Cherry Bourbon Compote

Juicy cherries are cooked down with bourbon, sugar, and orange zest for a delicious compote that is terrific on anything. From cupcakes and pies, to ice cream and cheesecake - you'll find a million ways to enjoy this compote.

This compote couldn't be easier, because either fresh or frozen cherries can be used. Most of the time, I will use frozen cherries for convenience and surety of optimal ripeness.

Ingredients for Bourbon Cherry Compote

- cherries, fresh or frozen & thawed (pitted)

- bourbon whiskey (or for a non-alcoholic recipe, use orange juice)

- granulated sugar

- fresh orange zest

- pinch of salt

  

How to Make Cherry Bourbon Compote with Orange Zest

1. In a medium saucepan, bring all the ingredients to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until cherries are softened and start to release juices, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cherries to a heatproof bowl and set aside.
2. Simmer the remaining juices until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 10-12 minutes. Pour reduced syrup over the cherries and let cool completely. Refrigerate until cupcake assembly. Prep up to 1 week in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Optional: Use an immersion blender or pulse in a food processor for a few seconds to break up the whole cherries in the compote.

Ways to Use & Serve Bourbon Cherry Compote

- Spooned onto a cupcake: like these Bourbon Cherry Vanilla Cupcakes with Whipped Chocolate Buttercream & this very compote recipe!

- Layered in a trifle

- As a filling in a layered cake

- Drizzled over ice cream

- Layered in a yogurt parfait

- Topping for waffles or pancakes

- Layered on a pie

- Finishing touch for a slice of cheesecake

- In a sandwich cookie

- To fill macarons

Tools for Making Bourbon Cherry Compote

- a rubber spatula: here's my very favorite one. I have it in many colors, and I've never found a better spatula. Worth. Every. Penny.

- small saucepan

- favorite cutting boards

- metal straws: for pitting cherries

- microplane zester: the only one I'll keep in my kitchen

- the best immersion blender: with a detachable blade. woo!

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Other Curds & Jams to Complete Your Desserts

- A delicious and simple tart Raspberry Jam to go with biscuits, cupcakes, cheesecake, pancakes, or other sweet goodies. 

- With a few ingredients and a couple minutes, Fresh Cherry Jam can be whipped up to impress anyone. The secret power of this jam is that it can be made with fresh or frozen cherries - so, you can make this during any season, and it's sure to be a delight.

- This Strawberry Chili Jam is a recipe you never knew you needed. It's bright, bold, tart, and so delicious. I adore it on toast, a PB&J, and on a slice of cake. It also makes a delicious thumbprint cookie. It's a staple in my refrigerator.

- Lemon Curd couldn't be simpler. Plus, it's made with a handful of simple ingredients. This is the best and brightest lemon curd.

- Lime Curd is a wonderful alternative to the traditional lemon curd. It's bright, vibrant, and delicious with just about anything. 

- Everyone needs a go-to caramel sauce for ice cream, coffee, cakes, pies, cookies, and the like - check out my basic, foolproof Salted Caramel Sauce. 

- An edgier version of caramel, this Ginger Sea Salt Caramel Sauce is a fun and delicious alternative. Caramel sauce is truly so simple, and with the flexibility of using either fresh or ground ginger, you can whip this up any time and any place.

Made the recipe?

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