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–+ servings
Spoonful of lemon strawberry compote.

20-Minute Strawberry Compote (Fresh or Frozen Berries)

Justine Drosdovech
This simple strawberry compote is the perfect topping for pancakes, waffles, or French toast. It's sweet, tangy, and filled with flavor!
5 from 102 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Sauce
Cuisine French, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Servings 24 tablespoons
Calories 13 kcal

Equipment

  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Saucepan

Ingredients
 

US Customary - Metric
  • 1 pound fresh strawberries (quartered)
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ¼ cup cane sugar
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Wash and stem the strawberries, then half or quarter them. Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Add it to a medium saucepan with the strawberries, cane sugar, and lemon zest.
  • Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until it appears thickened. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking. Pour the lemon juice in and cook for another few minutes to incorporate it.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Serve your compote warm or chilled over waffles, French toast, pancakes, ice cream, and more. Happy eating!

Notes

Select ripe strawberries: Use ripe, bright red strawberries for the best flavor and natural sweetness. Avoid overripe or bruised berries since they can result in a mushy texture and a slightly fermented taste.
Adjust sugar based on fruit's sweetness: Taste your strawberries first and adjust the sugar accordingly, as their natural sweetness can vary.
Lemon zest technique: Use a microplane over a box grater to zest the lemon. It has finer blades, which allows it to shave more finely and prevents accidentally grating the bitter white pith.
Non-organic strawberries are one of the most heavily sprayed foods, so it's critical to thoroughly wash them. They're one of those fruits that I highly recommend splurging on organic for.
Not all compotes contain cornstarch, but I like to add it to thicken it right up. If you don't have any, omit both the cornstarch and water.
It's important not to rush this process. A gentle simmer allows the strawberries to break down naturally and the sugar to dissolve without burning.
Adding the lemon juice towards the end preserves its fresh, tangy flavor, which can be diminished with prolonged cooking.
Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 13kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.2g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.003g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0.3mg | Potassium: 30.7mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 2.5g | Vitamin A: 2.4IU | Vitamin C: 11.8mg | Calcium: 3.3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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