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Learn how easy it is to make this super delicious strawberry compote recipe. Just 4 simple ingredients and so versatile! Use it as a topping on anything from breakfast favorites like pancakes and waffles to desserts like ice cream, cheesecake and more!
What Is Strawberry Compote
Strawberry compote is a chunky strawberry sauce made from fresh strawberries that are cooked down with some sugar, honey or maple syrup. I like to also add some lemon juice and vanilla extract for an extra layer of flavor.
It can be served either warm or cold, depending on what you’re using it for. It’s the perfect strawberry topping for a variety of breakfast and dessert dishes.
I like to make a big batch to freeze when strawberries are in season so that I can enjoy the taste of ripe summer strawberries year round. It’s always a treat to serve some with these German Waffles on Christmas morning (our tradition). Nothing beats the flavor of ripe summer berries especially in the middle of winter.
Reasons To Love This Recipe
- Made from real strawberries: No artificial flavors here! Just real strawberries and a few other simple ingredients. If you love strawberries, then make sure to check out these other strawberry recipes too!
- Easy to make: Just 4 simple ingredients simmered together – so easy!
- Super versatile: Upgrade your breakfast game by using as a topping for pancakes, waffles or French toast or elevate dessert by spooning over ice cream (or spaghetti ice cream), cheese cake and more! You can find more ways to use strawberry compote below.
- Delicious way to preserve the taste of summer strawberries: Keeps for up to 2 weeks in the fridge or store in the freezer to enjoy any time of year. It’s always a treat to taste those sweet summer strawberries in the middle of winter!
Ingredients You’ll Need
All you need is 4 simple ingredients to make this homemade strawberry compote!
- Strawberries: Nothing beats the flavor you get from using ripe summer strawberries. The sweeter your strawberries are the better the compote will be.
- Sweetener: Use a bit of honey, maple syrup or organic cane sugar to sweeten the strawberry compote. Quantity may vary depending on how sweet the strawberries are and personal taste.
- Lemon Juice: A bit of fresh lemon juice to round out the flavors.
- Vanilla Extract: For a delicious finishing touch!
- Optional: A slurry made from a bit of cornstarch or arrowroot starch and water can be added for a thicker compote.
Detailed ingredient list and directions located in the recipe card below.
How To Make Strawberry Compote
Get ready to indulge in the sweetness of summer with this easy-to-make strawberry compote recipe! Simply…
- Add ingredients to saucepan: Place the strawberries, sweetener of choice (honey, maple syrup or organic cane sugar) and lemon juice in a small or medium saucepan.
- Simmer gently: Cook over medium heat, stirring regularly until the strawberries start to release some liquid. Simmer gently for 10-15 minutes (adjusting heat if needed), stirring occasionally until strawberries are soft and mixture has thickened. Keep in mind that it will continue to thicken as it cools so take it off the heat when it is a bit thinner than you want the finished compote to be.
- Add vanilla extract: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir through the vanilla extract.
- Cool down: Let the compote cool for 10 minutes before serving or allow it to cool completely before storing. The compote will thicken more as it cools down. Serve warm or chilled.
- Thicker compote: For a thicker compote, mix together 1 teaspoon of corn starch or arrowroot starch with 2 teaspoons of water. Stir the slurry into the simmering compote and cook for an additional minute. Keep in mind that the compote will continue to thicken up a bit as it cools (this goes for the compote without the added corn starch slurry as well).
- Smoother compote: For less chunks, use a potato masher to break up the strawberries as it’s cooking. Or for a really smooth strawberry sauce consistency, use an immersion blender or transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Variations
- Extra lemon flavor: Add a teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest for an extra pop of lemon.
- Use vanilla bean: Instead of vanilla extract, you could also use the seeds of a vanilla bean or some vanilla paste instead.
- Add orange juice: Replace the lemon juice with orange juice. Could also add some orange zest as well for extra orange flavor.
- Add ground cinnamon or ginger: Just a small amount added before simmering.
- Use other fruit: This recipe can also be used to make other types of fruit compote. Simply swap out the strawberries for another in-season fruit like other berries or stone fruit.
- Make a bigger batch: Have lots of strawberries and want to make a larger batch? Just double or triple the recipe and use a larger pot. You might need to add on a little extra cooking time too.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- To Freeze: Store in the freezer for 6 months. To freeze, transfer the compote to a freezer-safe jar or container and allow to fully cool before placing in the freezer. 4-ounce, 8-ounce or 16-ounce wide mouth mason jars or Souper Cubes are great options. If you choose glass, make sure to check out these tips on freezing mason jars without breakage. Thaw on the counter or overnight in the fridge.
- Reheating: Strawberry compote can be served cold or warm. If you would like to serve it warm, simply reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
Ways To Use It
Wondering how to use this strawberry compote? It’s super versatile! Serve it warm or cold as a delicious strawberry topping on a variety of breakfast and dessert dishes such as…
- Ice cream: Delicious simply served over vanilla ice cream. Or make it even more fun by making this spaghetti-eis dessert (spaghetti ice cream)!
- Waffles: Serve as a topping with your favorite breakfast waffle recipe or turn those waffles into a dessert by also adding a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream. I love serving this strawberry compote with these German Waffles or including it as a topping on a Build Your Own Waffle Board.
- Pancakes or French Toast: Delicious spooned over top or as a topping option on a fun breakfast board.
