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    Home » Dessert » Fruit Desserts » Strawberry » Strawberry Sauce

    Strawberry Sauce

    Published: Apr 20, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE

    Make this strawberry sauce recipe with fresh or frozen strawberries. Pour it on waffles and ice cream, or use it as a glaze for cheesecake!

    This fruity dessert sauce can be the ‘strawberry on top’ for all your summer treats and breakfast items!

    A small white pitcher with strawberry sauce inside.

    We love plump, juicy summer strawberries at our house, and one of our favorite things to make with them is this sublime strawberry compote!

    What You’ll Find In This Post

    • Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
    • How To Make Strawberry Sauce
      • Soften the Strawberries
      • Mash the Strawberries
      • Add Flavoring To Strawberry Sauce
    • Strawberry Sauce Variations
      • Triple Berry Sauce
      • Citrus Options
      • Thickened Strawberry Sauce
    • Make Ahead and Storage
    • Ways To Use Strawberry Glaze
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Fruit Sauces
    Ingredients set out on a countertop.

    Ingredients Needed and Substitutions

    If you’ve been craving a syrupy-sweet strawberry sauce to garnish your desserts, then you’re in luck! This recipe uses simple ingredients that you might already have on hand.

    • Strawberries: The strawberries are going to be a key component in this recipe. We used fresh strawberries this time, but feel free to use frozen if you like!
    • Sugar: We used granulated sugar to add sweetness to this fruity sauce.
    • Water: The water combines with the sugar to create a syrupy consistency.
    • Lemon Juice: We wanted a bit of citrus tang to our strawberry sauce, so we added lemon juice. You can also add a little lemon zest for extra citrus flavor.
    • Vanilla: A bit of vanilla extract adds depth of flavor to this strawberry glaze recipe.
    • Salt: If you’d like to multiply the flavor of your dishes, then you can start by adding a dash of salt. Salt is a known flavor enhancer, which means it will draw out even more flavor from your ingredients!
    Strawberries and sugar in a saucepan.

    How To Make Strawberry Sauce

    Soften the Strawberries

    • Put the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and water in a saucepan.
    • Cook them over medium heat until the strawberries begin to soften, stirring occasionally.
    • If you use frozen strawberries, they will take much longer to get hot.
    A wooden spoon used for mashing.

    Mash the Strawberries

    • Mash the strawberries with a wooden spoon to further break them down.
    • Continue boiling the sauce, stirring often, until it has thickened.
    Strawberry glaze in a sauce pan.

    Add Flavoring To Strawberry Sauce

    • Remove from heat, and add a splash of vanilla and a pinch of salt
    • Then, pour the strawberry sauce into a small pitcher for serving.
    Sauce in a small white pitcher.

    Strawberry Sauce Variations

    Want to switch up your sauce? Here are some fun variations of this recipe to try!

    Triple Berry Sauce

    If you want a mixture of fruity flavors for your compote, try using 1 cup strawberries, 3/4 cup blueberries, and 3/4 cup raspberries for a triple-berry blend!

    Citrus Options

    You can also try switching out the lemon juice for lime, orange, or pineapple! If you want even more citrus punch, try adding some zest of lemon, lime, or orange.

    Thickened Strawberry Sauce

    Thinner strawberry sauce is perfect for use as a glaze, but a thicker sauce is great when you want to be able to spread it over things like cake or toast. Boiling the sauce for a longer duration helps thicken it because the liquid evaporates. Or, you can add a mixture of cornstarch and water to the boiling sauce to thicken it quickly.

    A jar with strawberry sauce inside.

    Make Ahead and Storage

    Let the strawberry sauce cool completely, and then transfer it into an airtight container such as a mason jar.

    • Make Ahead: This is a great recipe to make ahead of time! You can even double or triple the recipe so that you have extra to store in the freezer.
    • Refrigerator: Store it in the fridge for up to a week.
    • Freezer: Store in the freezer in freezer-safe containers for up to 6 months. Let thaw in the fridge.
    • Reheating: If you want to serve the strawberry sauce warm, reheat it over low heat in a saucepan on the stovetop or use the microwave.
    Cheesecake with strawberry glaze on top.

    Ways To Use Strawberry Glaze

    • Make waffles with bisquick and serve them with maple syrup and strawberry sauce!
    • Use our Bisquick pancake recipe to make light, airy pancakes and enjoy them with homemade strawberry compote.
    • It can be drizzled on top of crepes with some sweetened whipped cream.
    • You can also use it as a strawberry glaze for cheesecake!
    Strawberry glaze in a small glass jar.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use frozen strawberries?

