Simple Pear Compote

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This Simple Pear Compote is a fresh and easy recipe for ripe pears that you are going to have on repeat in your kitchen! This delicious and simple pear compote is flavored with vanilla and is naturally sweetened with honey. It is wonderful on its own (especially topped with a dollop of whipped cream), and it makes a perfect topping for ice cream, waffles, pancakes or your morning bowl of oatmeal. This versatile pear compote does it all.

Pear compote in a jar next to a spoon and a pear.

The inspiration from this recipe comes from my love of fruit compotes. I have several here on the website to see you through all the seasons of the year. Peach and blueberry compote are perfect for summer, and then you can move on to pear and apple compote in the fall. Don't forget strawberry rhubarb compote for late spring and early summer!

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Ingredients for Simple Pear Compote
Subtitutions
Variations
How to Make this Recipe
Expert Tips
Recipe FAQs
What to Pair with Simple Pear Compote
Related Recipes
Recipe

Ingredients for Simple Pear Compote

Bartlett Pears. Ripe Bartlett pears are my first choice here as they are juicy and have a silky flesh that softens nicely during the cooking process.
Honey. Honey and pears were meant to go together. This recipe calls for a mere 3 tablespoons and isn't overly sweet. If you would like your compote a little more on the sweet side, feel free to add an extra squeeze or two.
Vanilla Bean. Fresh vanilla bean is so delicate and fragrant in this recipe, and the little flecks of the vanilla paste are visually appealing in the final result. That said, feel free to substitute 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for the vanilla bean if necessary.
Salt. A little salt is an important ingredient in sweet recipes as it helps to highlight the sweetness and bring it into balance.
Lemon Juice. Finishing the compote with a little acidity (in this case, lemon juice) heightens all of the flavors in the compote and gives it that little pleasing zing that will keep you coming back for more.

See the recipe card below for exact amounts and detailed instructions.

Subtitutions

Different varieties of pears: Other types of ripe pears such as Anjou, Comice or Bosc can be used in place of the Bartlett pears. Bosc pears tend to be a little drier in texture so feel free to add a few tablespoons of water or apple juice/cider during the cooking process.
Other sweetener options: Maple syrup, granulated sugar or brown sugar can be used in place of the honey if you prefer.

Variations

There are so many delicious ways to vary this recipe! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Cardamom: Add ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom to the compote while it cooks.
Fresh Ginger: Add 4 or 5 thin slices of fresh ginger (no need to peel) along with the other ingredients. Remove the ginger slices prior to serving.
Cardamom Ginger: Add both ground cardamom and fresh ginger slices. This one is my favorite!
Spiced Pear Compote: Add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a ¼ teaspoon of allspice to the compote in addition to the cardamom, vanilla and ginger.
Almond Pear Compote: Replace the vanilla bean or extract with ½ teaspoon of almond extract.
Cranberry Pear Compote: Add ¼ to ½ cup of fresh cranberries to the compote along with the other ingredients.
Roasted Pear Compote: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place all ingredients (except lemon juice) in a 8 or 9 inch square baking dish and stir to combine. Bake until pears are tender, about 45-50 minutes, stirring halfway through.

How to Make this Recipe

Person removing vanilla paste from the inside of a vanilla bean with the back of a knife.

Step 1: Remove the vanilla bean paste from the inside of the vanilla bean by slicing it open lengthwise and then running the dull side of the knife over the interior of the bean. SAVE THE BEAN ITSELF and add it to a medium saucepan with the vanilla bean paste, pears, honey and salt.

Step 2: Place the saucepan on the stove over medium high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to bubble and the pears begin to break down and give up their liquid. Reduce the heat to low and let the compote simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pears are really tender and saucy, about 20-30 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice.

Expert Tips

Please use RIPE pears for best results. If the pears are not at all ripe and rock hard, they will have a hard time softening. If your pears are indeed too hard to work with, simply let them ripen at room temperature for a day or two. You can even place them in a paper bag to help speed up the ripening process. They will be ready to go before you know it.
If the pears aren't giving up much liquid once the mixture begins to bubble and the compote seems dry, simply add a few tablespoons of water or apple juice or cider during the cooking process to loosen things up.
If you want a smoother compote, mash the pears with a fork or potato masher until they are to your desired consistency. I typically do not mash mine as I like it not overly smooth, with tender chunks of pear remaining.

Recipe FAQs

What is a compote?

A compote is a fruit preserve that is cooked slowly over low heat in a sweet syrup. Typically compotes are not as sweet as jams or preserves and are more rustic in appearance, perhaps with some of the chunks of fruit remaining intact.

How do I store fruit compote and can I freeze it?

It will keep in the refrigerator tightly sealed in a jar or other container for about a week. For longer storage, spoon the cooled compote into a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze it for up to two months.

Spoonful of pear compote over a jar of it.

What to Pair with Simple Pear Compote

Quite honestly, the options are endless! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Serve this pear compote on its own in a pretty serving glass topped with whipped cream (and maybe top it with some crushed Swedish Ginger Cookies).
Serve it warm over Swedish Pancakes, Norwegian Waffles or a bowl of yogurt or Homemade Cardamom Ice Cream.
Add a spoonful or two to a bowl of Simple Oatmeal (a handful of toasted chopped hazelnuts wouldn't hurt either)!
This compote is particularly good on these Gluten-Free Seed Crackers, Swedish Crispbread or toast that has been generously slathered with cream cheese.
For a savory application, consider serving it on these Blue Cheese and Pear appetizers. An elegant starter to begin your evening!
Use it in place of the blueberry filling in these Lemon Blueberry Crumble Bars.
Switch the strawberry rhubarb filling for the Roasted Pear Compote in these Strawberry Rhubarb Barley Scones.

And this is just the beginning!

Simple Pear Compote in a glass topped with whipped cream.

Looking for more delicious pear recipes? Give these a try:

If you tried this Simple Pear Compote or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

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