Easy Apple Sauce Recipe (French Apple Compote)

What is Compote?

In France, apple compote (pronounced Kom-pot) isn’t just for babies. It’s eaten at all ages: as a dessert, a goûter or teatime snack after school, or a light finish to lunch. Most families keep a tub of it in the fridge and serve it as naturally as we might serve yogurt.

...preparation of fruits, fresh or dried, cooked (either whole or chopped) in a sugar syrup. With fresh fruits, they are poached either on slow or high heat.

Larousse Gastronomique and Auguste Escoffier's Guide Culinaire (1907)

The word compote comes from Latin composita, meaning mixture. But in French, the verb compoter means to cook slowly over a low heat to obtain a consistency of compote or stewed fruit. ('Dictionnaire culturel de la langue française', Alain Rey). Thanks to my belle-maman (mother-in-law) for that one, as she's a retired French literature professor.

In the 17th century, compote was refined enough to be served in silver dishes to aristocrats. Today, it’s in school canteens and over-packaged supermarket pouches ('gourdes' in French), often over-sugared. So nothing beats homemade.

French Compote Meanings

I've done some research and discovered:

• Compote is also used in a slang French expression: 'j'ai mes jambes en compote' meaning that your legs feel like jelly - something Antoine's uncle, tonton Claude says a lot - and also makes tons of compote from the apples in his garden in Champagne.
• Writer, Emile Zola also referred to having a 'compote eye' in l'Oeuvre, meaning bruised.
• A Compote (or Compotier) is also a stemmed glass bowl, usually made of crystal, to serve stewed fruits or poached fruits - ideal for these vanilla poached pears in coffee.

How Long Does Apple Compote Last?

Keep it in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Unlike commercial apple sauces, think of all the packaging you're saving by making homemade. It also freezes well for up to 3 months in small portions.

Is Apple Compote the Same As Apple Sauce?

Yes - just with a French accent. Americans refer to it as apple sauce, and it tends to be a little smoother. In France, compote de pommes is often left slightly chunky unless blended. (Although I needed to blend it following my daughter's 4 Wisdom teeth were removed!)
Either way, it’s cooked apples, simple and satisfying.

So whether you're looking for a healthy apple sauce recipe or want to try the French version, this does both.

What are the Best Apples to Use?

The best apples for apple sauce are sweeter varieties that break down easily:

• In France: Reine des Reinettes, Canada, or Boskoop.
• Elsewhere: Bramley (lucky you!), Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, Braeburn, or Jonagold.

How to Serve Apple Compote (Beyond a Spoon)

Apple sauce is incredibly versatile. Serve as an accompaniment on top of all kinds of breakfasts, desserts and even savoury - such as:

• with pork: a classic. Serve alongside my Pork Tenderloin with Honey Sauce or replace the apples in this pork roast for a cosy French bistro meal
• with black pudding: traditionally served in France with boudin noir or boudin blanc (white sausage, especially popular at Christmas time)
• pancakes: thin French crêpes or Scotch pancakes (or drop scones)
• topped on yoghurt
• breakfast oats: maple granola, oatmeal or porridge, chocolate granola, Christmas granola - add some cinnamon to the compote for extra festive spice
• on top of French rice pudding (riz au lait) or this vegan almond rice pudding
• on its own as dessert - just like at Bouillon Chartier in Paris - it's always first on the dessert menu
• on top of vanilla ice cream, chestnut ice cream or no-churn Whisky ice cream
• Served in tarts, Charlottes and in the famous chausson aux pommes at our Boulangeries
• Served with French toast (pain perdu).

Plus here’s a bonus: I also use apple compote as a natural binder in baking. It works wonderfully in my French Coconut Macaroons, helping to naturally thicken the mixture as apples contain pectin.

Optional Flavour Twists

Keep it simple, or jazz it up with:

• Cinnamon or mixed spice
• Lemon zest
• Fresh ginger
• Vanilla
• A dash of maple syrup or honey

Or go full festive with cardamom or cloves—especially good with pork or roasted vegetables.

Homemade Apple Sauce

There’s something deeply comforting about a bowl of gently stewed apples. Making your own apple sauce isn’t just healthy. It’s a nod to tradition, to slower cooking and to making the most of seasonal fruit.

So if you have apples going soft in the bowl, give them the French treatment. If you prefer to make this in the oven, leave it for 30 minutes or cook quickly in the microwave.