Apple Compote is a super simple and tasty way to enjoy apples! They're cooked with brown sugar, cinnamon, raisins and butter until soft and delicious. Enjoy on ice cream, oatmeal, waffles and more. Ready in 15 minutes with 6 simple ingredients.
This easy Apple Compote is a go-to recipe of mine. It's soooo simple to make and it is really versatile.
Diced apples and raisins are cooked in butter, cinnamon and brown sugar, until lovely and soft. If that sounds like bliss, you'd be right! It's a heavenly combination of flavors and textures.
I then use the fruit compote on ice cream, pancakes, oatmeal, yogurt and so much more.
I have three apple trees. Yes, three! In a pretty small backyard.
One is a sweet eating apple, one is a tart cooking apple and the other is a dry cider apple.
Until last year, I thought we only had two apple trees.
Then we cut back a bush and this year a tiny spindly (think Charlie Brown's Christmas tree) tree appeared. It's a tiny tree that gave us a dozen HUGE cooking apples.
I hope next year it does even better.
For apple compote, you can use any variety of apples. I tend to use any that I have in the fruit bowl, or even a mixture of types, from sweet to tart.
I absolutely hate powdery apples. Some people love them, but me? Nope! But I soon get over the disappointment when I bite into one by knowing that they won't go to waste - they'll soon become compote!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
A great way to use up apples.
Full of wintery spices and plump raisins.
A versatile apple compote, perfect on pancakes, French toast and much more.
Ready in just 15 minutes.
A quick and easy recipe.
Keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Ingredients and Tools
You only need a few pantry ingredients for apple compote!
Apples - use whatever variety, or a mix. Cooking apples, eating, it doesn't matter. All that lovely buttery spice sauce will make them tasty regardless of the type.
Butter - use standard or vegan butter. It adds a lovely richness to the compote.
Brown sugar - use light, dark or raw brown sugar. They all work just fine. You can also swap it for white sugar or castor sugar.
Raisins - optional, but we love how they taste with the apples. Swap for dried cranberries for a festive flavor.
Cinnamon - I use ground, but you could swap it for a cinnamon stick.
Ginger - a little wintery heat really adds to this compote, but it's optional!
The only kitchen tools you need are a vegetable peeler for the apples, a cutting board to cut the apples and a skillet/frying pan and wooden spoon.
Step by step tutorial
Follow these photo steps and you'll soon have a warm dish of gently spiced soft, cooked apples.
Then, scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over a medium heat, then stir in the sugar and stir until it melts. Add the remaining ingredients.
Stir, cover and cook over a medium/low heat for 12 minutes, stirring regularly, until the apples are soft and begin to break down.
FAQs
What type of apple should I use for apple compote?
You can use any kind! I make this recipe all the time and use whatever I have, from bitter cooking apples to sweeter eating apples.
Whether you use Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith, Gala or Golden Delicious, you're sure to love them in this apple compote.
How long does apple compote last? Keep it in the fridge in sealed container for up to 5 days. Then just reheat in a frying pan or enjoy cold.
Can I freeze apple compote? Yes! Let it cool completely, then store in the fridge in a sealed freezer-safe bag or container. Then allow to thaw and reheat in a pan.
Compote Recipes
I'm a HUGE fan of compote. It's just such a great way to use up seasonal fruit and there are loads of tasty ways to enjoy it. After trying this apple compote, I hope you'll want to try my other compote recipes too!
Raspberry Compote
Blueberry Compote
Blackberry Compote
Pineapple Compote with Vanilla
Plum Compote
Peach Compote
Mango Compote
Winter-Spiced Berry Compote
Apple Recipes
I hope you'll love this apple compote recipe as much as we do! If you still have apples leftover (like I do!) then be sure to try these other tasty apple recipes.
Apple Beetroot Salad
Mini Apple Pizzas
Apple Walnut Salad
Apple Popsicles with Date Caramel
Get the recipe
Check out the Veggie Desserts + Cakes cookbook on Amazon
📖 Recipe
Spiced Apple Compote with Raisins
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 cups peeled cored and diced apples (approx 4 apples, 350g)
- ⅓ cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over a medium heat, then stir in the sugar and stir until it melts.
- Add the remaining ingredients, stir, cover and cook over a medium/low heat for 12 minutes, stirring regularly, until the apples are soft and begin to break down.
- Enjoy on oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, yogurt and more.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Becky
We make another recipe similar to this, it calls for lemon juice so the apples don’t brown. We bake cinnamon flour tortilla chips and eat it like a dessert salsa. It’s amazing! Thanks for the recipe.
Barbara Gold
perfectly simple and easy to multiply ingredients. I serve as all suggested , but especially as a stand-alone light dessert with crumbled biscotti on top!
Franny
Excellent recipe, dear Kate! I am addicted to baked apple desserts (crisps and crumbles and pies), but am trying to lose a few pounds, so a bowl of this apple compote really hits the spot! It’s got all those yummy flavors without the calorific topping or crust. I added a handful of chopped walnuts for crunch. Delicious! Thank you, Kate for a keeper recipe. 💖 Franny
Wilma Kinlaw
This is my second time making it. Cholesterol level has dropped 32 points. I make enough to freeze in containers to use each morning. I put it in my oatmeal and it's delicious. Really healthy. Yay!
Beth
This is so delicious! I served it with waffles for breakfast and my family gobbled them up! Thanks for a delicious fall recipe!
Erica
Making this to go on my oatmeal this morning. The aromas are amazing!
Laura
Great way to use up extra apples! We had this for breakfast this morning and it was a hit.
Carrie
Such a perfect recipe to make during apple season! Looks yummy. 🙂
Erika
This cinnamon apple compote is so delicious and perfect for fall! I love how easy it is to make too!
Wilma Kinlaw
This is the second time making it. I eat it mixed in my oatmeal. I dropped 32 points in my ldl cholesterol. This is really 😋 . I have almost reached my total cholesterol. Woowh!