Strawberry Sauce

A super easy vibrant strawberry sauce bursting with flavor and color!  Made with fresh or frozen strawberries.  Delicious served over pancakes, waffles, ice cream, yogurt, crepes, blintzes, cheesecake, and more! 

Strawberries are such pretty vibrant fruit. Don’t you agree?

With seeds on full display on their outside, strawberries are bright red, juicy, and slightly sweet. For these reasons, they have the ability to create such striking desserts. And this Strawberry Sauce is no exception. It can transform the simplest treat into a scrumptious dessert in as much time as it takes for you to spoon some Strawberry Sauce over top of whatever you are serving.

Originating in Europe during the 18th century, the strawberry is a hybrid fruit deriving from two wild strawberry species from North America and Chile. Consisting of 91% water, strawberries are quite nutritious and naturally low in fat.

A 3.5 ounce serving contain 32 ounces, 0.7 grams of protein, 4.9 grams of natural sugar, 2 grams of dietary fiber, and only 0.3 grams of fat. Additionally, strawberries are considered a simple sugar consisting of glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Because of their fiber content, they score 40 on the glycemic index, which is fairly low. (Healthline)

Strawberries also contain many powerful heart-healthy nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants such as Vitamin C, manganese, potassium, and folate. Vitamin C helps strengthen our immune system and is good for our skin.

Manganese and Potassium both contribute to many important bodily functions; and Folate is an essential vitamin that strengthens tissue growth and cell function. Strawberries also contain iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B6, K, and E. (Healthline)

The antioxidants and plant compounds found in strawberries not only protect the heart but also help control blood sugar as well – these include pelargonidin, ellagic acid, ellagitannins, and procyanidins. In fact, it’s pelargonidin that makes strawberries that gorgeous bright red hue. (Healthline)

For these reasons, many studies show that consuming strawberries reduces the risk of many chronic diseases and can improve heart health, lower blood sugar levels, decrease cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and help prevent cancer by reducing oxidative stress within our bodies that result in chronic inflammation. In fact, studies demonstrate that strawberries can inhibit tumor formation in animals with mouth cancer and in human liver cancer cells. (Healthline)

Just like many fruit, strawberries are incredibly delicious in their fresh raw form, but they’re also super tasty when cooked down for a few minutes, creating this super simple sauce. In fact, this Strawberry Sauce doesn’t get much more simple – the process, as well as the ingredients.

To make this Strawberry Sauce, prepare the strawberries by rinsing them in clean water to remove any debris. Them hull them by removing their stem on the top and slice them. You can also halve them or chop them. It depends on how you prefer your Strawberry Sauce. I like slicing the strawberries.

Then simply combine all of the ingredients in a large saucepan and simmer for five to ten minutes, stirring occasionally. The strawberries will begin to break down creating the Strawberry Sauce, which will thicken slightly. During this cooking transition, the strawberries will lose some of their pigment, which transfers to the sauce. It’s important to note that the length of time you cook your Strawberry Sauce depends on how firm or soft (broken down) you prefer your strawberries.

Once you’re satisfied with the consistency and texture, turn off the heat and allow the Strawberry Sauce to cool at least ten minutes before serving. The Strawberry Sauce can be used immediately or stored in a covered air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. It’s important to note that the Strawberry Sauce may thicken slightly when it cools.

How do you plan to use this Strawberry Sauce? I’d love to see!

I think this Strawberry Sauce is delicious served warm over oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, French toast, crepes, blintzes, and ice cream.  It’s also great served chilled with yogurt or in a yogurt parfait, atop cheesecake, with scones or muffins, and more. You’re only limited by your imagination.

I hope you enjoy this Strawberry Sauce as much as I do.

I would love to see your results! Please leave a comment and rate it down below, tag a picture @pebblesandtoast and #pebblesandtoast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!   Enjoy!!

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Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh or frozen strawberries (4-5 cups)
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

1. Wash, hull, and slice the strawberries.

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a large saucepan.
2. Bring to a low boil over medium heat and continue to stir until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5-10 minutes.
3. Allow the sauce to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.  It will continue to thicken as it cools.
4. Store in an air-tight covered container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. 

Notes

This sauce thickens beautifully when chilled.  To thin the sauce, reheat for a few minutes or stir in a little water.

This strawberry sauce is delicious served warm over pancakes, ice cream, and crepes.  It’s also great served chilled over yogurt, cheesecake, muffins, yogurt, or in a yogurt parfait.

Strawberry Sauce

Rachele (Pebbles and Toast)

A super easy vibrant strawberry sauce bursting with flavor! Made with fresh or frozen strawberries. Delicious served over pancakes, waffles, ice cream, yogurt, crepes, blintzes, cheesecake, and more!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Sauces and Dips

Cuisine American, Vegan

Servings 3 cups

Equipment

• stove

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound fresh or frozen strawberries 4-5 cups
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest

Instructions

 

• Wash, hull, and slice the strawberries.
• Combine all of the ingredients in a large saucepan.
• Bring to a low boil over medium heat and continue to stir until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5-10 minutes.
• Allow the sauce to cool at least 10 minutes before serving. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Store in an air-tight covered container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Notes

This sauce thickens beautifully when chilled. To thin the sauce, reheat for a few minutes or stir in a little water.

This strawberry sauce is delicious served warm over pancakes, ice cream, and crepes. It’s also great served chilled over yogurt, cheesecake, muffins, yogurt, or in a yogurt parfait.

Keyword fruit, gluten-free, oil-free, plant-based, sauce, strawberries, strawberry, vegan