This quick and easy Spiced Apple Compote recipe will fill your fall with amazing flavor. Use it as a topping for breakfast, dessert, and more!
Spiced Apple Compote
I go a little apple crazy in the fall. I suppose I make up for my dislike of pumpkin with more and more apples! I love to bake with apples this time of year, but I also love simple ways to use them like this Spiced Apple Compote.
And it couldn’t really be any easier to make. Butter, sugar, apples, and spices combine in a pan to make a sweet, gooey, spiced mixture that is as delicious as it is versatile.
Serving Ideas for Apple Compote
You can use this Spiced Apple Compote in so many ways. Serve it over pancakes, waffles, French toast, or even your oatmeal to add a little something special to your breakfast. Spoon some over a simple pound cake or cheesecake for an instant fall twist on those classics. Or just keep things simple and pair it with a scoop of ice cream.
The Best Apples for Making Compote
When choosing apples for making this compote, I tend to favor the same apples that I use most often for baking. I have the easiest access to traditional choices like Gala, Fuji, and Pink Lady. For more info, be sure to see my tips for The Best Apples for Baking.
When you’re slicing your apples for the compote, the cut size is really a matter of personal preference and how you plan to use it. I usually go with either slices or large pieces. I love the look of slices, but I most often go the pieces route, as I feel it’s a little more versatile to use. Regardless of the size, they should cook in about the same amount of time, unless you’re using especially thick cuts.
What You’ll Need
In the recipe, I’ve listed the spices individually, but you can also use my Fall Spice Blend or another spice blend that your prefer. As always with spices, feel free to adjust to suit your tastes.
- Butter – If you want to use salted butter, omit the salt in the recipe.
- Brown sugar – Either light or dark
- Apples – You’ll need 2 medium apples to yield 2 to 2 & 1/2 cups of cut or sliced apples. You can peel these, leave the peels on, or just roughly peel them.
- Ground cinnamon – Spices lose their flavor over time, so make sure yours are fresh.
- Ground ginger
- Ground nutmeg
- Salt
How to Make Spiced Apple Compote
Homemade apple compote is very easy to make. You’ll just need a large saucepan or skillet and a spoon!
Cook the butter and brown sugar. Place the butter and brown sugar in a large saucepan or skillet, and cook over medium heat while stirring occasionally. Continue cooking until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.
Add the apples and spices. Stir the apples and all the spices into the butter mixture.
Cook until thickened. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft and the mixture has thickened. This should take 8 to 10 minutes.
How to Store Apple Compote
Once your Spiced Apple Compote is cooked, you can serve it immediately or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should keep for about a week so that you can reheat and use it whenever you like. This recipe makes a good amount for most uses, but it also scales really easily if you want to go all in with spiced apple deliciousness!
Spiced Apple Compote
Use this quick and easy Spiced Apple Compote to add some classic fall flavor from breakfast to dessert!
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter*
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 medium apples, cut into 1/2-inch slices or pieces (about 2 - 2 & 1/2 cups)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon**
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger**
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg**
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Place the butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan or a small skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter has melted and sugar has dissolved.
- Add the apples, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt, and stir to combine.
- Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened and the apples have softened (about 8-10 minutes).
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week.
Notes
*If you use salted butter, just omit the salt in the recipe.
**Or substitute 1 & 1/4 teaspoons Fall Spice Blend.
5 Comments on “Spiced Apple Compote”
Oh my gosh how yummy and easy. I want to make this soon. Thanks
I have diabetic relatives and would like to do a diabetic or sugar-free version of this to use as a filling. I’m not very good at changing recipes on ways that work! Can you please suggest how I could make this diabetic friendly or sugar-free or what substitutes would work?
Hi, Crystal. I’ve not tried it, but I would guess that a sugar substitute would work well enough. Most of them are a 1 to 1 substitution, but I’d check the packaging to be sure. I don’t use sugar substitutes, so I can’t really recommend a specific brand.
Do u peel the apples first? It doesn’t  say to but he photo looks like you did.
It’s a matter of preference. I usually roughly peel them for making this compote.