- Cake: Serve as a cheesecake topping or spooned over pound cake, sponge cake or angel food cake slices.
- Crepes: Use it as a filling for crepes.
- Yogurt: Serve it over yogurt or as part of a yogurt parfait with granola clusters.
- Oatmeal: Use it as a topping for any type of oatmeal including steel cut oats and overnight oats.
- Pudding or Custard: Delicious spooned over vanilla or chocolate pudding or custard. Also make a fantastic topping for this German Milk Rice Pudding or this Coconut Milk Jelly (aka homemade coconut jello).
A Few Questions Answered
Yes you can but I find that packaged frozen strawberries don’t tend to be as sweet or flavorful as in-season fresh strawberries (unless you froze your own summer strawberries). If using frozen strawberries, the compote will take a few extra minutes to cook.
This recipe is not suitable for canning. To preserve, store in the freezer instead.
A coulis can be made from uncooked or cooked fruit. It is pureed and strained and therefore has a very smooth texture. Compote, on the other hand, is always cooked and has a chunkier consistency.
Jam is cooked for a longer time and has a much higher sugar content than compote does. Jam is considered a spread whereas compote is more of a chunky fruit sauce.
More Strawberry Recipes
For more recipes featuring strawberries, check out this collection of Strawberry Recipes You Need To Try! A few of the recipes you’ll find include:
Did you make this strawberry compote recipe? I would love to hear about it! Leave me a comment below.
Strawberry Compote
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Learn how easy it is to make this super delicious strawberry compote recipe. Just 4 simple ingredients and so versatile! Use it as a topping on anything from breakfast favorites like pancakes and waffles to desserts like ice cream, cheesecake and more!
Ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries, hulled and cut into quarters or halves (454 grams)
- 1/4 cup honey, maple syrup or organic cane sugar (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add ingredients to saucepan: Place the strawberries, sweetener of choice (honey, maple syrup or organic cane sugar) and lemon juice in a saucepan.
- Simmer gently: Simmer gently over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until strawberries soften and break down a bit and sauce thickens slightly (keep in mind that it will continue to thicken as it cools). Adjust heat as needed to maintain a gentle simmer.
- Add vanilla extract: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir through the vanilla extract.
- Cool down: Let the compote cool for 10 minutes before serving or allow it to cool completely before storing. The compote will thicken more as it cools down. Serve warm or chilled.
For thicker compote: Mix together 1 teaspoon corn starch or arrowroot starch with 2 teaspoons water in a small bowl until dissolved. Stir the slurry into the simmering compote and cook for an additional minute. Keep in mind that the compote will continue to thicken up a bit as it cools (this goes for the compote without the added corn starch slurry as well).
Notes
- For smoother compote: For less chunks, use a potato masher to break up the strawberries as it’s cooking. Or for a really smooth strawberry sauce consistency, use an immersion blender or transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for 6 months. To freeze, transfer the compote to a freezer-safe jar or container and allow to fully cool before placing in the freezer. Wide mouth mason jars (4-ounce, 8-ounce or 16-ounce) or Souper Cubes are great options for freezing in.
- Ways to use strawberry compote: Serve it warm or cold as a delicious strawberry topping on a variety of breakfast and dessert dishes such as: ice cream, waffles, pancakes, French toast, yogurt, cheesecake, angel food cake, oatmeal, pudding and more! Head up to the “Ways To Use It” section for a more detailed list.
- Use fresh, ripe in-season strawberries for the most amazing flavor! It can’t be beat!
⬇ PIN it for later! ⬇
Vanessa, I know you added many ideas for serving suggestions but is it okay if I just eat mine with a spoon? I turned out so tasty that I just can’t stop!
Haha – it sure is ok! I can never resist either!
WOW that is some picture-perfect compote!! I like that you leave it chunky (though it’s nice to have the smooth jam option too) – it makes me want to spoon it over ice cream, which makes me instantly happy. Hah. Now the trick is to keep myself from eating all my strawberries before I get a chance to make this!
It’s so good over ice cream! Not eating all the strawberries first is always a challenge of mine too lol (have to make sure to get lots of them!).
I love this strawberry compote. It add it to everything.
This is the perfect recipe especially since local strawberries are in season right now. So easy, not too sweet, and much more flavorful than anything store-bought. Yummy and thank you!
Nothing beats the taste you get from using fresh, local strawberries! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
OH my! This recipe reminds me so much of my grandma! I used to hand-pick mini strawberries with her in the summer, and she would make this compote with it! I’m for sure doing this for my kids this summer! After a strawberry picking day!
What a beautiful memory! Thanks for sharing!
I made a big batch of this compote and we’ve been using it for breakfast all week! We used it as a topping for pancakes, for oatmeal, and for yogurt bowls too – it is delicious!
I love that you have used it to elevate so many breakfast dishes! Glad you love it!
I couldn’t believe this recipe needs only 4 ingredients! We loved it and served with waffles and pancakes for breakfast
This fresh berry compote is so quick and easy to make, and it is fabulous on waffles! Thank you!
Wow, that Strawberry compote looks amazing! It’s a fantastic way to preserve the bright color of the strawberries and extend their usage.
Thank you! It sure is a great way to enjoy those sweet summer berries once the season ends!
This was amazing and such a treat! Thank you! Everyone in my family loved it.
I’m so happy to hear that!