Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Strawberry Sauce is quick, easy, and made with minimal ingredients. The natural sweetness of ripe strawberries is enhanced by a touch of sugar and lemon juice, while the cornstarch slurry ensures the sauce is perfectly thickened to coat your favorite desserts. Whether you want a classic topping for your pancakes or an elegant drizzle for your cheesecake, this simple sauce is the perfect complement. Plus, it’s a great way to use up fresh strawberries when they’re in season!
Ingredients
- 1 lb strawberries (rinsed, hulled, and cut into smaller pieces)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- For the cornstarch slurry:
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
How to Make the Strawberry Sauce:
- Prepare the Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the hulled and cut strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Set over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute after the mixture comes to a boil.
- Break Down the Strawberries: Use a potato masher or wooden spoon to mash the strawberries to your desired consistency. If you like a chunky sauce, mash them lightly. For a smoother sauce, mash them more thoroughly.
- Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the water and cornstarch together to create a slurry. Add the slurry to the strawberry mixture, stirring quickly. Cook for another 60 seconds and then remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Adjust the Taste: Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or acidity if necessary by adding more sugar or lemon juice to your liking.
- Cool and Store: Allow the sauce to cool before transferring it to a glass container. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Pro Tip: Avoid boiling the sauce for too long once the cornstarch slurry is added, as it will cause the sauce to thin out again.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: 8 servings (Yield: 2 2/3 cups)
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Total time: 15 minutes
Variations
- Whole Strawberry Sauce: If you prefer whole strawberries in your sauce, cut up half of the strawberries and cook them with sugar and lemon juice. Once they soften, use an immersion blender to puree the mixture, and then add the whole strawberries and cook until softened. Finish with the cornstarch slurry.
- Other Berries: You can easily swap out strawberries for other berries like blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries to make a mixed berry sauce.
- Spiced Version: Add a pinch of cinnamon or a splash of vanilla extract for a warm twist on the traditional strawberry sauce.
Storage
- Storage: Store the strawberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freezing: This sauce can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, transfer the cooled sauce to a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.
FAQs
Can I use frozen strawberries for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries in place of fresh ones. Just be sure to thaw and drain them before using to avoid excess water in the sauce.
Can I make this strawberry sauce ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, which makes it perfect for prepping for gatherings or special occasions.
How can I make the sauce thicker?
If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add more cornstarch to the slurry, or cook the sauce a little longer until it reaches your desired consistency.
Can I make the sauce without cornstarch?
If you don’t have cornstarch, you can substitute with arrowroot powder or flour, but the texture might be slightly different. Just make sure to dissolve it in water before adding it to the sauce.
What can I use this strawberry sauce on?
This strawberry sauce is incredibly versatile! Use it as a topping for ice cream, pancakes, waffles, crepes, scones, oatmeal, cheesecakes, or cakes. It can also be swirled into yogurt or used as a dip for fruit.
Conclusion
This Strawberry Sauce is the perfect way to add a fresh, sweet touch to a variety of desserts. With its simple ingredients and easy preparation, it’s an ideal go-to recipe whenever you need a delicious topping for your favorite treats. Whether you’re serving it with ice cream, cake, or pancakes, this homemade strawberry sauce will make everything taste better!
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Strawberry Sauce Recipe (Strawberry Topping)
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 2/3 cups
Description
This Strawberry Sauce is a sweet, tangy, and slightly chunky topping made with fresh strawberries, perfect for desserts like ice cream, pancakes, cheesecakes, and more.
Ingredients
1 lb strawberries (rinsed, hulled, and cut into smaller pieces)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp lemon juice
For the cornstarch slurry:
1 tbsp water
1 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the hulled strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute after the mixture comes to a boil.
- Break Down the Strawberries: Mash the strawberries to your desired consistency using a potato masher or wooden spoon. For a chunky sauce, mash lightly; for a smoother sauce, mash more thoroughly.
- Thicken the Sauce: Mix the water and cornstarch together to create a slurry. Add it to the strawberry mixture, stirring quickly. Cook for another 60 seconds and remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Adjust the Taste: Taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness or acidity by adding more sugar or lemon juice as needed.
- Cool and Store: Let the sauce cool before transferring to a glass container. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
For a smoother sauce, blend the mixture after mashing the strawberries.
Use fresh or frozen strawberries for this recipe—just thaw and drain frozen strawberries to avoid excess water.
For a different flavor, you can add a pinch of cinnamon or a splash of vanilla extract to the sauce.
If you prefer whole strawberries, leave some of them intact after mashing, or cook them separately for a chunkier sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce, Topping
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 1mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
