Compote de Pommes or French Applesauce
This Compote de Pommes or French Applesauce from Dorie Greenspan is a perfect autumn side dish or can be used to fill scrumptious apple turnovers!
Compote de Pommes AKA French Applesauce
My mother-in-law always has a bowl of homemade applesauce cooling on her dining room table when we visit. She uses Golden Delicious apples, and it’s usually necessary to whip up a second batch before we head home.
SO simple; just peel, core, and chop the apples before simmering with a little water and sugar. So making Dorie’s French version of applesauce, or Compote de Pommes, was a breeze.
Her recipe for compote de pommes called for a wee bit of brown sugar plus a splash of vanilla at the end instead of our typical sprinkle of cinnamon. White sugar to taste sweetens the pot. Seriously, no jarred version can compare. I was excited to test our Dorie Greenspan’s French Applesauce to see how they compared.
Chaussons aux Pommes or Apple Turnovers
I did not find the Courtland, McIntosh or Empire varieties Dorie suggested, but Jonagold worked just fine. I like my sauce a little chunky so skipped the extra step of running it through the food mill.
I also used Dorie’s Bonne Idée and prepared a few apple turnovers,which was as elementary as cutting out puff pastry rounds, dolloping a scant tablespoon of applesauce in the center, folding, sealing and baking. Of course, if you’d like your chaussons aux pommes a little more elegant, just paint with an egg wash, crimp the edges with a fork and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
After baking for just 20 minutes at 400º, the puffed beauties were pulled out of the oven. Both the sauce and the turnovers were eaten with gusto.
Our oldest, Tom, popped over to help Mr. Skinny Chick with some manly chores, changing a headlight bulb, adjusting the ridiculously heavy Big Green Egg, and helping me figure out why my photo editing software wasn’t recognizing my camera. He earned his keep and mounded his plate full of food both my sons tend to do. Plus he happily ate a couple turnovers as well. I am slightly envious of his metabolism. And the hubby decided these were perfectly acceptable for breakfast, too.
Compote de Pommes or French Applesauce
A French applesauce adapted from Dorie Greenspan, Around My French Table
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (6 medium) apples, preferably red apples like Empire, Cortland or McIntosh
- About 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons butter, for thicker compote (optional)
Instructions
- Peel and core the apples. Slice each into about 8 pieces. Place in a medium saucepan.
- Stir in 1/4 cup of water and brown sugar. Cook, stirring frequently over medium-low heat. Continue until the apples are soft enough to be crushed with the back of a spoon. If the pan looks too dry, add a little more water as you cook. This process will take about 15-20 minutes.
- If you want regular compote de pommes, remove the pan from the heat and run the compote through a food mill. If you prefer chunky applesauce, mash with a potato masher. If your applesauce is too runny, just cook for a few more minutes.
- Taste and add more sugar if needed. Mix in vanilla and butter. Cover with plastic wrap and chill.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4 servingsServing Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 159Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 48mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 2gSugar: 25gProtein: 0g
60 Comments on “Compote de Pommes or French Applesauce”
Yes, I remember when I was young and could eat anything without a second thought. Those were the days. Well, good for you, it makes him easier to bribe;-)
Looks delicious, my daughter loves apple sauce but I have never made her any, I will have to change that!! I already have a bunch of apples in the freezer too!!
Yum…I love the apple turnovers!!!!!
I will definitely check this out, I’m a huge fan of applesauce.
Simply beautiful Apple Turnovers, Lizzy! I love the chunky looking applesauce. We really enjoyed this one…loved the hint of vanilla and the fact that this has so little sugar in it. Have a great weekend!
Your turnovers are just beautiful! And the applesauce is perfect! Nothing beats homemade applesauce!
I love homemade applesauce. What a great idea to put it in turnovers. My family usually slurps it into their bellies before I can think to do anything with it.
What tasty looking turnovers! Great post!
There’s no way in mighty heck that applesauce would last long enough to cover in lovely pastry. I’m a bit of a chunky applesauce “ho” 😉
Beautiful turnovers. The applesauce was delicious. A favorite in my house. Hope you have a nice weekend:)
This homemade applesauce sounds wonderful and what a great idea to use some for apple turnovers! I can see why your guys in the house gobbled them right up, they look fantastic 🙂
So jealous of your turnovers! they look beautiful! I make this sauce (or a variation) fairly often at this time of year – you are right, it’s so easy and delicious. What a fun visit you had too!
I usually always make applesauce from the apples on my trees. But this year we had a late freeze and no apples! But I make applesauce my mom’s way which means taking those cute little red cinnamon hot candy decorations and stirring them into the hot apples so they melt. They give the applesauce a great cinnamon flavor, plus they make it a pretty shade of pink! Sometimes you do have to add more cinnamon or sugar, depending on the sweetness of the apples. Good sauce, Liz!
i’ve never made homemade applesauce but that recipe looks great, i’d love to give it a go 🙂
the hobbit kitchen x
Looks scrumptious and I am sure tasted amazing too :D.
I love making homemade applesauce. In fact, that reminds me I need to make a trip to the apple barn to buy more apples to do just that with them. I can see why your turnovers didn’t last long – especially with a hungry crew around!
Great looking turnovers, Liz. We enjoyed the applesauce too, so simple and fresh tasting compared
to anything in a jar.
This applesauce sounds great. I love that you used some for turnovers. I never would have thought of that.
Those turnovers look lovely Liz!
Ma and I are going out to breakfast today… I’m thinking I’d rather have a turnover instead:@)