    Yes, however, keep in mind that they’ll take a little longer to break down.

    What should I use this sauce for?

    Use this sauce for your fruit and yogurt parfaits, waffles, crepes, cakes, cheesecake, ice cream, and more!

    What is a compote?

    A compote is a chunky fruit sauce made by cooking fruit and sugar on the stovetop until the fruit breaks down into a delicious sauce.

    Fresh strawberry sauce in a white pitcher.

    More Fruit Sauces

    • Homemade applesauce is a popular choice year-round!
    • Cranberry sauce is a must during the holidays.
    • Blueberry sauce is delicious in blueberry pretzel salad.
    • This raspberry sauce goes well with chocolate!
    A jar holding strawberry sauce.

    Strawberry Sauce

    Make this strawberry sauce recipe with fresh or frozen strawberries. Pour it on waffles and ice cream, or use it as a glaze for cheesecake!
    4.62 from 13 votes
    ↑ Click stars to rate!
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 10 servings (1 1/4 cups total)
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    Equipment

    Calphalon Sauce Pan
    Mini Creamer Pitcher
    Wide Mouth Mason Jar 8 oz

    Ingredients

    • 2 ½ cups strawberries washed and hulled
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • pinch salt

    Instructions

    • Cook strawberries, sugar, 1/4 cup water, and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, for 12-15 minutes (frozen strawberries may take longer) until the strawberries start to break down.
    • Use a wooden spoon to mash up the strawberries even more. Continue boiling until the sauce has thickened. See Note 1 to make an even thicker consistency.
    • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt.

    Notes

    Note 1: Cornstarch

    For a thicker consistency, mix together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water. Add the mixture to the boiling sauce and stir constantly until it is thickened.

    Note 2: Smooth Sauce

    For a smoother consistency, puree the cooled sauce in a blender.

    Note 3: Food Coloring

    You can add a few drops of red food coloring for a deeper red color.

    Note 4: Storage

    Allow the sauce to cool, and then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to six months.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tablespoon | Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.05g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 457mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 94g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Vitamin C: 174mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Tonia Larson

    More Strawberry

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    • Easter chocolate covered strawberries decorated to look like the Easter bunny and carrots.
      Easter Bunny Strawberries
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      Strawberry Whip

    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

    « Strawberry Pie
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    Comments

    1. Maura Cohen says

      March 29, 2021 at 11:32 pm

      Ruined a whole batch of great fruit. The cornstarch/water mix robs the fresh fruit flavor and makes the sauce glue-like. If you cook down the fruit and sugar, you can arrive at the consistency you like…sans cornstarch.

      Reply
      • Katerina Merino says

        May 17, 2021 at 3:48 pm

        Thanks for the recipe I will use it again! It was DELICIOUS.

        Reply
    2. Asya says

      July 27, 2019 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      I made this sauce this morning to top a cheesecake pie. It’s delicious! Easy to do and so much better than the canned stuff. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    3. Asya says

      July 27, 2019 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      I made this sauce this morning to top a cheesecake pie. It’s delicious! Easy to do and so much better than the canned stuff. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Edna Blankley says

      June 26, 2017 at 4:42 pm

      This is the best and easiest sauce to make. I love the vanilla added to it. 😊

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        June 27, 2017 at 9:13 am

        Wonderful! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    5. AMBER C PRICE says

      December 17, 2016 at 2:19 pm

      How do you store this after it is made. I made it and it is very good. How long can it be kept in the refrigerator and can it be frozen?

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        December 17, 2016 at 2:54 pm

        Store it in the fridge for up to a week and yes you can store it in the freezer! Enjoy! ~Tonia

        Reply
    6. ColleenB.~Texas says

      July 9, 2016 at 7:33 am

      I just made up several jars (20) of Strawberry Sauce to put in freezer for later use and to give to family members.
      I do add 1 box of Sugar Free Strawberry Gelatin and roughly 1 T. of strawberry Kool-Aide per batch.
      Besides using it on pancakes, waffles, ice cream, etc. It’s also wonderful to use in making a poke cake using a French Vanilla cake mix or could use just plain white mix. Either mix you decide to use it’s still YUMMY.

      Reply
      • Di says

        July 9, 2016 at 4:47 pm

        Do u also add all stuff for Gunny sack recipe too?

        Reply
        • ColleenB.~Texas says

          July 13, 2016 at 2:41 am

          I do make larger batches, but I Do Not use the cornstarch/water mixture

          Reply

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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