Compote or compôte (which is French and means u0022mixtureu0022) is a dessert originating from medieval Europe, made of whole or pieces of fruit in sugar syrup. Whole fruits like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, etc are cooked with sugar and sometimes people add additional seasonings like lavender, cinnamon, nutmeg, or vanilla and water to thin out of the sauce if desired. Compotes can be served either warm or cold.