Strawberry Compote Or Sauce | Easy & Quick Recipe - Elavegan (2024)

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5 from 4 votes

This recipe for homemade Strawberry Compote is quick & easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. You can leave it chunky or blend it to make a delicious strawberry sauce which is the perfect topping for crepes, pancakes, cheesecakes, and many other desserts!

Strawberry Compote Or Sauce | Easy & Quick Recipe - Elavegan (1)

Yay, for strawberry season! It’s the perfect time to eat as many strawberries as you can and to make your favorite vegan strawberry desserts. I always loved this special season back in Germany because my mom, my sister, and I spent hours picking fresh organic strawberries at the nearby farmer. We ended up going home with buckets full of strawberries and therefore, tried out lots of different strawberry recipes.

Of course, we made strawberry jam which tasted amazing, and we also baked many cakes like this Strawberry Crumb Cake.

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What Is Strawberry Compote?

It’s a thickened fruit sauce or “stew” made from strawberries, a sweetener, and a few other ingredients which are cooked for some minutes on the stove. It is not as sweet as strawberry jam because it contains a lot less sugar. Therefore, it keeps in the refrigerator for just about 10 days (we always finish it within a few days though).

I prefer using fresh strawberries but you can also use frozen strawberries. If using frozen berries, I would recommend cooking the compote a bit longer (or skipping the water) because frozen berries release more liquid.

I love how versatile it is, as it complements almost all desserts like Cheesecakes, Brownies, etc. or breakfast treats like Waffles! The possibilities are endless!

All ingredients including measurements and nutrition facts (calories, etc.) are listed in the printable recipe card below.

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How To Thicken It?

Even though strawberries contain some natural pectin, I still like adding a tiny bit of cornstarch which helps to thicken the strawberry compote and make it more “jelly-like”. But you can leave it out if you increase the cooking time or reduce the amount of water. I will mention some cornstarch substitutes below under “Tips & Substitutes”.

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How To Make This Recipe?

This recipe has only 3 simple steps and 5 minutes of prep time.

STEP 1: Wash, hull, and chop the strawberries. You can quarter them or chop them into smaller pieces.

STEP 2: Add all ingredients to a pan or saucepan and stir to combine until the cornstarch dissolves and no lumps remain. Then turn on the heat and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it simmer over low to medium heat for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

STEP 3: Let the compote cool completely (it will thicken more) and transfer to clean (sterilized) glass jars.

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If you prefer a strawberry sauce (perfect to drizzle over a Vegan Cheesecake), then simply use an immersion blender or regular blender and blend until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.

My favorite combination is to drizzle the strawberry sauce over pancakes with peanut butter like these 3-Ingredient Oat Flour Pancakes:

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Tips & Substitutes

How to store? Store the strawberry compote in the fridge for up to 10 days. It’s also possible to freeze it!

Sweetener: Any granulated or liquid sweetener is fine. I used maple syrup which is refined sugar-free but you can also use other sweeteners like agave syrup, brown rice syrup, date syrup, regular sugar, or keto-friendly sweeteners like Erythritol.

Water: Feel free to use orange juice instead of water but I would recommend skipping the lemon juice if using orange juice.

Lemon juice: It’s totally fine to use lime juice. If you have organic lemons or limes, I recommend also adding a little of the zest (e.g. 1/2 tsp) to enhance the flavor of the compote!

Cornstarch: You can use arrowroot flour, tapioca flour/starch, or potato starch instead of cornstarch.

Vanilla: I like adding a little vanilla extract (about 1/2 teaspoon) for flavor but that’s totally optional.

Canning: Due to the low amount of sugar, this compote is not appropriate for canning.

Variation: Add other berries of choice, for example, blueberries, blackberries, currants, or raspberries to make a delicious fruit compote!

Serving ideas: I linked a couple of recipes above. The compote/sauce is not only great as a drizzle over desserts/breakfast treats like Vegan Crepes or Banana Bread. It also makes a great filling for Sweet Dumplings (German Dampfnudel)! Or why not layer your Chia Pudding with a little compote/sauce. Spoon it over ice cream, stir it into yogurt or use it as a low-calorie toast spread. It’s so yummy!

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Should you give this tasty strawberry compote a try, please leave a comment below, and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan and #elavegan because I love to see your remakes!

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Strawberry Compote/Sauce

Author: Michaela Vais

This recipe for homemade Strawberry Compote is quick & easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. You can leave it chunky or blend it to make a delicious strawberry sauce which is the perfect topping for crepes, pancakes, cheesecakes, and many other desserts!

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 13 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American, German

Servings 6

Calories 46 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450 g) strawberries (*see notes)
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) water (*see notes)
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice or lime juice
  • 2-4 tbsp sweetener of choice (*see notes)
  • 1/2 tbsp cornstarch (*see notes)

Instructions

  • You can watch the video in the post for visual instructions.

