Brandy Spiced Pear Compote Recipe (2024)

This Brandy Spiced Pear Compote recipe has a combination of pears and brandy simmered together in spices such as cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg creating an elegant and delicious compote.

What is compote?

Compote is a thick flavorful fruit preserve. Its fruit is cooked low and slow in a sugar and spices until it’s soft and sweet but still holds the fruits chunky texture.

Compote vs Jam

Jam is made from chopped or pureed fruit that has been cooked down with sugar. Its texture is usually spoonable. Compote is made with fresh or dried fruit, cooked low and slow in a sugar syrup so that the fruit pieces stay somewhat chunkier and intact.

How do you eat fruite compote?

• Pear compote for pancakes
• Eat it for breakfast on top of yogurt or oatmeal
• Top your favorite ice cream
• Fold in with whipped cream and serve in a pretty glass
• Use in a filling for hand pie like my Pumpkin Hand Pies
• Spread it on English muffins or toast
• Top warm Brie that has been baked in filo dough
• For a main dish serve as a topping for roasted pork, beef, or grilled chicken.
• For a simple but elegant side dish try roasting vegetables such as acorn squash. During the last 15 minutes of cooking place a generous size dollop of brandy spiced pear compote in the center of the squash. The sauce will bake into the squash adding a sweet brandy flavor. Just before serving drizzle warm honey over the compote topped squash.

Canned Pear Compote

Compote is easy to can and enjoy all winter long. If you are new to canning be sure and read my Canning Supplies Guide. There are many helpful tips and ideas.

Tips and tricks for canning

To make canning the compote quicker I used aPrepworks vegetable and fruit chopper. I just peeled the pears, sliced in half, and cored. Then I placed on the chopper and pushed them through, perfect little cubes super fast!

Measuring fruit for a recipe

Download your printable guide for estimating fruit and vegetable yields per pound. It lists the amounts offruits in relation to measuring cupequivalencies.

🔪 Instructions

• Wash pears and lemon under cold running water, scrubbing well.
• Peel, cut pears in half then core and dice into cubes.
• Finely chop lemon, including peel, using a food processor
• Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring mixture to boil over medium heat stirring to prevent sticking
• Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes
• Serve warm or follow the canning instructions in the recipe below to enjoy all winter long.

What kind of pears

According to Good Housekeeping, Bosc and Anjou varieties are tops at holding their shape and texture. In a pinch, Bartletts and other varieties work fine, too.

How to prepare and cut pears

• Wash your pears well.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put in a few pears at atime and then remove. Don’t let them sit inwater for more than afew seconds. Place in a pan with ice water. Remove pear and rub the skin off.
• Use an apple corer, cutting from the fruit’s base to remove the core.
• Cut in half and then into the desired sizes and shapes for your recipe.
• Once cut, pears will oxidize quickly and turn a brownish color. As you work keep them in a pan of cool water with a tablespoon of lemon juice.

Mix-ins and other fruit add-in options

This compote would pair well with mixing in apples, raisins, or candied ginger

What spices are in pear compote?

Pears are a slightly sweet fruit that ripens in the fall. This compote recipe plays to that with warm and aromatic classic fall spices such as cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger.

How long will compote be good?

If you can your compote it will have a shelf life of up to a year. If you don’t then keep it in the refrigerator and use within a week. You could also freeze it in small containers and allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.

More Pear Recipes

• 57 Favorite Pear Recipes You Need To Try

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posted by Gina Dickson on August 17, 2020 (last updated Sep 3, 2021)

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