Frequently asked questions
Why we love this recipe: This strawberry compote is outrageously tangy and bursting with sweet berry flavor! Alex and I love whipping this up as a versatile topping for ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal. A compote is a great way to use fruit that’s almost overripe, but there’s no need to wait for that for this recipe. Anytime is the perfect excuse!
Fresh strawberries: Both fresh strawberries and frozen berries work in a compote. It’s quick to make with either and there’s no thawing required. Granulated sugar: This type of sugar brings out the most intense sweet tart flavor and helps to make a thick, syrupy compote. You can also substitute pure maple syrup or honey as natural sweeteners, and the taste is comparable. Lemon zest: Fresh lemon zest brings a pop to the flavor; the acidity of the lemon is almost like salt in a savory dish. While it’s optional, we highly recommend it! Cornstarch: Using cornstarch makes a thick, glossy body to this sauce. A good cornstarch substitute is arrowroot powder. Vanilla extract and salt: These ingredients around out the flavor.
Cornstarch must be heated to around 203°F for the thickening to occur. It’s called “starch gelatinization,” which is a fancy word for the process where the the particles of cornstarch absorb water. Once you add the cornstarch slurry to the warm sauce, it immediately starts to thicken: the starch gelatinization has been activated! Compote becomes very thick when it’s cooled, so make sure to bring to room temperature or warm it on the stovetop before serving. This is especially important if you’re serving with a warm food like pancakes or waffles.
Serve over vanilla ice cream Spoon over cheesecake or mug cake Add dollops to flourless chocolate cake Swirl into a yogurt bowl and top with granola Add to pancakes or waffles as a simple topping Spoon over oatmeal, or try it on baked oatmeal or overnight oats.
Go for Classic Strawberry Crumble. Try our tasty fan-favorite Strawberry Bread . Bake up Strawberry Muffins or Strawberry Shortcake. Mix up Strawberry Waffles or Strawberry Oatmeal. Try Strawberry Water, Strawberry Smoothie or Strawberry Lemonade.
5 from 1 review
