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    Home » Recipes » Simple Caramelized Apple Compote

    Simple Caramelized Apple Compote

    Published: Sep 25, 2020 · Modified: Jan 11, 2021 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Caramelized apple compote in a jar next to a spoon and apples

    Seasonal fruit compotes are wonderful to have in your cooking repertoire for several reasons:

    • They are easy to prepare. Simply toss cut fruit with your sweetener of choice and any additional flavorings and cook until tender.
    • It is a no-fuss method for making the most of seasonal produce. Have a bunch of peaches/apples/pears/strawberries from the farm stand that are ripe and ready to go but not feeling up to making a pie at the moment? Perfect! The compote is your simple solution to preserving the life of your fruit without turning it into a complicated project.
    • Compotes are better (and easier) than jelly or jam. Compotes can be used in place of jam or jelly on your morning toast, and they typically contain less sugar and have better, truer fruit flavor. An all-around win!
    • They freeze beautifully. Most compotes will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks (not that you won’t finish it before that), but they also store well in the freezer for a few months.
    • And the number one reason to make compotes part of your cooking repertoire…..they are INCREDIBLY versatile.
    Three green apples on wooden surface

    How to Use a Fruit Compote

    Let me expand on the versatility piece. Once you have a jar of fruit compote in your fridge, the options beyond your morning toast are endless. A few suggestions:

    • Layer it with skyr or Greek yogurt and granola for a morning breakfast parfait (this is SO good….like fruit crumble for breakfast)!
    • Spoon on top of a Nordic Buttermilk Waffle with some whipped cream.
    • Stir into your morning oatmeal with a drizzle of whole milk or cream.
    • Use it as a filling for scones or rye crumble bars.
    • Spoon on top of vanilla ice cream (so simple and delicious).
    • Possibly the easiest idea of all....drizzle warm compote with a little heavy cream and eat it with a spoon (yes, sometimes easiest is best).
    • Rye crispbread + cream cheese + compote = tasty and easy breakfast or afternoon snack.
    Caramelized apple compote in a jar next to a spoon, towel and apples

    While I have several compote recipes here on the blog, I had yet to do one of the classics: apple compote. I tried several versions before landing on this Caramelized Apple Compote. And maybe that shouldn't come as any surprise. I adore caramelized apples. One of my favorite desserts is Tarte Tatin, the famous upside down caramelized apple tart that hails from France. This Caramelized Apple Compote has that same deep apple flavor with toasty notes of caramel and is serious step up from any other apple compote of tried.

    Cubes of apple and a vanilla bean cooking in a skillet

    The Ingredients

    The list is short and sweet, very much like what you might find in an apple pie or tart filling:

    • Granny Smith apples
    • Unsalted butter
    • Brown sugar
    • A pinch of salt
    • Cinnamon
    • Vanilla bean
    • Water
    Caramelized apple compote and a vanilla bean in a skillet

    The Method

    I tried a couple of methods for cooking the apples, including roasting them in the oven and a simple stovetop method in a saucepan, but neither delivered that caramelized flavor I was after. I switched my vessel to a nonstick skillet and began by combining the butter and sugar together creating a quick caramel sauce before adding the apples. This created the apple compote of my dreams: the larger surface area allowed the apples to brown more quickly and take on the caramel flavor I was looking for.

    The apples cook in the sugar and butter for 15-20 minutes, or until they are tender, soft and caramelized. Add a little water and a squeeze of lemon juice and that's it! I like my compote on the chunky side, so I simply mash it up a little with the back of a spoon when it comes off the heat.

    Caramelized apple compote in a jar next to apples, crispbread and a wooden knife with cream cheese

    Apple season is most definitely here and it is a great time to give this Caramelized Apple Compote recipe a try. You will be glad you did! In addition to the ideas listed above for how to enjoy fruit compote, stayed tuned over the next couple of weeks for a few specific recipes using this particular apple version. Need more apple recipes? Give these a try:

    • Swedish Apple Cake
    • Nordic Apple Strips
    • Salted Caramel Apple Oat Porridge
    • Beet Apple Ginger Smoothie
    Caramelized apple compote in a jar next to a spoon and apples

    Simple Caramelized Apple Compote

    An easy recipe for apple compote with deep apple flavor and toasty caramel notes.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: compotes
    Cuisine: Nordic, Scandinavian
    Keyword: apple compote recipe, easy apple compote, how to make compote
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 2 cups
    Calories: 530kcal
    Author: Kristi

    Ingredients

    • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 2 pounds Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and cut into ½ inch cubes
    • ⅓ cup light brown sugar packed
    • Pinch of salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ vanilla bean split and scraped
    • ¼ cup water
    • Squeeze of lemon juice

    Instructions

    • Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.  Add brown sugar, salt and cinnamon and cook until bubbling, about 1 minute.
    • Add apples, vanilla bean paste and the pod and saute, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender and caramelized, about 15-20 minutes.  
    • Add water, reduce heat to low and cook for an additional minute.  Remove from the heat and add lemon juice. Serve warm or allow mixture to cool completely before transferring to the refrigerator to store.  Compote will last for about 1 week in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 99g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 534mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 83g | Vitamin A: 770IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg

    Previous Post: « Crispy Sweet Potato Pancakes with Lingonberries and Bacon
    Next Post: Apple Crumble Bars with Oats and Rye »

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