Need a quick, super tasty, and not too sweet dessert sauce? Well, then rhubarb orange compote is a great sauce to make and have with your ice cream, or your pancakes, or maybe your strawberry scones! And it’s even vegan, gluten-free, and moderately healthy. (It is mostly fruit after all.)
Hello, all!
Making Rhubarb Compote
Seeing long, red stalks of rhubarb at the market (or in a rhubarb patch if I’m lucky) gives me a mighty need for rhubarb orange compote!
This is by far the easiest rhubarb recipe I make, and one that anyone who has no clue about cooking with rhubarb should try. Ever looked at rhubarb in the store and wondered what the heck to do with that? This is what you can do with it! And it’s a much lower bar than making a whole pie or cake.
And then once you’re more confident in your rhubarb cooking skills, you can try my Rhubarb Coffee Cake as well. š
How much sugar to add?
Most recipes I’ve seen for rhubarb compote call for a lot more sugar than this recipe, but I really enjoy the tartness of rhubarb and don’t want to cover it up too much. No sugar and it’s like eating plain cranberries. Way too tart most of the time! The only times I’ve eaten plain cranberries is in salads which had other sweet ingredients, so still sugar, just not directly on the cranberries. Rhubarb is the same way.
You will need some sugar to balance it out and get to the sweet-tart happy middle which your taste buds will love. However, if you really keep your sugar intake very low, I’d suggest adding less, or even just seeing if the natural sugar that’s in the orange juice is enough to start, and then increasing the sugar to your taste.
Ideas on Variations
While I love this recipe exactly as is, you might want to try other ideas, such as:
- Add some other spices, such as cloves or allspice. They work well in desserts and complement the cinnamon.
- Or spiking the compote with a little orange liqueur, like Cointreau or Triple Sec, can be a fun addition for the adults in the family. š A scoop of vanilla ice cream and some spiked rhubarb orange compote? Now, that’s dessert!
More Delicious Fruit Sauces for Desserts
- Fresh Blueberry Sauce
- Fresh Strawberry Sauce with Black Pepper (try it! it’s amazing)
- Cinnamon Spiced Blood Orange Compote
If you try my recipe for Rhubarb Orange Compote, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And Iām happy to answer any questions you might have.
– Happy Eating, Annemarie
Rhubarb Orange Compote
Ingredients
- 4 cups (1 1/2 lb) chopped rhubarb, cut into 1/2 inch slices
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 8-10 minutes.
- Serve warm or cold. This will keep for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Vanilla: For a more intense vanilla flavor use 1/2 a vanilla bean in the recipe.
- Choosing Rhubarb: Thin, red stalks of rhubarb have a sweeter and more delicate flavor and are worth seeking out. However, I enjoy the compote with thick stalks as well.
Noel says
I love this combination! Usually people pair rhubarb with strawberries – and I love that. But sometimes I’m looking for something new and refreshing.
Yummed and pinned.
justalittlebitofbacon says
It’s good to mix it up sometimes!
Mary Frances says
Delicious! The sweetness of the vanilla ice cream and the tartness of the rhubarb orange compote makes a nice combination.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! Yes, I love the sweet-tart combo you get from the compote and ice cream. That’s why I like making the recipe a bit on the tart side. š
Nancy says
I just found rhubarb after commenting on your Rhubarb Coffee Cake that I couldn’t get it here š So happy. This is so nice on my yoghurt in the mornings.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Yay for finding rhubarb! I’m glad you enjoy the compote. š And, if you have more rhubarb than you can use at once, it does freeze well.
Tamara says
Compotes are a favorite in my kitchen… I did a nectarine and blackberry compote for pecan waffles just this morning. I love rhubarb, and live in a part of the country (south Texas’ Rio Grande Valley) with every imaginable citrus fruit. I think I need to make this one!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Nectarine and blackberry sounds awesome. I’ll have to keep that combo in mind once we get to nectarine season up here! š
Charla says
I’m going to whip up a batch of this. I have so much rhubarb in the house it’s unreal.
justalittlebitofbacon says
I always have so much this time of year too. It’s a good thing it freezes well. š
Donna says
Oh yum, I love this twist on the traditional strawberry and rhubarb combo – sounds delicious! And homemade preserves are the tastiest š
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks! I love looking beyond strawberries for rhubarb.
Erin says
I’m definitely gonna make a batch of this the next time I make some homemade waffles! I love rhubarb but haven’t combined it with orange yet…
justalittlebitofbacon says
Most people combine it with strawberries. Which is a great combo, but I like to mix it up. š