Our easy strawberry sauce recipe is a sweet, fresh, and vibrant topping for desserts you’re going to want to spread on everything!
Learn how to make strawberry sauce with only 4 SIMPLE ingredients, then enjoy it as a strawberry topping for cheesecake and more!
When all you want is a fresh and flavorful fruit sauce to top your ice cream, cake, pancakes or enter-any-dessert-here, this easy berry sauce is the recipe you need!
It is our favorite strawberry sauce for cheesecake, strawberry topping for shortcake, and one of our most favorite ice cream toppings.
What is strawberry sauce?
Strawberry sauce is a thick, sweet sauce made from real fresh strawberries. Unlike store-bought squeeze bottle dessert toppings, you know you’re getting the freshest, sweetest ingredients and taste from this homemade strawberry sauce recipe.
The best part is, all you need are 4 ingredients and less than 15 minutes on the stovetop to make this berry sauce, and it tastes delicious on just about every dessert you can name.
Strawberry Topping Ingredients
You only need 4 ingredients if you want to learn how to make strawberry sauce, and they could not be more simple. It’s more than likely you already have the ingredients on hand! Here are the ingredients you will need to make this strawberry sauce recipe:
- Strawberries
- Sugar
- Water
- Cornstarch
And really, does water even count as an ingredient? It’s simple to make an easy strawberry sauce recipe you can use as a strawberry topping for cheesecake, cake, pancakes, ice cream and more. Yum!
Do you use fresh for frozen strawberries to make strawberry topping?
I use frozen strawberries to make the strawberry sauce. Strawberries are so easy to freeze! I always have them stashed in my freezer so I can make this sauce at any time of year, even when strawberries aren’t in season.
Follow this EASY guide on freezing strawberries!
You can use fresh strawberries if you prefer. Since you don’t need to wait for the strawberries to thaw, you can blend them right at the start. Then add the puree to a saucepan and finish the sauce the same way you would when using frozen berries.
How to Make Strawberry Sauce
Luckily for us all, this strawberry sauce recipe is incredibly easy to make. I have three (just three!) handy step-by-step photos for you to reference. It’s that simple!
Follow these simple instructions on how to make strawberry sauce:
- Add all ingredients to a heavy-based saucepan over low heat. Heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- As soon as the strawberries have thawed, add everything to a blender and purée.
- Return the puree to the saucepan, bring it to a simmer and let cook, stirring every so often until very thick and a little darker. Strain the mixture to remove the strawberry seeds.
TIP: I use a heavy-based saucepan, as they distribute heat better. Make sure to stir every so often to stop the sugar from catching on the bottom of the pan.
By far the hardest part of making the homemade strawberry sauce is waiting for it to cool! I find strawberry sauce tastes best when you let it cool down; my recommendation is allowing it to cool before serving.
Can I make strawberry topping ahead of time?
You can make this strawberry topping 3 days in advance. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. This is actually perfect timing as the strawberry flavor intensifies in the refrigerator!
How long does strawberry sauce keep?
It’s best to use this sauce fresh within 3-4 days, but don’t worry! You can use a large portion of it in a Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake filling or another favorite dessert, like as a topping for Homemade Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits.
Can you freeze strawberry sauce?
You sure can! Strawberry sauce should be frozen in an airtight container, but here’s a tip if you’re making more than you need right away.
TIP: Pour the sauce into muffin tins and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the frozen strawberry sauce to an airtight container or zip-lock bag. This way, you can grab just as much as you need each time.
If you plan to freeze your strawberry sauce, it will keep well for 2-3 months.
Uses for Strawberry Sauce
Here are a few of my favorite uses for this strawberry sauce recipe, but the options are endless:
- A delicious strawberry topping for waffles, like Banana Waffles
- A perfect strawberry sauce for pancakes, especially Fluffy Japanese Pancakes
- Over or in a cake or cheesecake, like Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Cake
- As the sauce for a tart, like this Strawberry Frangipane Tart
- Over ice cream, yogurt, or chia puddings, like No Churn Raspberry Ice Cream
- In a milkshake or smoothie
- Over Panna Cotta for a light but impressive dessert
- Served as a sorbet
- Dip our Strawberry Shortcake Cookies in this sauce with a little whipped cream and you will have a gourmet delight to serve at parties!
I could literally go on forever. Strawberry sauce is the perfect dessert topper!
Whatever time of year it is, you can have this fresh and fruity strawberry sauce recipe in less than half an hour.
Everyone needs a dessert recipe like that! Enjoy, and let us know what you think in the comments below and in the ratings. We love to hear from you!
📌 Pin Strawberry Sauce Recipe to save for later!
How to Make Strawberry Sauce
🖨 Print 📌 Pin 📝 Comment🥘 Ingredients
- 1 lb. frozen strawberries
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
🔪 Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a heavy-based saucepan over low heat. Heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- As soon as the strawberries have thawed, add everything to a blender and purée (see notes).
- Return the puree to the saucepan, bring it to a simmer and let cook, stirring every so often until very thick and a little darker. Strain the mixture.
Video
📋 Notes
- If you would like some chunks of strawberry in your sauce, then take out a few pieces of the thawed strawberry before you puree it. Chop these pieces into chunks and add it back to the sauce after straining.
- Pour the sauce into muffin tins and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the frozen Strawberry Sauce into an airtight container or ziplock bag. This way, you can grab just as much as you need each time.
- I use a heavy-based saucepan as they distribute the heat better. Make sure to stir every so often to stop the sugar from catching on the bottom of the pan.
Nutrition
This post was updated on November 17, 2019.
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Dannii says
We make strawberry sauce every week to go on pancakes. It is SO good.
Em Beitel says
That is awesome. We could eat strawberry sauce on pancakes every day!
Noelle says
I love how simple this is, I already have all the ingredients so no excuses for not making it! 🙂
Em Beitel says
We’re glad to hear it, Noelle! We’d love to know how it goes!
Kelly Anthony says
I really like your idea of freezing this strawberry sauce in muffin tins so you can have it anytime of the year. Such a great idea.
Em Beitel says
Thanks, Kelly! It’s so handy for enjoying it year-round.
Amy | The Cook Report says
This sauce looks so delicious! Such a gorgeous colour too 🙂
Em Beitel says
Thank you, Amy! We hope you love it!
kim says
This is definitely going to be making an appearance on my Easter brunch table! So much deliciousness!
Em Beitel says
Thank you so much, Kim! It’s such an easy and delicious dessert topper!
Judith Fertig says
This sauce looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Em Beitel says
Thank you, Judith! We’re so glad to hear that!
eatfrysmith says
Great recipe. I like to eat dishes with sauce. Fresh and fatty taste combined with vegetables
Terri says
Can I use regular sour cream in place of the “light sour cream”? I will try to make this tonight.
Em Beitel says
Hi Terri! Is this for the strawberry swirl cheesecake? If so, yes! Regular sour cream has slightly more fat and calories than light, so your nutritional values won’t be the same as what’s listed here, but there should not be a noticeable difference in taste if you use regular instead of light. Thanks so much! Please enjoy!
Terri says
Thank you. I apologize for duplicating this question. I didn’t see that someone had already asked this question until after I posted mine. I made the cheesecake and it is fabulous!
Em Beitel says
Hi Terri! That’s no problem at all. Thank you so much for the question, and I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it!