This simple strawberry sauce is the perfect topping for cheesecake, angel food cake, ice cream, or as a strawberry syrup for pancakes! Only 4 ingredients and can be made with fresh or frozen berries!  Pin it for Later »

A slice of angel food cake topped with whip cream and fresh strawberry sauce with a mint sprig

Strawberry Sauce Recipe Overview

  • Skill Level: Beginner

This fresh strawberry sauce is so incredibly easy to make and is the perfect topping for cheesecake, angel food cake, or ice cream. You could even use it as a strawberry syrup for pancakes! 

This strawberry sauce thickens without needing cornstarch or flour. The sugars and juices will cook down and naturally thicken the sauce. 

How to Make Strawberry Sauce

You can use fresh or frozen strawberries for this sauce. You can even swap the strawberries with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a combination of berries! 

Step 1: Prep the Strawberries

Fresh strawberries being chopped on a cutting board

If you are using fresh strawberries, wash them, remove the tops and roughly chop them up. 

Step 2: Combine the Strawberries with the Other Ingredients

Strawberries and sugar in a pot

Combine the strawberries with the sugar, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt in a medium sauce pot. 

the lemon juice enhances the fruit flavor. You could also add other spices, herbs, or extracts if you like. 

Step 3: Cook Until Thickened

Strawberries and sugar lightly boiling in pot on stove, sugar is melted and strawberries are releasing juices

Cook the mixture over medium heat for about 30 minutes, stirring periodically. You do not need to mash the fruit. It will release its liquid and start breaking down on its own. 

You want the mixture to simmer but not be boiling rapidly. As it cooks the juices will start to thicken, and the sauce will continue to thicken after it cools. 

A slice of angel food cake topped with whip cream and fresh strawberry sauce with a mint sprig
Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Strawberry Sauce for Cheesecake, Ice Cream, and Pancakes

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

This strawberry sauce can be made with fresh or frozen berries and is the perfect pair for topping cheesecake, ice cream, angel food cake, or used a syrup for pancakes!

Ingredients

  • 450 grams (1 pound) strawberries, fresh or frozen
  • 66 grams (⅓ cup) granulated sugar
  • 15 grams (1 tablespoon) lemon juice
  • pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

  1. If using fresh strawberries (450 grams, 1 pound), wash and cut off the tops. Roughly chop the berries.
  2. Place the berries, sugar (66 grams, ⅓ cup), lemon juice (15 grams, 1 tablespoon), and salt (pinch) in a medium sauce pot over medium heat.
  3. Cook for about 30 minutes, stirring periodically. The berries will release their juices and it will thicken up as they cook. You want the mixture to be simmering while it cooks but not rapidly boiling.
  4. Pour the sauce into a container and allow to cool before cover and storing in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The sauce will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.

Notes

  • The strawberries can be substituted with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a combination of berries.

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