This fresh strawberry compote is bright and fruity, with big chunks of fresh strawberries and just the right amount of sweetness. Use it on anything from cheesecake to ice cream!
Looking for a SIMPLE strawberry compote recipe that tastes amazing? Check out this post for all the tips you need to make it delicious compote in minutes!

There’s truly nothing better than fresh strawberries at peak ripeness. And if you’re looking for a way to bottle up the joy of strawberry season, this simple compote is the best way!
Like a cross between a delicious strawberry sauce, fresh strawberries, and your favorite strawberry jam, this chunky fruit sauce compote is a great addition to any dessert or breakfast.
It’s made from simple ingredients and is truly such an easy recipe!
Wash your berries, heat them in a saucepan, and you’ll have a tasty homemade topping in just a few minutes.
You can even give this compote as a gift and really wow your friends and family. (No one has to know it only took 10 minutes to make!)
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Quick and easy
- Made from basic ingredients
- Versatile
- Perfect topping for a wide range of dishes
You also might like these recipes for raspberry compote, blueberry compote and apple compote. Check out this full post on how to make fruit compote!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Since this homemade strawberry compote recipe is based on natural strawberry flavor, you only need two ingredients to make this delicious fruit compote!

- Strawberries: Fresh strawberries are the base of this compote. The sweeter and more ripe your berries are, the better your compote will be!
- Sugar: You can swap white sugar for honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar, if you’d like. For a low-sugar option, skip the added sweetener altogether.
Optional: Add a tablespoon or so of lemon juice for tartness!
How to Make Strawberry Compote

- Place the strawberries and sugar in a medium saucepan set over medium heat.
- Stir the strawberries to coat them in sugar and gently mash the strawberries, just until they begin to release a bit of liquid.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook the berries for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, or until the compote is your desired thickness.
- Allow the compote to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container.

Storage Instructions
This compote can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
What to Serve with Compote
My favorite way to serve this compote is over angel food cake or pound cake, with a generous dollop of whipped cream.
Here are some of my other favorite combinations:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Cheesecake
- French toast
- Pancakes
- Cake filling
- Waffles
- Toast
- Chia pudding
- Yogurt parfait
- Fruit crisp
- Crepes
- German pancakes
- Cobbler
- Fruit pie
Try this compote on my gluten-free crepes, oat flour waffles, banana oat pancakes or gluten-free cheesecake!
It would also be delicious with this a banana split or strawberry white chocolate cheesecake.
Compote Variations
- Sweetener: Don’t want to use refined sugar? No problem. Maple syrup, honey, or agave will also work. You can also use less sugar, coconut sugar, or no sugar at all!
- Frozen berries: To swap the fresh strawberries for frozen, use the same directions as above, but cook the mixture for closer to 10 minutes for the best end result. No need to thaw the strawberries!
- Other additions: Want to add a bit of freshness and acidity? Add 1 teaspoon of lemon or orange zest, and 2 tablespoons of lemon or orange juice in Step 1.
Recipe FAQs
Strawberry fresh fruit compote is an easy recipe made from fresh strawberries that are cooked down and sweetened with sugar. Lemon juice, lemon zest, or orange juice can also be added for another layer of flavor.
When stored in air airtight container in the fridge, most compotes last in for up to 7 days.
Compote and jam are similar, but not the same. Compote is made from large pieces of fruit and has a chunky consistency, while jam has a smoother texture. Compote is thickened from natural pectin in the fruit, and most jam is thickened using additional pectin.
Expert Tips & Tricks
- Thickening the compote: Make a thicker compote by mixing a tablespoon of corn starch with 1.5 tablespoons of cold water. Add the slurry into the compote mixture as it’s bubbling. This thicker compote is great for fruit pies and cobbler! (Keep in mind, any compote will thicken as it cools.)
- Other fruit compotes: This recipe can also be used to make other types of fruit compote, including blueberry, apple, or raspberry! Simply swap the fruit for the same ratio of another seasonal fruit.
- Smoother compote: If you want a smoother texture, use a potato masher to break up the fruit as it’s cooking.
- Serving temperature: Fruit compote can be served warm or cold—it just depends on your preference!

More Fruit Compote Recipes
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you try this compote, be sure to leave me a comment/rating below. I’d love to hear from you!

Strawberry Compote (3 Ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries hulled and halved
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice optional for tartness
Instructions
- Place the strawberries, sugar (and lemon juice if using) in a medium sized saucepan set over medium heat.
- Stir the strawberries to coat them in sugar and gently mash the strawberries, just until they begin to release a bit of liquid.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook the berries for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, or until the compote is your desired thickness.
- Allow the compote to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container.
Notes
- Thickening the compote: Make a thicker compote by mixing a tablespoon of corn starch with 1.5 tablespoons of cold water. Add the slurry into the compote mixture as it’s bubbling. This thicker compote is great for fruit pies and cobbler! (Keep in mind, any compote will thicken as it cools.)
- Other fruit compotes: This recipe can also be used to make other types of fruit compote, including blueberry, apple, or raspberry! Simply swap the fruit for the same ratio of another seasonal fruit.
- Smoother compote: If you want a smoother texture, use a potato masher to break up the fruit as it’s cooking.
- Serving temperature: Fruit compote can be served warm or cold—it just depends on your preference!