This Fresh Strawberry Sauce is thick, smooth, and bursting with real strawberry flavor in every bite. It's the ultimate quick and easy topping for pancakes, waffles, cheesecake, ice cream, and more! It is made with just three simple ingredients and no cornstarch or lemon juice required. Whether you're elevating a weekend brunch or finishing off a special dessert, this sauce is a must-have.
When I think of the ultimate topping, no other contender cuts it quite like this one. It's sweet, perfectly syrupy, and full of soft, jammy fruit. The best part? You can whip it up in about 25 minutes using fresh strawberries, orange juice, and a touch of sugar. It's a fridge staple in our home, and once you try it, you'll want to drizzle it on everything.
Why You'll Love this Fresh Strawberry Sauce Recipe
- Big strawberry flavor. Made with fresh strawberries and orange juice, this sauce is rich, fruity, and tastes like real strawberries. It's not artificial or overly sweet, and so much better than store-bought sauce.
- Just 3 ingredients. No cornstarch, no lemon juice, and no extra thickeners needed. This is a simple, clean recipe anyone can make using using just 3 ingredients and one pot.
- Quick to make. Ready in about 25 minutes, this strawberry sauce is the perfect last-minute upgrade to breakfast or dessert.
- Versatile topping. Use it warm or cold over pancakes, cheesecake, French toast, crepes, ice cream, oatmeal, and more.
Ingredient Notes
To make this quick and easy Fresh Strawberry Sauce recipe, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- strawberries - fresh strawberries are ideal for flavor and texture, but you can also use frozen (thaw first and adjust cook time slightly).
- orange juice - adds natural sweetness, acidity, and brightness. Fresh squeezed is best, but bottled works too.
- sugar - regular granulated sugar sweetens and thickens the sauce slightly. You can adjust the amount to taste or substitute with honey or maple syrup as well.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a saucepan, spoon or spatula, and an airtight container or glass jar for storing.
How to Make the Best Fresh Strawberry Sauce
- Combine ingredients and cook. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add ¾ of the sliced strawberries, sugar, and orange juice and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries are syrupy and the juices begin to release, approximately 5 minutes.
- Simmer. Turn heat down to medium and continue to cook until the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Puree. Transfer the strawberry sauce to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Add more strawberries. Transfer the pureed sauce back to the saucepan. Add the remaining ¼ fresh strawberry slices and stir to combine. Continue to cook on medium for 5 minutes.
- Cool. Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool to room temperature (or refrigerate until cool) before using as a topping.
Recipe Variations
- Make it chunkier. Leave more whole strawberry pieces or only mash half of the mixture if you want a more textured sauce.
- Add vanilla. Stir in ½ teaspoon vanilla extract at the end for a richer, deeper flavor.
- Use lemon instead of orange. Swap the orange juice for lemon juice for a sharper, more citrus-forward taste. You can also add zest for extra zing.
- Make it refined sugar-free. Use honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar instead of white sugar to suit your dietary preferences.
- Add herbs. Add a small sprig of fresh mint or basil while simmering for a subtle, elevated twist.
How to Serve
This Fresh Strawberry Sauce is delicious poured over any dessert and so many breakfast dishes including:
- Pancakes, Waffles, or French Toast
- Crepes
- Cheesecake or Cake
- Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt
- Parfaits
- Oatmeal
- Scones or Biscuits
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Simmer gently. Cook the sauce over medium-low heat so the fruit breaks down slowly and doesn't burn.
- Mash or blend to your liking. For a smooth sauce, use an immersion blender. For a chunkier version, mash lightly with a spoon.
- Cool before storing. Let the sauce cool completely before transferring it to a container for the fridge to avoid condensation.
- Taste and adjust. Depending on the sweetness of your strawberries, you may want to use a little more or less sugar.
- Double the batch. This sauce stores well, so go ahead and make extra to use throughout the week.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Transfer cooled sauce to an airtight container or jar and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
How to Reheat
Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat or microwave in short 30 second intervals until warm.
How to Freeze
Freeze in a freezer-safe container or silicone tray for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.
FAQ
Yes, frozen strawberries work well. Just thaw them first and be sure to simmer off any extra liquid that releases to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin or watery. This helps preserve the sauce's consistency.
This strawberry sauce is delicious both ways! Serve it warm over pancakes or French toast, or chilled over cheesecake and ice cream - it's totally up to you. If serving warm, reheat gently so the flavor and consistency are preserved.
Absolutely! You can substitute sugar with natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or monk fruit sweetener. Keep in mind the flavor may vary slightly depending on what you use, and the consistency could be thinner, so cook slightly longer if needed.
More Strawberry Recipes
- 25 Best Strawberry Recipes
- Strawberry Compote
- Strawberry Sorbet
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Strawberry Cobbler
- Strawberry Cupcakes
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Recipe
Fresh Strawberry Sauce (3 Ingredients)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 1 ¼ cups of sauce
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Fresh Strawberry Sauce is thick, smooth, and bursting with real strawberry flavor in every bite. It's the ultimate quick and easy topping for pancakes, waffles, crepes, cheesecake, ice cream, and more! It is made with just three simple ingredients and no cornstarch or lemon juice required. Whether you're elevating a weekend brunch or finishing off a special dessert, this sauce is a must-have.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and thickly sliced, divided
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange juice, freshly squeezed from ½ orange
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add ¾ of the sliced strawberries, sugar, and orange juice and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries are syrupy and the juices begin to release, approximately 5 minutes.
- Turn heat down to medium and continue to cook until the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Transfer the strawberry sauce to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Transfer the pureed sauce back to the saucepan. Add the remaining ¼ fresh strawberry slices and stir to combine. Continue to cook on medium for 5 minutes.
-
Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool to room temperature (or refrigerate until cool) before using as a topping.
Notes
How to store: Transfer cooled sauce to an airtight container or jar and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
How to freeze: Freeze in a freezer-safe container or silicone tray for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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