    Wash, hull, and chop the strawberries. Depending on their size, you can quarter them or chop them into smaller pieces.

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  • Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan and stir to combine until the cornstarch dissolves and no lumps remain. Once dissolved, turn on the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Let it simmer over low to medium heat for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste it and add more sweetener/lemon juice if needed.

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  • Let the compote cool completely (it will thicken more) and transfer to clean (sterilized) glass jars. You can blend it with an immersion blender to make a strawberry sauce. Enjoy! Store in the fridge for up to 10 days. Check the recipe notes below for substitutions.

    Strawberry Compote Or Sauce | Easy & Quick Recipe - Elavegan (13)

Notes

  • Strawberries: You can use fresh or frozen strawberries. If using frozen berries reduce or skip the water. You can replace a part of the strawberries with other berries of choice (e.g. blackberries, blueberries, etc.).
  • Sweetener: Any granulated or liquid sweetener is fine. Use maple syrup, brown rice syrup, or date syrup, etc. for a refined sugar-free version. Erythritol is perfect for a keto-friendly version.
  • Cornstarch: It thickens the compote and makes it more jelly-like. You can use arrowroot flour, tapioca flour/starch, or potato starch instead of cornstarch. If you don't want to use it, simply skip the water or cook the compote longer until it thickens naturally.
  • Add-Ins: I like adding a little vanilla extract and lemon zest (1/2 tsp each) for flavor but that's optional.
  • Canning: Due to the low amount of sugar, this compote is not appropriate for canning.
  • Serving ideas: I have linked many serving ideas/recipes in the blog post above. There you will also find step-by-step photos.

Nutrition Facts

Strawberry Compote/Sauce

Amount per Serving

Calories

46

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

1

g

5

%

Carbohydrates

11

g

4

%

Fiber

2

g

8

%

Sugar

8

g

9

%

Protein

1

g

2

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically

Equipment

Immersion blender*

Strawberry Compote Or Sauce | Easy & Quick Recipe - Elavegan (14) Simple and Delicious Vegan Cookbook by ElaVeganCLICK HERE to order!

If you are using Pinterest, feel free to pin the following photos:

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Strawberry Compote Or Sauce | Easy & Quick Recipe - Elavegan (2024)

FAQs

What is strawberry compote made of? ›

Strawberry compote is really easy to make. All you need are a few bright spring berries, a bit of sugar, and a splash of water or juice. In about 10 minutes of cooking time, you'll have a deliciously sweet and tangy bread topper.

What's the difference between strawberry coulis and compote? ›

But, compote is cooked until it's syrupy and has larger chunks of fruit. Coulis, on the other hand, is compote's smooth cousin. It's blended up and strained for a smooth, seedless sauce. Both can be made with either fruits or vegetables, and sometimes they're even made with raw produce.

How do you use compote? ›

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.

Why is my strawberry sauce not thickening? ›

Extra cornstarch may need to be added to thicken and achieve the perfect consistency. Why is my strawberry sauce not thickening? I always use a cornstarch slurry to thicken berry sauces rather than cook longer to evaporate the moisture.

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.

Is compote the same as 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.

What is the purpose of a compote? ›

Compotes are all-purpose serving dishes. These usually footed bowls -- with or without lids or covers -- held special desserts, fruits, candies or sauces, jellies and other foods. Blown or pressed glass compotes provided a culinary presentation method suitable to 19th-century middle-class households.

Do you eat compote hot 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.

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.

How to make compote thicker? ›

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.

Does compote need to be refrigerated? ›

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.

Is compote good for you? ›

Compotes are very useful for health, because they contain different vitamins, pectin, minerals and fruit sugar – fructose. The health benefit of compotes is decided by the components of the drink. Apricot compotes are useful for the people who have problems in circulatory system, kidneys and liver.

How many cups is 1 pound of strawberries? ›

Converting Pounds to Cups

If you are going to the store and strawberries are only sold in 1-pound containers of whole strawberries, you need a few simple equivalents to figure out how many containers you need to buy. One pound of whole strawberries equals: 2 3/4 cups sliced strawberries. 3 3/4 cups whole strawberries.

Does lemon juice thicken sauces? ›

It was time for the secret weapon: lemon juice. Turns out, the acidity of the juice acts as a thickening agent, which reacts with the proteins in the dairy to increase the viscosity. It's a similar concept to adding vinegar to milk to make buttermilk, said Clark.

How do I make my sauce thicker and creamier? ›

The most readily available sauce-thickener is flour. For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.

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'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.

What's the difference between applesauce and compote? ›

Is apple compote the same as apple sauce? Apple compote and applesauce are two different dishes. The shape and texture of the apples are retained in apple compote and no additional water should be added. In applesauce the apples are cooked with water, sugar, and seasonings and then pureed.

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