This easy homemade strawberry sauce comes together with just 2 ingredients and makes the perfect topping for cheesecake, pancakes, or ice cream! I’ll also show you how to thicken it for the best thick, syrupy texture.

Strawberry sauce in bowl.

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Easy Strawberry Sauce Recipe

Simple and sweet homemade strawberry sauce is a delicious way to put a finishing touch on all your summertime treats. Bursting with fresh, juicy strawberries, it comes together in minutes with no boiling required. I’ll also show you how to simmer it into a thicker, richer sauce with a texture closer to strawberry jam.

Drizzle it over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, swirl it into a simple no-bake cheesecake or pile it high atop buttermilk pancakes. These strawberry crepes with cream cheese crepe filling are amazing topped with strawberry sauce!

Ingredient Notes

Homemade strawberry sauce is basically foolproof. It’s made with just 2 ingredients!

Strawberry sauce ingredients on counter including strawberries and sugar. Optional ingredients include lemon and butter for thickening.

All you need are strawberries and sugar. The butter and lemon are completely optional!

Trust me, it’s that easy and yet makes a major taste impact. Keep this recipe on hand, because as much as we love it during the summer, it’s for sure a year-round staple!

How to Make Strawberry Sauce

As easy as this recipe is, I’m excited to share it because I know there are many home cooks out there who are always looking for quick and easy ways to create their favorite sauces!

Combine sliced strawberries and sugar together in a bowl and allow it to sit. The sugar will draw out the natural juices from the strawberries and sweeten everything up nicely. It’s so good, you’ll want to eat it right out of the bowl!

How to Thicken Strawberry Sauce

Showing how to thicken strawberry sauce in a stovetop.

The easiest way to thicken strawberry sauce is to simmer it on the stovetop. Add the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and butter to a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You’ll know it’s ready when a spatula dragged across the bottom of the pan leaves a clean line.

There are also a few ways to get there depending on what you have on hand:

Simmer to reduce: The simplest method and what this recipe calls for. The longer it simmers, the thicker it gets. No added ingredients needed.

Cornstarch slurry: Whisk 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water, then stir it into the simmering sauce. It thickens quickly, so watch it closely.

Flour slurry: Whisk 2 tablespoons of flour with 1/4 cup of water and stir into the sauce. Simmer until thickened. This takes a little longer than cornstarch but works well in a pinch.

Once thickened, mash with a fork for a textured sauce or use an immersion blender for a smoother, more pourable consistency. This recipe can take you from strawberry sauce to strawberry syrup in a pinch!

Tips & Variations

  • Cut your strawberries to the desired size, remembering that the bigger they are, the chunkier your sauce will be.
  • If you are going to blend your strawberries until smooth, do this after they’ve simmered and thickened, not before. For some reason, it loses a bit of its glossy appearance if it’s blended beforehand.
  • Add chopped rhubarb: It pairs so well with strawberries like in my no pectin strawberry rhubarb jam!
  • You can use either fresh or thawed from frozen strawberries for this sauce.
Diced strawberries in bowl with sugar on top.

Way to Use Strawberry Topping

There’s never a shortage of reasons to whip up a simple batch of strawberry sauce. Depending on what you’re using it for, it can be served cold, room temperature, or nice and warmed up!

Strawberry sauce on crepe.

Looking for more strawberry dessert recipes? Try frozen strawberry lemonade, fresh strawberry ice cream or strawberry pie!

More Dessert Sauce Recipes

Strawberry Sauce Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8
This easy homemade strawberry sauce is made with just 2 ingredients and comes together in minutes with no boiling required. Learn how to thicken it for the best thick, syrupy topping.
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pint strawberries , rinsed and dried
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice , optional
  • 1 Tablespoon butter , optional

Instructions

  • Cut the strawberries into desired size. Combine the strawberries and sugar. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes, or until a syrup forms. Stir in fresh lemon juice if desired.
  • For more of a jam strawberry filling, place the strawberries with sugar in a small saucepan. Then add the lemon juice and butter. Cook over medium-low heat. Simmer for 3-5 minutes. Allow to thicken. Mash with a fork if (or use an immersion blender) to reach desired consistency. Allow to cool.
  • Serve strawberry filing on top of crepes, pancakes, ice cream, etc.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Storing: Keep in a jar with a lid in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
Freezing: Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 6 months. For easier thawing, freeze in smaller portions and only thaw what you need. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight then warm on the stovetop over low heat or microwave in 20-second intervals.

Nutrition

Calories: 56kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 13mg, Potassium: 93mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 51IU, Vitamin C: 36mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.