Blueberry compote made with fresh blueberries and sweetened with honey. This easy no-sugar dessert is so delicious!
My late grandfather Jacob used to make compote for dessert. I was a kid last time I had it so exact details escape me. But I remember that he used to cook the fruit for a very long time over low heat.
I also recall that his compote contained plums and raisins (this stewed prunes recipe reminds me of grandpa’s compote). I remember taking a spoonful and feeling the soft, sweet fruit melting in my mouth. It was so good!
Honey-sweetened blueberry compote
Sadly, my grandparents did not leave any written recipes behind. So when I decided to make a fruit compote, I turned to the Internet. I found several recipes online and was intrigued.
I love creamy Greek yogurt. The idea of making a quick, simple topping for plain Greek yogurt was appealing. So were the short cooking time and the ultra-short ingredients list.
Most recipes I found use powdered sugar to sweeten the berries, and also to thicken the compote. Powdered sugar contains cornstarch that acts as a thickener. But I use just a little honey, with wonderful results. After all, berries are naturally sweet.
The ingredients you’ll need
You’ll only need three ingredients to make this amazing dessert! How cool is that? The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:
Blueberries: I use fresh blueberries in this recipe. I don’t recommend using frozen blueberries. The flavor and texture will be all wrong. I mostly reserve frozen blueberries for smoothies.
Honey: Just one tablespoon is all it takes to lightly sweeten this dessert. There’s no need for more since the fruit itself is naturally sweet.
Vanilla extract: Try to use the real thing – pure vanilla extract – and not the artificially flavored stuff. I think the real thing is more flavorful.
How to make a blueberry compote
Slow-cooked, soft, lightly sweetened blueberries, bursting with flavor. This dessert is so delicious and it’s also very easy to make. Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
1. Add the three ingredients to a small saucepan.
2. Heat them over low heat. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. When the blueberries become very soft and start to burst, remove the saucepan from the heat.
4. The last step in this recipe is to cool the compote before serving. This will allow it to thicken.
How to serve blueberry compote
This good-for-you dessert is wonderful on its own, warm or chilled. It’s also very good as a topping for cheesecake, pancakes, waffles, Greek yogurt, frozen yogurt, or vanilla ice cream.
How long to keep the leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. They keep well! You can enjoy them cold, straight out of the fridge, or gently reheat them in the microwave, covered, on 50% power.
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Blueberry Compote
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place the blueberries, honey and vanilla in a small saucepan and mix gently. Heat over low heat.
- Cook about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until blueberries are very soft and starting to burst.
- Take the blueberry compote off the heat. Allow to slightly cool and thicken, about 5 minutes. Serve alone, or as a topping.
More Recipes to Try:
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, Reader's Digest, and Better Homes and Gardens.