Description
This easy homemade strawberry sauce recipe produces a sweet, fresh, and thickened sauce perfect for topping desserts like ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or yogurt. Made with fresh strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and water, this sauce comes together quickly on the stovetop with an optional touch of red food coloring to enhance its vibrant hue.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberries
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, cleaned and chopped
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¾ cup water
- Red food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare strawberries: In a small bowl, mash 1 cup of the chopped strawberries until chunky, setting aside the rest for later use.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and cornstarch thoroughly to ensure even thickening.
- Add liquids and mashed fruit: Slowly stir in the water and mashed strawberries until the mixture is well combined and smooth.
- Cook and thicken: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Add red food coloring at this stage if you desire a deeper color.
- Simmer until thickened: Continue cooking and stirring for about 3 minutes or until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Incorporate fresh strawberries: Remove the saucepan from heat and gently stir in the remaining chopped strawberries to add texture and freshness to the sauce.
- Cool and store: Allow the sauce to cool for 10-15 minutes before transferring it to an airtight container for storage. This cooling step helps it set to the desired consistency.
Notes
- The sauce thickens further as it cools, so avoid overcooking to prevent it from becoming too stiff.
- Adjust sweetness by modifying the amount of sugar to taste.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
- Refrigerate the sauce and consume within one week for optimal freshness.
- Red food coloring is optional and purely for enhancing the color.
