Easy, Perfect Berry Sauce (Compote) (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Shiran · This post may contain affiliate links · 38 Comments

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This berry sauce (compote) is incredibly versatile and pairs perfectly with cheesecake, waffles, ice cream, and more. You won’t believe how easy it is to make!

Since fresh berries are hard to find around here, I usually rely on frozen berries to make jams and compotes. If you have an abundance of fresh berries, check out my post on how to freeze fresh berries! Fortunately, both frozen and fresh berries work incredibly well for making compotes! All it takes is cooking berries and sugar in a saucepan -although I like to add a few other ingredients to enhance the flavor.

How to make a berry sauce

  1. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, place berries, 2 tablespoons sugar, lemon juice, and zest. Cook for about 5 minutes, mixing occasionally until the liquid thickens. At any point, you can add water if the sauce it too thick, or more sugar to make it sweeter.
  2. In a small cup, whisk together cornstarch and water until smooth, then add it to the saucepan. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes longer until it reaches the desired consistency. Sauce will thicken further as it cools.

What can I pair berry sauce with?

You can pair mixed berry compote with lots of desserts! Here are a few of my favorites:

  • New York Cheesecake
  • Classic Cheesecake
  • Ricotta Cheesecake
  • Flourless Chocolate Fudge Cake
  • Flourless Chocolate Almond Torte
  • Chocolate Bundt Cake
  • Vanilla Panna Cotta
  • No-Churn Vanilla Ice Cream

Tips for making the BEST berry sauce

  • Try to keep most of the berries whole while cooking (but ifthey do break, that’s ok).
  • Frozen berries release plenty of juices while cooking, so don’t be tempted to add water in the beginning.
  • If you’re using fresh berries rather than frozen, you’ll need to add a few tablespoons of water until you reach the desired consistency.
  • The longer you cook the sauce, the thicker it will get. You can also add a bit more cornstarch for thickening, but don’t add too much or it will affect the taste.
  • For a smooth sauce, you can puree the cooked sauce in a food processor. If you like, you can also push it through a fine sieve using the back of a spoon to discard the seeds.
  • If you like, you can add a fruit-based liqueur such as Grand Marnier or Chambord.
  • You can use orange zest instead of lemon zest (but still use the lemon juice).
  • Try adding a pinch of warm spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg for added flavor.

Easy, Perfect Berry Sauce (Compote) (3)

4.85 from 13 votes

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Berry Sauce

This berry compote is easy to make and pairs perfectly with cakes, ice creams, custards, and more!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2cupsfrozen mixed berries*
  • 2-6tablespoonsgranulated sugar, to taste
  • 1teaspoonlemon juice
  • 5grates of lemon zest
  • 1tablespoonwater
  • ½tablespooncornstarch

Instructions

  1. In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, place berries, 2 tablespoons sugar, lemon juice, and zest. Cook for about 5 minutes, mixing occasionally until the liquid (which is the juice released from the fruit) thickens. At any point, you can add water if the sauce it too thick, or more sugar to make it sweeter.

  2. In a small cup, whisk together cornstarch and water until smooth, then add it to the saucepan. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes longer until it reaches the desired consistency. Sauce will thicken further as it cools.

Recipe Notes

*If using fresh berries rather than frozen, you’ll need to add a few tablespoons of water until you reach the desired consistency.

More Frostings & Sauces

  • Creamy Vanilla Sauce
  • Homemade Applesauce
  • Velvety Cranberry Apple Sauce
  • Mascarpone Vanilla Bean Frosting

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. nicole (thespicetrain.com) says

    Looks gorgeous!

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      Thank you so much Nicole! 🙂

      Reply

      • Sara says

        Just made this, following instructions exactly except zest of half a lemon. 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 cu p s frozen cheeries, raspberries, blackberries. Beautiful and not overly sweet. Will serve warmed over Angel food cake. Thanks for this recipe.

