An easy mixed berry compote recipe made with three simple ingredients (including a bag of frozen mixed berries!).
It's tart, refreshing, and refined sugar-free, but best of all it takes just 10 minutes to make!
I always like to keep a bag of frozen berries in my freezer, so I'm never too far away from delicious smoothies, crumbles, and this quick mixed berry compote (you can also make it with fresh berries too!).
I like to serve the berry compote over buttermilk pancakes for a tasty weekend breakfast or brunch, but it's also delicious poured over ice cream, or stirred through yogurt for a quick dessert.
👩🍳 Love fruit compotes? Try my easy blueberry compote too!
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✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
Here's why this is the best mixed berry compote recipe:
- 3 ingredients - frozen mixed berries, lemon zest and honey
- 10 minutes to make
- Refined sugar free
- Healthy
- Versatile
- Freezer-friendly
🛒 Ingredients
- Frozen Mixed Berries - The mixed bags of frozen berries you buy from the supermarket usually contain a combination of raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blackcurrants.
- Lemon Zest - for flavour. If you're using frozen berries there is no need to add any lemon juice as well, because the berries themselves hold a lot of moisture. If you're using fresh berries however, the juice of one lemon will also be needed.
- Honey - the compote is naturally sweetened with honey. You could also use maple syrup to make it vegan friendly, or brown sugar if you prefer.
🥄 Equipment
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🔪 How to make mixed berry compote
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Place the frozen berries, lemon zest, and honey in a saucepan and bring to a boil (stir frequently with a wooden spoon).
Two: Once the berry mixture is bubbling, turn the temperature down to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes until thickened. The compote will continue to thicken on cooling.
Three: Test the sweetness and add more honey if needed.
💭 Top tips
- If you prefer to use fresh berries you will need to add the juice of a lemon, as fresh berries contain less moisture than frozen berries.
- Stir the compote frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Make a double batch and freeze half.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Berry compote can be served with so many different things!
- Stirred through Greek yogurt, porridge or granola.
- Drizzled on pancakes or scones.
- Spooned on ice cream.
- Spread on toast, waffles and crumpets.
- Swirled over or into a cheesecake.
- Used as a filling for turnovers, cakes or sweet pastries.
📖 Variations
- Use orange or lime zest instead of lemon.
- Add a pinch of ground cinnamon or a teaspoon of vanilla extract for added flavour.
- Make a sugar free mixed berry compote and leave out the honey.
- Use the compote to sandwich a Victoria Sponge cake.
- Garnish the compote with fresh mint.
🥡 Storage
To Store: The compote will keep in the fridge in a sealed jar or container, for up to 2 weeks.
To Reheat: The berry compote can be eaten cold, but if you prefer it warm, just place it in a pan on the hob and gently warm it up for a few minutes, stirring often. You could also use the microwave.
❓ FAQs
Yes! Once the compote has cooled, place it in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before using.
Generally, the berry compote ends up being quite thick, but if you want to thicken it further, use a cornflour slurry (dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornflour into 1.5 tablespoons of cold water and add this to the compote whilst it's simmering).
Yes, you can! Frozen berries don't need any preparation (like peeling or slicing), and there is no need to defrost frozen berries before cooking them.
A compote is a simple chunky fruit sauce made with chopped or whole fresh (or frozen) fruit and, sugar or sweetener, and cooked briefly on the stove. The compote should be chunky and not pureed.
😋 Related recipes
More fruity recipes you might like!
- Blackcurrant Coulis
- Stewed Plums
- Strawberry Coulis
- Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites
- Stewed Rhubarb
- Stewed Apples
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Recipe
Easy Mixed Berry Compote
Ingredients
- 400 g Frozen Mixed Berries you can also use fresh berries.
- 2 tablespoon Honey or maple syrup
- 1 Lemon zest only if using frozen berries, juice as well if using fresh berries.
Instructions
- Place the frozen berries, lemon zest, and honey in a saucepan and bring to a boil (stir frequently with a wooden spoon).400 g Frozen Mixed Berries, 2 tablespoon Honey, 1 Lemon
- Once the berry mixture is bubbling, turn the temperature down to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes until thickened. The compote will continue to thicken on cooling.
- Test the sweetness and add more honey if needed.
Notes
- If you prefer to use fresh berries you will need to add the juice of a lemon, as fresh berries contain less moisture than frozen berries.
- Stir the compote frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Make a double batch and freeze half.
- Stirred through Greek yogurt, porridge or granola.
- Drizzled on pancakes or scones.
- Spooned on ice cream.
- Spread on toast, waffles and crumpets.
- Swirled over or into a cheesecake.
- Used as a filling for turnovers, cakes or sweet pastries.
- Use orange or lime zest instead of lemon.
- Add a pinch of ground cinnamon or a teaspoon of vanilla extract for added flavour.
- Make a sugar free mixed berry compote and leave out the honey.
- Use the compote to sandwich a Victoria Sponge cake.
- Garnish the compote with fresh mint.
Caroline
Compotes are so yummy and great to add to all the things! Looks yummy with the honey in there.
Andrea
What a simple recipe. The compote sounds fantastic and I'm already thinking up what foods I would put it on. Yum!
Stacey
Genius, delicious and so versatile. Love it on pancakes and dying to try it on some ice cream or swirled into Greek yogurt at your suggested!
Shivani Raja
This looks delicious and I love how simple it is. Can't wait to make some to enjoy with pancakes!
Tavo
Absolutely delicious, I used it on top of my pancakes and loved it; thank you for this fantastic recipe! I will make it again!!