which is a fruit-derived substance used to thicken jams and jellies. But this also means compote isn't meant for long term storage, like jams and jellies. The good news is, it's so easy to make, you can throw it together whenever you need to!

Best Fruit for Compote

So, what's the best fruit to use for compote? Whatever's in season! Berries are a popular choice because it's a great opportunity to use up those bruised buggers. Some of the most common fruits for compote include: blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, pears, cranberries (cranberry sauce), and of course apples (applesauce).

Can You Make Compote With Frozen Fruit?

Yes! And you don't even have to do any defrosting. Just expect your mixture to take slightly longer to reach a boil, but otherwise, there's no difference.

How to Make Compote

Here we're using this Mixed Berry Compote recipe from recipe creator Nathan Plesnicher as a base, but feel free to switch up the fruit to suit your tastes. This recipe also uses cornstarch as a thickening agent, but that is not necessary unless you are wanting to go for a more pie filling-like consistency.

Here's What You'll Need:

  • 4 cups fresh or frozen mixed berries
  • ½ cup white sugar, or to taste
  • ⅓ cup honey, or to taste

Optional Thickener:

  • 1 tbsp brandy
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Instructions:

  1. Optional: Dissolve cornstarch and brandy in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Combine fruit, sugar, and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil.
  3. Optional: Add cornstarch mixture to saucepan.
  4. Continue to boil until the berries break down and the compote has thickened to desired consistency, or about 2 to 3 minutes.

How to Use Compote

There are truly endless ways to use compote. As we've already established, it's the perfect topping for pancakes and waffles. You can also use it as a topping for yogurt, ice cream, oatmeal, and French toast.

How to Store Compote

Store compote in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also freeze it in individual servings using an ice cube tray (like these Amazon best-selling silicone trays). Keep in the freezer for up to a month. To reheat, heat over the stove top on low heat or microwave to desired temperature.

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How to Make Fruit Compote (2024)

FAQs

How to thicken a 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 compote made of? ›

Compote (or compôte) is French for “mixture.” It is basically a sweet, chunky fruit sauce made with whole or chopped fresh or frozen fruit and sugar. The fruit and sugar are typically cooked on the stovetop for a brief time until the fruit has softened and collapsed into a delicious fruit sauce.

What to do with fruit compote? ›

A compote can go with almost everything you eat—from breads and desserts to pork and cheeses. You can serve a compote warm or chilled, chunky or smooth, making it a highly versatile condiment, topping, or accessory to various dishes.

How long does homemade fruit compote last? ›

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!

How to thicken fruit compote without cornstarch? ›

5 Best Cornstarch Substitutes
  1. All-Purpose Flour. Yep, that's right — all-purpose flour is a very stable thickener. ...
  2. Arrowroot Powder. If you happen to have this starch on hand, you're in luck: It has the same thickening power as cornstarch, and it creates a beautiful, shiny sauce. ...
  3. Potato Starch. ...
  4. Rice Flour. ...
  5. Tapioca Starch.
Jun 23, 2023

How much cornstarch to thicken fruit filling? ›

Strawberry/rhubarb
ThickenerFor 1 cup of fruitFor one 9" pie (8 cups of fruit)
All-purpose flour1 tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp3/4 cup
Instant ClearJel2 1/2 tsp6 tbsp + 2 tsp
Cornstarch1 tbsp + 1/4 tsp1/2 cup + 2 tsp
Quick-cooking tapioca2 1/2 tsp6 tbsp + 2 tsp
1 more row

How healthy is fruit compote? ›

Abundant in Essential Vitamins and Antioxidants: Seven-fruit compote harnesses the nutritional goodness of multiple fruits, each contributing essential vitamins and antioxidants. Fruits like apples, berries, and oranges provide a rich source of vitamin C, while others such as plums and peaches offer an array of ...

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.

Is compote just jam? ›

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. It has a thicker texture than jelly.

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 fun fact about fruit compote? ›

The word compote is French for “mixture.” A compote is a dessert originating in 17th century France. The French believed that fruit cooked in sugar syrup balanced the humidity's effects on the body and led them to invent compotes. Recipes called for whole or pieces of mixed fruit in sugar syrup.

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.

Can you thicken compote? ›

There are two ways to thicken the compote – lemon peel contains pectin, which is a natural thickener. Alternatively, you can use a cornstarch slurry if a fresh lemon isn't available. Warning though – use just a small amount of thickener – we're not making jam!

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.

Is compote served hot or cold? ›

It's delicious served warm, or chilled from the fridge, so you can also make it ahead of time. It will liven up your breakfast. Fruit compote is delicious when served over yogurt, waffles, oatmeal, french toast, overnight oats, or chia pudding.

How to thicken up fruit puree? ›

Cornstarch, arrowroot, potato starch or rice starch make juices translucent and glossy. So does tapioca. Most recipes will specify a thickener.

What is the thickening agent for fruit jam? ›

Pectin is often used as a thickener in cooking and baking. It is a natural polysaccharide (starch) product extracted from fruits and is commonly used as a natural thickening and setting/gelling agent that shouldn't affect the taste or smell of your recipes.

How do you thicken fruit fillings without cornstarch? ›

We like tapioca in blueberry, cherry or peach pies. Arrowroot, unlike cornstarch, is not broken down by the acid in the fruit you are using so it is a good choice for fruit with a higher content of acidity such as strawberries or blackberries.

How do you make fruit jam thicker? ›

Add pectin.

While this trick won't work for jam recipes that already call for pectin, adding pectin to a loose batch of jam while re-cooking it almost guarantees that the jam with set back up nicely. Whisk a tablespoon of powdered pectin (preferably the no-sugar-needed variety) into the pot of cooking jam.

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