        Reply

  2. Beeta @ Mon Petit Four says

    This berry sauce looks delicious, Shiran! I love the idea of creating a course coulis like this, as I think it looks more natural and beautiful than sometimes completely puréeing and straining the sauce. Would be fun to do a cranberry version for fall with your orange zest suggestion and seep a cinnamon stick in there. Lovely recipe! <3

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      You read my minds, Beeta! The cranberry-orange combination is another favorite of mine! And I agree that a cooked sauce is much better than puree, although I would make it if I want something quick 🙂

      Reply

  3. Anne says

    This looks absolutely gorgeous!!! The little berry seeds make this shine like so many pretty jewels! 😀

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      Thank you so much Anne! 🙂

      Reply

  4. Tony says

    How can you keep the sauce for long periods. I have an abundance of fruit each year and after making the sauce it often goes off – moulds etc. What is the best way to keep it?

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      Hi Tony, sometimes I keep the leftovers in the freezer and they keep well for a while.

      Reply

      • Ferne Foley says

        I have a pressure cooker for doing vegetables, meats, etc. for the winter. I put my jams, jellies and sauces in their bottles and put them in the cooker for at least 15 minutes at ten pounds pressure or
        a little more depending on the size of the bottles and cook them. I find I have no problem after keeping them ’till they’re opened. They will last a long time.

        Reply

  5. Tisha says

    Thank you for this recipe! Just tried it out now, and it came out perfectly! 🙂

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      Thank you Tisha 🙂

      Reply

  6. elizabeth says

    I made it and it is wonderful! Thank you so much!

    Reply

  7. Susan says

    Made this delicious cheesecake and it’s scrumptious! Followed the recipe exactly.

    Reply

  8. Cia says

    Hi Shiran, can u use this berry sauce for fruit tarts?

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      Hi Cia, do you want to use it as a filling or glaze? It will be delicious if you serve it on the side or top the fruits or cream cheese/vanilla filling with it, but I don’t recommend using it as the only filling to fill your tart.

      Reply

  9. DAN TONELLI says

    loved this

    Reply

  10. Joanne says

    Hi,
    When can I add the liqueur?

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      You can add it after cooking the mixture.

      Reply

  11. Kobi says

    It worked perfectly, I got just the consistency I wanted. Thanks.

    Reply

  12. Mrs. G says

    This berry sauce is the bomb! I made it for topping cheesecake and it delivered!! Quick and oh so easy, a keeper and I’ll definitely try making it with some cranberries and orange zest, and finish it with some Gran Marnier.

    Reply

  13. Mrs. G says

    Best berry sauce ever! So easy, so tasty. Have served this over cheesecake, custard, and yogurt. Hands down awesome, I now keep a regular supply of frozen berries on hand for a quick easy sauce.

    Reply

  14. Helen Williams says

    Perfect! I used a mix of fresh berries and added a little gran marnier as suggested by you and others. wonderful over cheesecake.

    Reply

  15. Esther says

    Can this be made 2-3 days ahead, refrigerated, and then used with pannacotta. It will keep ok?

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      Yes, it will be great 🙂

      Reply

  16. Jacqueline says

    How much berry sauce do you get out of this recipe?

    Reply

    • Shiran says

      Hi Jacqueline. About 1.5 cups. I almost always double the recipe just in case 🙂

      Reply

  17. Christine says

    So simple, but once you start eating it, you won’t be able to stop. Waffles, yogurt, oatmeal, panna cotta (your recipe of course), cheesecake… wow, wow, wow! Make this.

    Reply

  18. Earlyjill says

    This is soooo gooooood!Thank you. I made my first berry sauce with this recipe and I will definitely make it agian!

    Reply

  19. Marlu says

    Just made this to go over pancakes. Perfect I followed the recipe exactly. Will definitely make this again perfect for scones.

    Reply

  20. Ergative says

    I made this to go with the New York cheesecake recipe, and it was easy and thickened perfectly, and provided exactly the right tangy sauce to balance out the sweetness of the cheesecake.

    Reply

  21. Elizabeth Kuruvilla says

    I can’t believe how easy this recipe is! I made the sauce to serve with your Panna Cotta, and I’m honestly tempted to just eat all the sauce by itself because it’s so delicious! My husband (who normally doesn’t like sweet stuff) loved the sauce too! I’ll definitely be making this again and putting it on EVERYTHING – thank you!

    Reply

  22. Karen says

    Do you serve this warm or cold or does it matter?

    Reply

    • Talia @ Pretty. Simple. Sweet. says

      Hi Karen, I recommend serving this sauce cold or room temperature. It goes particularly well with cheesecake, and if its warm or hot it will melt the cake:) However, feel free to experiment! It might be delicious served warm on other types of desserts.

