This Homemade Fresh Strawberry Sauce is quick and easy to make and so versatile. You can enjoy it warm or cold, and it's the perfect topping for cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes, and lots more!
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Strawberry season is right around the corner, and this homemade strawberry sauce is one of my favorite things to make with those plump and juicy, fresh local strawberries!
It takes just 6 simple ingredients and only 15 minutes to make, and the flavor is so much better than any jarred or canned sauce I've ever had!
And honestly, it's even an awesome recipe in the middle of winter when we can still pick up fresh strawberries in the grocery store. It's also a perfect way to use up berries that maybe aren't so sweet or aren't so pretty.
Now, you could go out and buy strawberry topping, but why? Sure, it might be good, but it'll never be as good as homemade strawberry topping made with fresh strawberries. Plus, check that label, because it probably has preservatives, artificial colors, and other mystery ingredients.
And lest you need more convincing, let me say it again: this homemade sauce has just 6 simple ingredients and takes only 15 minutes to make!
Ingredients You Need
- Fresh strawberries
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Maple syrup (or sugar)
- Lemon juice
- Vanilla extract
How to Make Fresh Strawberry Sauce
Tips & Tidbits
- Don't wash strawberries before storing them in the refrigerator because they will go bad and grow mold quicker if you do. Instead, wait to wash them until right before you plan to use them.
- You can chop the strawberries any size you want depending on the texture you want your sauce to have. I like smaller chunks of berries in my sauce, so I go for ½-inch pieces.
- For a smoother texture, mash the berries a little with a potato masher, fork, or the back of a spoon once the berries come to a boil (they will have softened a bit by then).
- I use maple syrup for a sweetener, but you can use sugar instead.
- The amount of maple syrup (or sugar) that you need will depend on how sweet your strawberries are and your own personal tastes. ¼ cup always works perfectly for me, but you can start with less and add more at the end if needed.
- When cooking, keep in mind that the sauce will thicken up a little more as it cools. This is not meant to be a super thick sauce. It should still be pourable but not liquidy. If you want it thicker, you can always add more cornstarch slurry (just remember you will need to bring the sauce back to a simmer so the cornstarch will thicken it).
- Fresh berries work best for this sauce, but yes, you can use frozen berries in a pinch (thaw them first). The berries will likely have a slightly mushier texture (and you may need to add extra cornstarch slurry if the berries release a lot of extra liquid), but it will still be yummy!
- Use this same method with different berries or other fruits. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries all work well (and you don't need to chop them), as would cherries, peaches, and even pineapple.
Things You Can Put Strawberry Sauce In (Or On)
Strawberry sauce is awesome on so many things (and you can use it warm or chilled, depending on what you're using it with). Let's make a quick list, shall we?
- Cheesecake
- Pound cake
- Angel food cake
- Shortcake
- Rice pudding
- Ice cream
- Milkshakes
- Smoothies
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- French toast
- Oatmeal
- Cream of wheat
- Crepes
- Blintzes
- Yogurt
Did I miss anything? Let us know in the comments below what you like to put it on!
My favorite way to enjoy this homemade strawberry sauce is spooned over cheesecake...like this vanilla cheesecake with a buttery, sweet pretzel crust that I just made for Mother's Day because my mother-in-law loves strawberries. It was crazy good!
Stay tuned, because I'm sharing that Strawberry Pretzel Cheesecake recipe next!
I hope you try this Homemade Fresh Strawberry Sauce recipe and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!
If you make this recipe, I'd love to know how it went. Please leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
📋Recipe
Homemade Fresh Strawberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, washed and patted dry with paper towels
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons cold water, divided
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup, or sugar, add more or less to taste
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Remove the leaves/stems from the strawberries; cut the strawberries into ½-inch pieces.
- In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon cold water; stir until smooth (this is called a cornstarch slurry). Set aside.
- Place the chopped strawberries into a medium saucepot (I use a 3-quart pot) along with the remaining 2 tablespoons water, the maple syrup (or sugar), and the lemon juice; give the mixture a quick stir.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
- Optional: Once the berry mixture comes to a boil, mash the strawberries a bit with a potato masher, a fork, or the back of a spoon if you want a less-chunky sauce.
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry.
- Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly. Note: The sauce will thicken up a little more as it cools.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Taste and add more maple syrup (or sugar), if needed.
- Serve warm or chilled. If you are going to serve it chilled, pour it into a bowl, let it cool completely at room temperature, and then place in the refrigerator until cold.
Notes
- You can chop the strawberries any size you want depending on the texture you want your sauce to have.
- The amount of maple syrup (or sugar) needed will depend on how tart your strawberries are and your own personal tastes (¼ cup always seems to work perfectly for me). If desired, you could start with less and add more at the end, if needed.
- This is not meant to be a super thick sauce. It should still be pourable but not liquidy. If you want it thicker, you can always add more cornstarch slurry (just remember you will need to bring the sauce back to a simmer so the cornstarch will thicken it).
- Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days, or you can freeze it. For best results, use frozen sauce within 2 to 3 months.
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