Strawberry Sauce Recipe

This Strawberry Sauce is a sweet, simple topping that works with everything from pancakes to pound cake. If you’re staring at a container of fresh strawberries and wondering what to do with them, this homemade strawberry sauce recipe is the answer. It’s quick, uses simple ingredients, and brings a ton of fresh strawberry flavor to everything it touches—think ice cream sundaes, strawberry shortcake, or a thick swirl over my oh so popular no-bake cheesecake recipe.

Ingredients Needed for Strawberry Sauce

Whether you’re in the middle of strawberry season or grabbing a bag of frozen strawberries from the grocery store, this is the perfect topping to keep in the fridge for whenever you need a pop of fruity sweetness. Here’s what you’ll need to make this sweet strawberry sauce:

Strawberries – Fresh strawberries are ideal, but frozen strawberries work just as well. No need to thaw.
Granulated sugar – Balances the natural tartness of the berries. You can use less sugar depending on your taste or how sweet your ripe strawberries are.
Water – Helps break down the berries and creates the base for the fruit sauce.
Vanilla extract – Adds warmth and depth to the finished sauce.

Variations

Mix it up depending on what you have or how you plan to use it:

Add lemon juice to brighten up the flavor.
Stir in a little cornstarch slurry if you want a thicker sauce.
Use honey or maple syrup in place of sugar for a different twist.
Toss in a handful of blueberries or raspberries to turn it into a mixed fresh berry sauce.
Add a splash of strawberry lemonade for something fun and zesty.

How to Make Strawberry Sauce

This easy sauce comes together in a matter of minutes. For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Prep Strawberries

Wash, hull, and slice them. If using frozen, just toss them in the pan.

2. Combine + Simmer

Add strawberries, sugar, and water to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until bubbling. Let the sauce cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries are soft and juicy.

3. Add Vanilla

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

4. Blend until Smooth

Pour into a blender or use an immersion blender until it’s as smooth as you like it.

5. Cool + Store

Let it come to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container.

How to Make Strawberry Sauce from Frozen Strawberries

Using frozen strawberries is honestly the easiest way to enjoy this simple strawberry sauce year-round—no waiting for strawberry season required. To make this strawberry sauce recipe using frozen strawberries, just follow the original instructions with one small adjustment—no need to thaw the berries first. Here’s how:

Add frozen strawberries straight to a saucepan along with sugar and water.

Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Since the berries are frozen, it may take a few extra minutes to come to temperature.

Cook for 12–15 minutes or until the strawberries are soft and the mixture has thickened slightly.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

Blend until smooth for a classic fresh strawberry sauce texture, or leave it chunky if you prefer.

Let it cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the fridge.

How to Use Strawberry Sauce

There are many ways to use strawberry sauce. Here are few ideas:

Drizzle it over Meyer Lemon Pound Cake
Top your Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream
Layer into Strawberry Shortcake from Scratch
Mix into Lemonade
Spoon onto Protein Pancakes or Belgian Waffles
Swirl over Cheesecake

Storage + Make Ahead Directions For Strawberry Sauce

Store the finished sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. It’ll keep for up to 7 days.

How do I reheat it?
Spoon the amount you need into a small bowl and microwave in 15-second intervals, or warm gently on the stove.

Can I make this ahead?
Absolutely. It’s a great recipe to prep early. Keep it in the fridge and use throughout the week.

Can you freeze this recipe?
Yes! This sauce freezes beautifully. Let it cool, then pour it into a freezer-safe airtight container or zip-top bag. It will last for up to 3 months.

More Sweet Sauces to Try!

Hot Fudge Sauce
Caramel Sauce
Salted Caramel Sauce
Blackberry Syrup for Pancakes
Cinnamon Roll Syrup
Peanut Butter Sauce for Ice Cream

This simple strawberry sauce is the easiest way to make any dessert look (and taste) just a little more special. Whether it’s your first time making fruit sauce or you’ve got a fridge full of fresh summer strawberries, this perfect recipe is one to keep on repeat. The printable recipe card is below. Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.