Description

This homemade Strawberry Sauce with Vanilla tastes bright, sweet, and cozy, with real strawberry flavor and a warm vanilla finish. I simmer fresh strawberries with a touch of sugar and lemon, then stir in vanilla for a silky, bakery-style aroma. Spoon it over pancakes, waffles, cheesecake, yogurt, ice cream, or oatmeal—this simple sauce makes everyday treats feel special.

Ingredients

Scale

500 g fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
100 g granulated sugar (about 1/2 cup)
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp water
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (or 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped)
1 tsp cornstarch (optional, for thicker sauce)
2 tsp cold water (only if using cornstarch)

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Instructions

Wash the strawberries, hull them, and slice into halves or quarters.
Add strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons water to a medium saucepan.
Set heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves and the berries release their juices, about 3–4 minutes.
Reduce to a gentle simmer and cook until the strawberries soften and the sauce turns glossy, about 6–8 minutes. Mash lightly for a smoother texture or leave chunkier if you like.
Stir in the vanilla extract (or vanilla bean seeds) and simmer 30 seconds more.
Optional thickening: whisk cornstarch with 2 teaspoons cold water, then drizzle into the simmering sauce while stirring. Cook 1–2 minutes until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat. Cool 5–10 minutes before serving (it thickens more as it cools).
Serve warm or chilled over pancakes, waffles, yogurt, cheesecake, ice cream, oatmeal, or toast.

Notes

Taste your strawberries first and adjust sugar (use less for very sweet berries, a bit more for tart berries). Lemon juice keeps the flavor bright and prevents the sauce from tasting heavy. For a smooth sauce, blend briefly with an immersion blender after cooking. Store in a clean jar in the fridge up to 5 days. Reheat gently on low heat (add 1 tbsp water if it thickens too much). Freeze in small containers up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Sauce
Method: Simmering
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Calories: 55
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 0mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 14g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg