Blueberry Compote Recipe: How to Serve a Berry Compote

Blueberry compote is a dessert, condiment, or spread containing whole blueberries. To make blueberry compote, you cook the berries in a sugar syrup at a low temperature, releasing their own natural sugars and juices. Compote is similar to jam; however, jam uses fruit pieces as well as whole fruit, while compote uses only whole fruit. You can use fresh blueberries or frozen blueberries in a fruit compote, and you can add complementary flavors, such as fresh lemon juice or vanilla extract.

Recipes call for compotes of varying thicknesses. Chefs use three techniques to increase the thickness of a blueberry compote: they add a pectin powder or gel, they make a cornstarch slurry, or they reduce the compote to evaporate as much water as possible.

Blueberry compote adds sweetness, thickness, flavor, and texture to a variety of foods. Consider serving the dish alongside these types of foods:

1. 1. Breakfast dishes: Use blueberry compote alongside or as a substitute for maple syrup on French toast, waffles, and pancakes. Fill crêpes with sweetened cream cheese or ricotta cheese and a spoonful of blueberry compote. Serve blueberry compote instead of jam along with lemon curd and clotted cream for scones—or top Greek yogurt with blueberry compote and granola to make a breakfast parfait.
2. 2. Desserts: Finish a classic cheesecake with blueberry compote in place of blueberry sauce, or swirl the compote into vanilla ice cream. Mix blueberry compote into buttercream frosting when you’re decorating cakes, or fill cupcakes with compote for a sweet filling.
3. 3. Snacks: A compote makes a nice addition to cheese boards and charcuterie boards, which offer a balance of sweet and savory elements. A sweet blueberry compote complements cheeses, cured meats, olives, and bread. Spread the compote plain or with other ingredients on crackers or toast.