Fruit compote is a quick fruit sauce made with simple ingredients. Serve it over ice cream for an easy dessert, or over oatmeal or pancakes for a delicious breakfast.
Cut the fruit into small pieces, about 1/2-inch to 1-inch thick. The smaller you cut the fruit, the faster it will cook. There's no need to peel fruits like peaches or apples, unless you prefer to, but do make sure to remove any pits or large seeds. When using frozen fruit, it should already be cut and peeled for you, so you can skip this step!
Place the fruit in a saucepan over medium-high heat, and add in the maple syrup and lemon juice, if using. (The juice isn't necessary for tart fruit, like raspeberries.) Bring the liquid to a boil, which will take about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir often, so the fruit won't start to stick to the bottom of the pan.
Once the juices are boiling, lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Stir often, until the fruit starts to soften and break down. This takes about 5 more minutes of cooking for berries, and it can take up to 10 more minutes of cooking for peaches or apples. Use a spatula or spoon to press on the fruit and break it up as you stir.
When the fruit has softened, remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. It will thicken up slightly as it cools. Serve warm over chocolate cake, cheesecake, pancakes, waffles, and more. Leftover compote can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It's a great topping for overnight oats or chia pudding, if you'd like to meal prep ahead of time, too.
Notes
Nutrition information is for roughly a 1/4 cup of compote made with peaches, assuming you end up with 1 cup of compote from this recipe. This information is automatically calculated and is not a guarantee.