You're going to love this easy Grape Compote! This simple recipe requires just a few ingredients and takes hardly any time to make. Compote is perfect on pancakes, waffles, ice cream, or even stirred into your morning yogurt or oatmeal.
This versatile grape compote can be made in minutes! By cooking the grapes they become beautifully tender and create an intense, thick grape syrup.
Use the grape sauce over French toast or pancakes, spooned onto yogurt, or on desserts like cheesecake.
Compote is simply cooked fruit that has been sweetened. It can be made with any type of fruit, but grapes are especially delicious! They come in all types of varieties and are naturally sweet making this grape sauce versatile!
Making grape compote couldn't be easier! Mix sugar and grapes with some lemon juice and water and cook until the grapes break down into a delicious sauce.
You can use any type of grapes you enjoy and use it in so many ways! Use it as a topping for pancakes and waffles, or add it to your favorite desserts. It also makes a nice sweet layer in a yogurt breakfast parfait!
No matter how you enjoy it, this easy grape compote is a great way to use grapes in a sweet and delicious sauce.
Be sure to check out these other Compote Recipes, such as raspberry compote, peach compote, blueberry compote, or apple compote.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Grape compote is a great recipe if you have an abundance of grapes you need to use up.
You can use any type of grape you enjoy for this recipe.
The ingredient list is short and simple, and you may already have them on hand.
You can experiment with adding warming spices to change up the flavor.
Ingredients
- Seedless Grapes - Black grapes are used in this recipe, but you can use any type of grape you enjoy including Concorde, red and green varieties. Seedless is best so there aren't any hard bits in your compote.
- White Sugar - Helps enhance the natural sweetness of the grapes and thickens the sauce.
- Lemon Juice - Gives the grapes a contrasting citrus flavor that brightens up the compote.
- Water - A bit of water is needed to help the heat break down and steam the grapes as they cook.
- Star Anise (OPTIONAL) - This spice adds a hint of warming flavor to the compote and can be omitted easily.
Please see the recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this Grape Compote recipe? It's easy! Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Prepare the ingredients: Wash your grapes with cold water and, if they aren't seedless, remove any large seeds. Add them to a pot along with the sugar, lemon juice, water, and star anise.
Boil the compote: Bring the mixture to a boil for five minutes while stirring often. Stirring will help the mixture keep from burning at the bottom.
Simmer the sauce: After it boils, reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook for an additional 10 minutes as it begins to thicken.
Cool and store: Discard the star anise if using. Allow the mixture to cool and store in a sterilized jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Top tips
Choose seedless grapes that are ripe and in season for the best flavor.
If you want a smoother sauce, cook the grapes until they are very soft before mashing them.
The sauce will thicken as it cools, so keep that in mind when cooking it to your desired consistency.
Serve your grape compote warm or cold.
Serving Suggestions
While the sauce is still warm, pour over a serving of vegan waffles or vegan pancakes for a grape-flavored breakfast.
Use it as a topping for a serving of Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert.
Layer it into a Walnut and Granola Breakfast Parfait for an extra sweet flavor.
Pair it alongside Fruit Summer Rolls as a sweet dipping sauce.
Try it on yogurt, oatmeal, cheesecake, cupcakes, pound cake and more!
Variations
For a deeper flavor and slightly thicker compote, use brown sugar instead of white granulated sugar.
Add a warming Fall feel to the grapes by using some Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice in the mixture. You can also try Speculoos or Chia Spice.
Try adding a vanilla bean to the compote while it's cooking for a hint of vanilla flavor.
Add some fresh thyme or rosemary to the grape sauce while it's boiling for an herby twist.
Mix other fruits in with the grapes including berries, stone fruits, or apples.
Add a dash of Lavender Syrup or Rose Syrup for a rich, floral flavor.
Storage
Storing: Cooled grape compote can be stored in a clean sterilized jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezing: If you'd like to freeze for later, pour the cooled compote into an airtight freezer-safe container and freeze for up to two months. Make sure there is room in the container for your compote to expand. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
Reheating: Frozen grape compote can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through.
FAQs
I prefer to use black grapes in this recipe, but you can really use any type of grape you enjoy. This includes Concorde, red and green varieties. Keep in mind that each grape has varying sweetness.
No, there is no need to peel the grapes for this compote recipe. Simply give them a good wash before adding them to the pot.
Yes, you can make a sugar-free version of this compote by omitting the sugar and adding a natural sweetener like maple syrup or agave nectar instead. Start with ½ cup and add more to taste as needed.
More Fruit Compote Recipes
📖 Recipe
Grape Compote
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups seedless grapes (200g) any variety
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- Optional: 1 star anise
Instructions
- Add the grapes, sugar, lemon juice, water (and star anise, if using) to a pot, stir and bring to the boil.
- Allow it to boil for about 5 minutes, stirring often to stop it from scorching.
- Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer and bubble for 10 minutes. It will thicken further as it cools.
- Remove and discard the star anise.
- Serve warm or allow to cool and store in a sterilised jar in the fridge for up to 5 days (or freeze for up to 2 months).
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.
Shay
This was such a hit! Thank you for the recipe. Love this! So far had it on yogurt, pancakes and making another batch to jazz up a Costco plain cheesecake.
Kali Alexandria
I LOVE this on my waffles in the morning. Thank you!
Rachel
Love how easy this grape compote was to make! Served it over pancakes and it was delicious!
Kechi
WOW! This looks so delicious; I have just bookmarked it to make over the weekend! Am sure they would go well with my waffles!
Tayler
I've had blueberry compote but never grape. I love grapes, so I can't wait to make this for the next time we have pancakes!
Tara
Oh wow! Such a wonderful addition to pancakes and ice cream. I love how easily this grape compote comes together.