      Reply

  23. CammyWammy says

    This recipe is quite possibly the best thing that has happened to me since my late husbands death.

    Reply

  24. Lucy says

    Omit the cornstarch! For the first try, I followed the recipe exactly. My husband and I disliked what the cornstarch did to the texture-to the extent that we threw it out and started over. Next try we used just frozen berries and 2 T sugar and simmered a little longer. Much better!

    Reply

    • Stephanie @ Pretty.Simple.Sweet. says

      Hi Lucy, thank you for your review. Not everyone loves cornstarch as it can sometimes give a chalky mouthfeel. If you aren’t looking for a thicker sauce, it is perfectly fine to omit.

      Reply

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Easy, Perfect Berry Sauce (Compote) (2024)

FAQs

How long does berry compote last in the fridge? ›

Compote is not as thick as jam or jelly, and it's meant to be consumed relatively soon after making (it will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator). It's not designed to be canned or preserved for the months or years ahead.

How long does it take for compote to thicken? ›

Combine fruit, sugar, and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Optional: Add cornstarch mixture to saucepan. Continue to boil until the berries break down and the compote has thickened to desired consistency, or about 2 to 3 minutes.

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 to serve with berry compote? ›

Serve this frozen berry compote warm or chilled over pancakes, ice cream, yogurt, toast, waffles, oatmeal... endless possibilities and sure to please any palate.

Does compote go bad? ›

Typically, a freshly prepared compote can be preserved for up to 2 weeks when stored properly in the refrigerator. To further ensure longevity, one should minimize the number of times the compote is taken out and exposed to air, as this can introduce contaminants and reduce shelf life.

How long is homemade compote good for? ›

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. Spices Oriental flavours such as star anise, ginger and cardamom are fantastic for fruit with a rich flavour, such as plums and berries.

Will my compote thicken as it cools? ›

If the compote is too watery, don't be afraid to cook a few more minutes until it thickens. The compote will thicken a bit more as it cools.

How do I thicken my berry compote? ›

Add cornstarch mixture and boil until berries break down and compote thickens to the desired consistency, 2 to 3 minutes.

Will sauce thicken as it cools? ›

If you're dealing with a stir-fry sauce or gravy that's just a little too runny, make a cornstarch slurry with two parts water and one part starch (adding it directly to your sauce will cause it to clump), then whisk it into your hot sauce, keeping in mind your sauce will further thicken as it cools.

What is the purpose of a compote? ›

Summary. 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.

What is a fun fact about fruit compote? ›

The dish was originally served by itself in 17th century France as a dessert item. Interestingly enough, the dessert was originally created for its supposed health benefits. The idea was that this dessert, or fruits cooked in any syrup, balanced out the effects of humidity in the body.

Is compote healthier than jam? ›

Most compotes have less sugar than your typical jar of jam.

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? ›

It's great on its own and can also be enjoyed with porridge, pancakes or yoghurt.

What do you put in a compote dish? ›

You can cook plums, quinces, apples, and other fresh fruit to create a compote, a delicious sweet mixture of fruit and sugar that makes for a vibrant topping or a dessert unto itself.

How long is raspberry compote good for in the fridge? ›

It freezes well--freeze it inside your finished cake or freeze and and thaw the raspberry compote before using it (freeze for up to two months). You can refrigerate it up to two weeks. It balances the sweetness of your cake and frostings and goes with many flavors.

Can you eat week old berries? ›

Fresh raspberries and strawberries only keep 2 to 3 days even in the fridge. Blueberries can keep for 1 or 2 weeks. If you want to keep your fresh berries longer, you can freeze them for up to a year.

How long do cooked berries last in the fridge? ›

Proper storage will keep blueberries 2-3 days at room temperature. Freshly harvested blueberries will last for 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Cooked blueberries will last for approximately 4-5 days in the fridge. Frozen blueberries will last for 6-12 months in the freezer.

How long does it take for berries to spoil? ›

“Blackberries and raspberries can last around five to seven days, but are typically the softest berries of the category,” he adds. On the other hand, strawberries are the most delicate and easy to bruise, which can cause decay and mold to develop within just a few days.

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