Easy Strawberry Sauce
Fresh strawberry sauce is one of those recipes I make on repeat every summer. It comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients and has a bright, fresh flavour that store-bought toppings just can’t match. It can be made with perfectly ripe berries or berries that have began to soften a bit.
I love keeping a jar in the refrigerator because it seems to find its way onto just about everything. Spoon it over a slice of my Old-Fashioned Pound Cake for an easy dessert, or drizzle it over ice cream. Add it to a charcuterie board to spoon over cheese and crackers. Before long, you’ll find yourself looking for excuses to use another spoonful.
A Few Things I Love About This Recipe
- fresh strawberry flavour – the berries are the star, with just a bit of sugar to enhance their sweetness and lemon juice for balance
- ready in about 15 minutes – I often make a batch in the evening to enjoy over a bowl of ice cream and then swirl it into my yogurt in the morning
- so many ways to enjoy it – serve it over pound cake, cheesecake, waffles, pancakes, or ice cream or swirl it into yogurt or custard
- keeps well – stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator it will last about a week
Just a few ingredients
From Fresh Berries to Sweet Sauce
Be sure to see the full printable recipe card with ingredients and instructions below.
- wash, hull and halve or quarter strawberries, add to sauce pan with sugar
- cook over medium heat, and as mash slightly with a potato masher as they start to release their juices, continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes
- make slurry by adding cornstarch and water to a jar and shaking well until cornstarch is dissolved, add to strawberries, stir and continue to cook on low for 2 to 4 minutes, until sauce begins to thicken
- stir in juice of half a lemon
- remove from heat and allow to cool
Helpful Tips From My Kitchen
- use ripe or slightly over ripe berries
- let the sauce cool before serving as it will continue to thicken as it cools
- for a smoother sauce, mash berries to your liking
- add a juice of half a lemon to brighten the flavour and balance the sweetness
- to thicken without cornstarch simply cook sauce longer – usually 15 to 20 minutes at a simmer is sufficient
My Favourite Ways To Serve Strawberry Sauce
As mentioned above there are so many ways to serve this easy strawberry sauce. My favourites are over pound cake with a dollop of whipped cream, and swirled into my morning yogurt or oatmeal.
Don’t stop there though, spoon it over waffles, pancakes, between layers of cake or as a topping for cheesecake, or make a batch of strawberry swirl muffins.
Storing The Sauce
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. I find a Ball jar works perfectly. Freeze sauce in an airtight container, leaving a bit of head space, for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator.
This fresh strawberry sauce is one of those recipes that proves simple is often best. With just a few pantry staples and ripe summer berries, you can create something that makes everyday breakfasts and desserts extra delicious. I hope it becomes one of those recipes you find yourself making all summer long, just as it has in my kitchen.
More Strawberry Recipes
Make the most of strawberry season with these recipe ideas.
Easy Strawberry Sauce
Equipment
- 1 sauce pan
- 1 cutting board
- 1 paring knife
Ingredients
- 1 quart fresh strawberries hulled and halved
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons corn starch
- 1 ½ teaspoons water
- juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- Wash strawberries, hull and cut each berry in half (quarter large berries). Add to saucepan and heat over medium heat until strawberries begin to soften and release their juices – about 3 to 5 minutes. Gently mash with a potato maser leaving some berries intact.
- Whisk together cornstarch and water until cornstarch is fully dissolved; add to berries stirring to combine. Continue to simmer over low heat for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often until sauce begins to thicken. Sauce will continue to thicken when cooling.
- Stir in lemon juice, remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
Notes
