This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
There is no rival for homemade strawberry sauce. It has just 3 ingredients and this is the easiest strawberry sauce recipe. Adding a few spoons of this glossy fresh strawberry topping will make any dessert feel fancier. This is a great recipe to have in your arsenal for entertaining or to make your family’s eyes light up as you spoon it over a bowl of vanilla ice cream.
This strawberry topping is completely wonderful over pancakes, waffles, pie, cheesecake, this trifle, you name it! This is our favorite and easiest way to make strawberry sauce. The lemon juice balances the sweetness and makes the strawberry flavor more pronounced. Truth be told, it’s dangerously irresistible stuff – consider yourself warned ;).
We’re using this sauce in our next recipe post so I hope you are all kinds of excited!!
Make-Ahead Tip: You can make this strawberry topping 1 to 3 days in advance, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Easy Strawberry Sauce Ingredients:
1 lb Strawberries, rinsed, hulled and thickly sliced
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice (from 1/2 Lemon)
How to Make Easy Strawberry Sauce:
1. In a medium saucepan, combine sliced strawberries, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. Place over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. The strawberries will release juice without any mashing required.
2. Reduce heat and simmer 20-23 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Keep in mind sauce will thicken up slightly as it cools and even more after refrigeration.
Pro Tip: Do not blend strawberries before cooking. I have tested coarsely blending strawberries in a food processor and even though they taste great, the color of the sauce was foggy and not glossy as shown in the photos above. We had best results with slicing strawberries by hand.
It really is as good as it looks – bursting with fresh strawberry flavor!
⬇Print-Friendly Strawberry Sauce Recipe:
Strawberry Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Strawberry Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 lb Strawberries, rinsed, hulled and thickly sliced
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice, from 1/2 Lemon
Instructions
How to Make Strawberry Sauce:
- In a medium saucepan, combine sliced strawberries, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp lemon juice. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Strawberries will release juice without any mashing required.
- Reduce heat and simmer 20-23 min or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Keep in mind sauce will thicken up slightly as it cools and even more with refrigeration.
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
I hope this becomes your new favorite strawberry topping. Let me know how you serve your strawberry sauce. Or maybe it’s just you with a spoon in your hand? Remember I called this dangerous for a reason!
How long will the finished product last in the refrigerator?
Hi Linda! I have this make ahead note above: You can make this strawberry topping 1 to 3 days in advance, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
I am making a Heaven on Earth cake for our company Memorial weekend soon. Can I use your strawberry sauce topping for the filling instead of canned strawberry filling? Love your videos and recipes. Absolutely delicious!
Hi Cindy, I imagine that may work! If you experiment, I’d love to know how you like that.
Can this Strawberry Sauce Topping be used as a filling instead of using canned strawberry filling? I am making a Heavenly on Earth cake for Memorial weekend and the recipe calls for a 21 oz canned strawberry filling. Would greatly appreciate a response. Thank you.
Hi Cindy! You can use it as a filling (several of my viewers have) but it is a little looser than canned pie filling.
Hi Natasha! First off I have to tell you, I love all your recipes. I spend way too much time watching your videos. Lol
My question on this one, is can you use Coconut Sugar instead of granulated sugar to make it healthier?
Hi Margie, I haven’t tried coconut sugar to advise, if you happen to experiment, I would love to know how you like it.
This sounds amazing
Can I use frozen strawberries as I’m wanting to make this for a grad party with lots of people
Hi Tammy, if that’s what you have on hand, that will work. You can thaw them or cook them directly frozen. Hope you enjoy it!
Can this be frozen as part of an ice cream cake?
Hi Michelle, this sauce is freezer friendly. I haven’t tried it on a cake to advise though. If you happen to experiment, I’d love to know how you like it.
Made it the first time as written and it was phenomenal, was out of lemons and had some dead ripe strawberries that needed to be used . 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar reduction, and some fresh mint . Totally different beast , but oh so good . Added a tbsp of this to some seltzer and made a great drink .
That sounds wonderful!
Delicious! Going to make banana splits with it! How long does it keep in the fridge?
Hi Kimberly, You can make this 1 to 3 days in advance, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
This sauce is delicious. I use it all the time for my pancakes and I will use it as well as on cheesecake. Also, thanks Natasha it’s great.
You’re very welcome, Gerry!
This sauce is delicious. I put it on my no bake cheesecake. Will definitely save this recipe for future use. Followed the recipe exactly as written.
Can I blend to make it smooth once it’s cooled?
Hi Annette, yes, If you want a smooth sauce, you can blend the sauce after it’s cooked.
Hi, can you can this recipe? If so , what are your instructions. Thanks
HI Judy, I have not tried canning this to advise.