Description
This cozy homemade strawberry sauce using frozen strawberries comes together in about 20 minutes and tastes like summer in every spoonful. I simmer frozen strawberries with a little sugar and fresh lemon juice until they turn glossy, sweet, and jammy. Spoon it over pancakes, waffles, cheesecake, ice cream, oatmeal, or thick Greek yogurt for an easy dessert topping you can make all year long.
Ingredients
- 3 cups (450g) frozen strawberries
- 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thicker sauce)
- 1 tablespoon cold water (only if using cornstarch)
- Pinch of salt (optional, enhances sweetness)
Instructions
- Add the frozen strawberries to a medium saucepan (no need to thaw).
- Sprinkle in the sugar, add the lemon juice, and (optional) a tiny pinch of salt.
- Place the pan over medium heat and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries soften and release lots of juice.
- Mash the strawberries with a fork or potato masher to your preferred texture (chunky or mostly smooth).
- Lower to a gentle simmer and cook 5–8 minutes more, stirring often, until the sauce looks glossy and slightly thickened.
- Optional thicker sauce: In a small cup, whisk cornstarch with cold water until smooth. Pour it into the simmering sauce while stirring constantly.
- Simmer 2–3 minutes, stirring, until noticeably thicker.
- Remove from heat and cool for 10–15 minutes. The sauce will thicken more as it cools.
- Use warm or chilled. If the sauce becomes too thick later, loosen it with a splash of water while warming gently.
Notes
• Sweetness varies by brand of frozen strawberries—taste before adding extra sugar. • For a smoother sauce (perfect for cheesecake), blend briefly with an immersion blender. • For a richer flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract after cooking. • Storage: keep in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. • Freezing: freeze in small containers or ice cube trays for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge. • Serving ideas: pancakes, waffles, ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, crepes, pound cake, or stirred into sparkling water for a quick strawberry “soda.”
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 2 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg