Name: Strawberry Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound strawberries (hulled and quartered); ½ cup granulated sugar; 1 Tablespoon cornstarch; Pinch of salt; 1 Tablespoon lemon juice; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

By: Jill Mills Updated: Aug 31, 2026

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This versatile Strawberry Sauce is made with just 6 ingredients in less than 20 minutes, with chunks of fresh strawberries in every bite. It’s an easy way to up-level everything from pancakes and waffles to cheesecake and ice cream.

Drizzling strawberry sauce over vanilla ice cream

There are a few things I love to make with fresh strawberries each year, like fresh strawberry pie, strawberry jam, and this strawberry sauce.

Strawberry sauce is a cross between a dessert sauce (think butterscotch sauce or caramel sauce) and jam. While some people prefer their strawberry sauce to be smoother, I like to keep pieces of quartered strawberries so that there are actual bites of strawberries. You can also mash it with a fork for an in-between chunky version! Either way, it works great as a topping on everything from pancakes to cheesecake.

Why Everyone Should Try This Strawberry Sauce Recipe

Only 6 ingredients. This sauce is made with fresh strawberries, lemon juice, and a couple of pantry staples. When strawberries are in season, it’s super easy to whip up any time.
Incredibly versatile. There are endless ways to use this strawberry sauce, from breakfast to dessert. A few of our favorite ways are on pancakes, swirled into yogurt, and drizzled over vanilla ice cream.
Stores well. I usually make a batch of this sauce for one thing and then we use it throughout the week at breakfast and dessert. It freezes well, so I like to pop half of it in the freezer to enjoy later.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make strawberry sauce

What You’ll Need

Here’s an overview of the six ingredients needed to make this sauce. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post for the exact measurements.

Strawberries – Fresh strawberries are best here, though frozen can be used in a pinch.
Granulated sugar – Sweetens the sauce and helps create the perfect sticky texture.
Cornstarch – Thickens the sauce.
Salt – Enhances the flavor and prevents it from being too sweet.
Lemon juice – Use fresh lemon juice if possible. It brightens the overall flavor profile and the acidity helps to balance the sweet strawberries.
Vanilla extract – A splash of vanilla adds more depth to the sauce.

How To Make Strawberry Sauce

This yummy sauce takes just 20 minutes or so to prepare. Feel free to use it on desserts immediately or make it ahead for later use. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Overhead view of strawberry sauce in a pan

Cook the strawberries. Combine the strawberries, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan, stirring to coat the strawberries. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The strawberries should begin to release their juices and begin to bubble.
Add the lemon juice. Stir in the lemon juice. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the sauce thickens a bit more.
Remove from heat. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla.
Cool. Let the sauce cool a bit to serve warm or cool completely to store and refrigerate.

Recipe Tips & Variations

Here are a few ways to customize this strawberry sauce recipe to your preferences, including the texture and the sweetness.

Adjust the sauce consistency. For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender or transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. If you prefer a chunkier sauce, mash the strawberries lightly with a fork or potato masher while cooking.
Customize the sweetness. The sweetness of strawberries varies greatly. If yours are super sweet, you may want to add a bit less sugar. If they’re pretty tart, add a little more sugar.
Stir in some spices. Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm, spiced twist.
Thin the sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick after cooling, stir in a tablespoon of water or lemon juice to loosen it.

Ways To Use It

This strawberry sauce is incredibly versatile! It makes a great addition to breakfast as a topping. We really love it on buttermilk pancakes, cottage cheese pancakes, and homemade waffles. It’s also super yummy swirled into some plain or vanilla Greek yogurt.

It makes a great dessert topping, too. Drizzle it over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple treat or on a slice of cheesecake. It can be swapped with the cherry pie filling in this no bake cheesecake recipe or served on a slice of New York cheesecake.

Proper Storage

Fridge: Store strawberry sauce in an airtight container, like a glass jar, in the fridge. It’ll last for up to 5 days.
Freezer: For longer storage, make sure it’s in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

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