In the wintertime, it’s nice to have something sweet to comfort you.
Making homemade cranberry compote is simple and requires very little effort.
It’s a personal favorite of mine because it can be made in no time and is a great way to end a meal.
Every time I make this compote, friends and family love it, and it’s easy enough that anyone can make it.
What ingredients do you need to make cranberry compote ?
A bag of cranberries, 1/2 a cup of brown sugar and 1/4 of a cup of water are all you need to make this delicious dish.
For those that want to make it without added sugar, the compote can be made with just water.
If you’re looking to add some extra flavor to your compote, feel free to use another fruit like pineapple or mango.
Or you can use the orange juice in place of the water altogether if you prefer.
How long does it take to cook cranberry compote?
Cooking cranberry compote is easy.
You are only required to incorporate ingredients that can be kept in the fridge and then combine them together in a bowl.
You can make it as soon as an hour before you plan to serve it — or as late as midnight.
It’s nice to have cranberries on hand, so you won’t need to run out and buy them at the store.
If you want to make this dish ahead of time, I’d recommend making it up to the point of adding brown sugar, then put it in the fridge to let the compote cool down overnight before serving.
What type of sweetness is used to make cranberry compote?
Most of the sweeteners used in this compote recipe are simple and widely available.
However, you may want to consider using some other options if you’d like to make it easier on yourself.
Beeswax
- This is the ingredient that gives this compote its unique yellow color. It’s widely available and can be easily substituted for honey or sugar. You can even grate it when making your compote if you prefer.
Sugar
- If you don’t have any beeswax, you’ll need to use brown sugar. This type of sweetener is available most everywhere and will probably be the easiest to find. Just remember that it should be light or medium-light in color.
Corn syrup
- Corn syrup is a perfect substitute for honey or corn syrup, depending on how sweet you’d like the finished product to be. Corn syrup is usually clear but can vary in color depending on where it comes from. Keep in mind that it has a lower heat tolerance than many sugars so boiling over while cooking can ruin it.
Is cranberry compote easy to make?
Cranberries are already sweet, so you don’t want to use a lot of sugar as a sweetener.
Also, the main ingredient is cranberry juice, so any additional sweetness is unnecessary.
Therefore, it helps to choose your cranberry juice carefully because the higher the quality of the juice, the better this compote will taste.
The last thing you want is for your compote to be overly sweetened with extra sugar and not have enough tartness from the berries.
Check out how much extra sugar I used in my recipe and how little was needed to get a great balance.
If you can make this compote with less sugar or no sugar at all, that’s even better.
What are some suggested garnishes for cranberry compote?
When making this compote, you can add any number of fruits and vegetables to it.
Although you won’t discover too many new flavors when making this compote with a simple mix of cranberries, some other combinations will surprise you.
Fruit
- Raspberries (or other berries)
- Fresh strawberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
Vegetables
- Cucumber
- Hard boiled eggs
- Celery sticks
(I’ve included an image containing these garnishes at the end of this article.)
What is the ideal consistency of cranberry compote?
The ideal consistency of this compote is a thick but pourable consistency that can easily be used to fill croissants or bread bowls.
You may end up with a little bit of cranberry sauce, but you can always add more to taste.
A good way to ensure your compote is at the ideal consistency is to boil it.
Swirl the boiling compote in a pan, and when you see that it has thickened up, pour it into a bowl and chill for an hour or two until it’s chilled enough to use.
Are there any health benefits of cranberry compote?
As a dessert, cranberry compote is a popular ingredient when it comes to baking.
However, did you know that there are health benefits to eating the fruit?
Cranberries are rich in vitamin C, which is something that’s important for your body.
It also contains many other antioxidants that can be helpful in fighting off disease.
The sauce is filling and very tasty; it’s an excellent way to save on calories and make sure your diet is well-balanced.
But that doesn’t mean that cranberry compote is just a good food — it can be a great thing for your health as well.
What are some ways to serve cranberry compote?
One way to serve cranberry compote is over ice cream or pie.
You can also make a punch out of it and serve in punch cups, just be sure to keep the cranberries chopped so they don’t fall through the holes.
You can also put cranberry compote on fruit such as berries and applesauce.
Or, you can use it as a sauce for ham sandwiches or over pancakes. It’s also an excellent condiment for holiday turkey.
Are there any variations to the classic cranberry compote recipe?
There are a few different variations of this classic recipe.
One is the addition of orange zest and juice.
This variation makes the cranberry compote tangy and a little bit more colorful, while adding more flavor.
Another option that I have heard of is substituting with grape juice or some other fruit juice.
Most likely, you’ll have to adjust the recipe accordingly because cranberries only have one ingredient: sweetened water.
If you’re trying to create something different out of this recipe, check out these next two pages to get some inspiration.
Does cranberry compote pair well with other dishes?
The answer is yes, it has a natural affinity for other dishes.
It’s very sweet, so it pairs well with savory foods such as hard-boiled eggs and fish dishes.
I often make this when I have guests because the sweet notes are perfect for desserts or for a nice way to end a meal.
It’s also light enough that you can pair it with lighter dishes.
If you’re having a dinner party, make this compote with each of your guests’ favorites and you’ll have dessert every time.
To use as an alternative to whipped cream, use vanilla ice cream as your base and add in a little spoonful of cranberry compote on top just before serving.
This is one of my personal favorite options.
Equipment
- 2 Jars
- 1 Saucepot
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fresh cranberries
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 orange zested and juiced
Instructions
- 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and the juice and zest of 1 orange should all be combined in a sauce saucepan.
- Cook, stirring periodically, over medium-low heat until cranberries have burst and broken down to form a sauce. About 6 to 8 minutes will pass throughout this. When sauce smoothly drops off a spoon, it is finished.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.