Easy Homemade Strawberry Sauce (So Good!)

This Homemade Strawberry Sauce takes just a few simple ingredients to prepare. We love to enjoy it as a strawberry topping for waffles, but there are tons of ways to use this simple strawberry sauce for breakfast or dessert. You’ll love how quick it is to prepare and that’s it is freezer-friendly!

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Creating this Strawberry Sauce

We almost had a dilemma on our hands this morning when I realized we were completely out of syrup and I had asked my husband to make his amazing waffles for breakfast. I did say almost.

My waffle craving self wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to have waffles for breakfast. And for a split second I actually contemplated making a trip just for maple syrup to serve with said waffles.

Then I remembered we had plenty of sweet strawberries. Out of season strawberries no doubt, but they looked too good to pass up and after months of cold weather and wind, I wanted something sweet and juicy and fruity.

Can you blame a girl? Let’s hope not, because today those strawberries became strawberry sauce and saved our breakfast!

Tools Needed to Make this Recipe for Strawberry Sauce

These items will be helpful when preparing this strawberry topping recipe:

• Blender – to purée strawberries.
• Measuring Cups – for measuring the strawberries, water, and the sugar.
• Measuring Spoons – for measuring the vanilla extract.
• Microplane Zester – for zesting the lemon.
• Whisk – to whisk the water and cornstarch.
• Small Saucepan – to cook the strawberry topping.
• Wooden Spoon – to stir the topping.

Ingredients to Make Strawberry Cheesecake Topping

I love that this recipe is relatively simple, easily adaptable given what you have on hand, and doesn’t require any difficult to find specialty ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to prepare this easy strawberry topping for waffles:

• Fresh Strawberries
• Sugar
• Vanilla Extract
• Lemon Zest
• Cornstarch
• Water

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this easy recipe for strawberry sauce, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make this Easy Strawberry Topping

This homemade strawberry topping couldn’t be easier to make! Here’s a quick overview of the instructions:

First, you’ll puree half of the strawberries with the water and the cornstarch. Then, add the strawberry purée, remaining strawberries, sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon zest to a saucepan. After that, cook until the mixture is thick and bubbly.

The above is simply a quick summary of this delicious strawberry sauce recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

How to Store Homemade Strawberry Sauce

This strawberry topping recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for short-term storage or the freezer for longer storage. Here are the instructions for both storage methods:

Storing Strawberry Sauce in the Fridge

Cool the finished sauce, then transfer it to an airtight container, such as a jar or plastic storage container with a lid, and place it in the refrigerator. It will last for about a week.

How to Freeze this Strawberry Topping

This homemade strawberry topping for waffles will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Cool the topping, then transfer to a freezer-safe container, leaving about an inch of headspace to account for expansion, and freeze. Don’t forget to label and date accordingly. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

Thaw frozen strawberry sauce in the refrigerator overnight.

FAQs About this Strawberry Sauce Recipe

Got questions about how to make this quick strawberry sauce? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Will Frozen Berries Work in this Recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen strawberries in place of fresh berries when making this easy strawberry sauce recipe.

You won’t have the same fresh strawberry flavor, but it will still be good. Thaw and drain the berries first, before preparing the recipe.

Can I Substitute a Sugar Alternative?

I haven’t personally tested making this strawberry topping using a sugar alternative, but this is my suggestion if you would like to try that:

I suggest using Monk Fruit Sweetener in place of the sugar because it is a 1:1 sugar replacement. That means you’ll use the same amount of sweetener as you would sugar and you won’t have to try to alter the proportions of ingredients in the strawberry topping.

What If I Don’t Have Cornstarch?

If you’re all out of cornstarch or have a dietary restriction, here are some alternatives for this strawberry topping recipe:

• Tapioca Starch: 1 tablespoon of tapioca starch = 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• All-Purpose Flour: 2 teaspoons of flour = 1 teaspoon of cornstarch
• Arrowroot Powder: use the same amount as you would cornstarch
• Potato Starch: use the same amount as you would cornstarch

I’ve put the cornstarch substitutes for this strawberry topping recipe in order from preferred to least preferred. In my opinion tapioca starch is the best alternative to cornstarch in this recipe.

Arrowroot powder and Potato Starch will work just fine if you plan to use all of the strawberry sauce immediately after preparing it. However, these thickeners don’t do as well with storage and reheating.

The drawbacks of using flour are that it isn’t gluten-free (if that’s a dietary consideration) and it won’t produce a shiny sauce. The final product will be thick, but it will have more of a matte finish and may be slightly opaque rather than clear and glossy.

Don’t Want Chunks in Your Topping?

If you don’t like strawberry chunks in the sauce, you can easily remedy that!

For a smooth strawberry sauce, just puree all of the strawberries in a blender or food processor instead of only half of the strawberries. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to blend the homemade sauce in the sauce pan

Proceed with the rest of the recipe as instructed.

What Other Berries Can I Use in this Recipe?

If you’d like to make different fruit toppings, that is so easy to do! Just substitute whatever berries you prefer. Try raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a mix of berries.

Can I Add Lemon Juice?

If you want a stronger lemon flavor in this recipe, then I recommend replacing 1 – 2 tablespoons of the water with fresh lemon juice when preparing the recipe.

Favorite Ways to Use this Fresh Strawberry Sauce

This is a great recipe for strawberry season because of its versatility. Here’s some fun ways to use this strawberry sauce recipe:

• For an easy strawberry shortcake, stack shortcakes with this strawberry topping and whipped cream.
• Have a DIY ice cream sundaes dessert night and include this recipe in the line up!
• Love cheesecake? Serve this strawberry topping as a strawberry sauce for cheesecake.
• Transform a simple bowl of vanilla ice cream by spooning some of this on top!
• French toast would taste delicious with fresh strawberry topping. Try this french toast recipe (just leave out the pears and pecans).
• It would also be great as a strawberry sauce for angel food cake.
• This would be the perfect topping for a stack of pancakes, too! We love these 5 grain pancakes.
• Make a strawberry trifle by layering cubed pound cake with this strawberry sauce and homemade whipped cream.

Try this Easy Homemade Strawberry Sauce!

Next time you’re looking for a fruity topping for waffles, give this strawberry sauce recipe a try!

Did you love this strawberry topping? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this recipe.

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More Sauce Recipes to Try

Looking for more great sauces to use with your favorite desserts? Here are a few to try:

This is a delicious lemon blueberry sauce that can be made with fresh or frozen blueberries! You’ll love the sweet blueberry flavor with a hint of lemon and vanilla.

Silky smooth homemade caramel sauce is so easy to make. It’s over the top good thanks to the addition of a little bit of vanilla and bourbon. 

This homemade peach syrup can be enjoyed atop pancake, waffles, ice cream, and more! It’s so easy to make and is a great way to use up fresh peaches.

In this recipe for red wine cranberry sauce, fresh, tart cranberries are cooked and blended with agave, brown sugar, red wine, and pomegranate juice to create a deliciously simple cranberry sauce recipe.

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

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What is your favorite dessert to serve with strawberry sauce?