Published: by Emily Miller · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments
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Try this tasty Apple Compote recipe if you're looking for an easy-to-make and cozy dessert or topping. This simple yet flavorful compote comes together in just a few steps, perfect for cold autumn nights or as a topping for your morning oatmeal.
As we move into autumn, there's nothing quite like making a delicious homemade compote to fill your home with warmth and coziness.
Jump to:
- Ingredients
- Substitutions
- Variations
- How to make an Apple Compote
- Storage
- How to serve apple compote
- Expert tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Recipe
- Comments
As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, it's time to cozy up with comforting fall recipes. A delicious apple compote is one of my all-time favorite dishes this time of year. This fall fruit compote will surely delight family and friends throughout the season! It's a great way to enjoy apple season!
Whether you like tart apples or sweet apples, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp - modify this versatile recipe with any apple to create the perfect fall flavor profile.
What could be better than an apple compote recipe with in-season apples fresh from the apple tree and just a few simple ingredients?
This apple compote is a delicious topping for vegancream of wheat, Banana Oat Pancakes, buckwheat sourdough pancakes, or buckwheat banana waffles.
Try these vegan Apple Cider Mini Bundt Cakes or vegan Baked Apple Cider Donuts for more apple recipes.
Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you need to make this homemade apple compote recipe:
- Apples- The best apples to use are firm, fresh apples such as Granny Smith apples, Honeycrisp apples, Pink Lady, Pippins, Fuji, and Macintosh. You can use a variety of apples; I used Honeycrisp and Granny Smith. Note that different apples soften at varying rates. When more than one variety of apple is used, the texture of the apple compote will reflect the difference. Golden Delicious or Red Delicious will not have the right texture and will not hold their shape.
- Light brown sugar -you can vary the amount of sugar to your taste.
- Spices- I used ground cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, ground cardamom, and ground ginger for apple pie spice flavor. Adjust the spices to your taste. I love Burlap & Barrel's Royal Cinnamon; it's so fresh and flavorful.
- Lemon juice- fresh lemon juice complements the flavor of the apples and adds acidity for balance.
- Vanilla extract- for additional flavor.
Substitutions
Here are some substitutions you can try:
- Apples - instead of apples, you can use pears or a mixture of apples and pears. Or try quince; place the chopped quince in a cup of water with lemon juice to prevent it from oxidizing. Drain before cooking. To cook the quince, add a half-cup of water to the quince while cooking and cook until softened, approximately 20 - 30 minutes.
- Light brown sugar- use maple syrup, coconut sugar, dark brown sugar, regular white sugar, or organic cane sugar.
- Spices- use an apple pie spice blend instead.
Variations
Here are some variations you can try:
- Sugar-free- omit the sweetener and stick to the apples' natural sugars.
- Deluxe- add a tablespoon or two of vegan butter or bourbon or dark rum.
- Spices- instead of ground cinnamon, use a cinnamon stick or star anise - remove when the apple compote is done cooking. Instead of vanilla extract, use a vanilla bean that is cut lengthwise. Instead of ground ginger, use fresh ginger.
- Lemon zest- add the zest of a lemon.
- Thicker compote- for a thicker compote, add cornstarch.
Try thisCherry Compotefor another delicious fruit compote.
How to make an Apple Compote
It's easy to make this simple recipe, even if it is your first time!
Step 1: Add the lemon juice to the peeled, cored, and chopped apples in a medium bowl and combine.
Step 2: Transfer the chopped apples to a medium saucepan and add the rest of the ingredients.
Step 3: Heat over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts bubbling. Then reduce to medium-low heat or low and put the lid on slightly ajar.
Step 4: Cook the compote for another 10 to 15 minutes until the apples soften.
Once the apples have softened to your liking, remove the compote from the heat and let it cool slightly before serving.
Hint: Add one to two tablespoons of water, if needed, to keep the apple mixture from drying up, or add apple cider.
Storage
Store the apple compote, once cooled, in the fridge, in an airtight container or mason jar for up to 5 days.
How to serve apple compote
This versatile apple compote is the perfect topping for breakfast, dessert, and savory dishes. You can serve it warm or at room temperature. Try it on:
- pancakes
- waffles
- French toast
- overnight oats or on top of oatmeal
- vegan cream of wheat
- vegan vanilla ice cream
Expert tip
Stir the compote as it is cooking to prevent burning. Add one to two tablespoons of water (or apple cider) to keep the apple mixture from drying up and sticking to the saucepan.
FAQ
Is apple compote the same as apple sauce?
Apple sauce is cooked down further and is pureed. Apple compote retains the chunks of apple.
What is compote made of?
A compote is a chunky sauce made from cooked whole fruits or pieces of fruit, typically simmered in their juices with sugar, water, and other flavors such as citrus zest, nuts, raisins, spices, or vanilla. The fruit used to make a compote can be canned, dried, fresh, or frozen.
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Easy Cherry Compote Recipe
- Vegan Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites
- Vegan Quince Tarte Tatin Recipe with Pastry Crust
- Vegan Cherry Clafoutis Recipe
Recipe
Apple Compote
Emily Miller
This mouthwatering Apple Compote recipe is the perfect way to enjoy fall's cozy flavors and bring warmth to your kitchen. Try this delicious topping for ice cream, oatmeal, or for a dessert with whipped coconut cream!
5 from 156 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 91.9 kcal
Equipment
large saucepan
Vegetable peeler
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds tart apples such as Granny Smith, Gravenstein, Pink Lady, Pippins, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch chunks
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg or to taste
- Pinch ground cardamom optional
- Pinch ground ginger optional
- 1 tablespoons water or more, optional
Instructions
Add lemon juice to apples in a medium bowl and combine. Transfer to a medium pot, add brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger if using, and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the apples release liquid, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened.
1 ½ pounds tart apples, 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice, ¼ cup light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg or to taste, Pinch ground cardamom, Pinch ground ginger
Add a tablespoon or two of water if needed. Once the apples have softened to your liking, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Serve warm or cool.
1 tablespoons water
Notes
Advance preparation: The compote will keep for 5 days in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 91.9kcalCarbohydrates: 24.2gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.2gFiber: 2.9gSugar: 19.9g
Keyword compote, fresh fruit
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Kushigalu
Perfect recipe to try this season. Looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing.Reply
Emily Miller
Thank you for your kind words, Kushigalu!
Reply
Jill
Perfect recipe for fall. We loved it over ice cream!Reply
Emily Miller
Thank you for your review, Jill! I am glad to hear that you got to enjoy this apple compote over ice cream!
Reply
Bobby
I added this to my oatmeal this morning and it took it to the next level. I love this recipe! Thank you.Reply
Emily Miller
Thank you so much for your review, Bobby! I am very glad to hear that you enjoyed this apple compote with your oatmeal!
Reply
Carrie
I have been looking for a way to use up the last of the apples we picked! 🙂 Definitely going to make this.Reply
Emily Miller
I am glad to hear it, Carrie! I hope you enjoy!
Reply
Shelby
This compote is so versatile and delicious. It's the perfect recipe for using up an abundance of apples!Reply
Emily Miller
Thank you for your kind words, Shelby!
Reply