My super easy homemade strawberry sauce from frozen strawberries is just what you need to elevate all your desserts and breakfast favorites. It's a simple strawberry coulis recipe made with just 3 ingredients and ready in less than 15 minutes!
Why You'll Love My Recipe
Also known as a coulis, there is so much to love about this simple strawberry sauce with frozen strawberries! Not only is it delicious but you can make it year-round. I love that I don't have to wait for strawberry season or break the bank.
It's perfect drizzled over desserts, pancakes, waffles, and ice cream as well as spread between layers of cakes, oatmeal, and brownies. Homemade strawberry coulis just makes everything taste a little more special.
Kim's Tips For Success
To make sure your frozen strawberry sauce turns out perfect every time, here are my best tips. They can make a big difference in flavor and texture, so don’t skip them!
- Strain for Smoothness: To achieve a smooth sauce, I strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any seeds. If you prefer a bit of texture, you can skip this step.
- Simmer to Thicken: Because this is a strawberry sauce with frozen strawberries without cornstarch I let the sauce simmer until it coats the back of a spoon. It should be thick enough but still easy to pour.
- Adjust to Taste: Frozen strawberries can vary in sweetness, so don’t be afraid to adjust the sugar or lemon juice to get the intense strawberry flavor just right.
- Experiment with Berries: You can use my easy strawberry coulis recipe with other frozen berries like raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries too.
Ingredients
This recipe keeps things simple with just a few ingredients that you can find at any grocery store.
- Frozen Strawberries: Using frozen berries makes this recipe convenient and affordable year-round. I typically use organic strawberries for the best flavor.
- Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the natural tartness of the berries and helps to create the perfect consistency.
- Water: Helps the frozen strawberries cook down into a sauce.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Brightens the flavor and enhances the natural sweetness of the berries.
How To Make
Learning how to make strawberry sauce with frozen strawberries is as easy as it gets. Follow my steps and it will turn out perfectly in just a few minutes.
Soften the Strawberries: I start by adding the frozen strawberries, sugar, and water to a medium saucepan. Then I simmer the mixture over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries are fully thawed, soft, and releasing their juices. When ready, the sugar should be fully dissolved.
Puree: I transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and puree until nice and smooth. If you like a chunkier texture, skip this step and leave the cooked strawberries whole.
Strain the Sauce: Once blended, I strain the strawberry mixture with a fine-mesh sieve back into the saucepan to remove any seeds. I like to use a rubber spatula to help push it through. This step is optional but a common step in a strawberry coulis recipe.
Simmer to Thicken: At this point, if the sauce seems too thin I return the sauce to the stove and let it simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Add Lemon Juice: After I reach the consistency I want, I stir in 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice. Then I taste the sauce and add more lemon juice if needed.
Cool and Serve: To finish, I let the sauce cool to room temperature, then store it or serve it right away. It will thicken slightly as it cools.
✏️ Recipe Card! Scroll down to my easy strawberry sauce recipe at the bottom of the post for the exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
This strawberry coulis sauce recipe is really versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to customize it!
- Vanilla: Add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste after cooking for a touch of aromatic flavor. For the best flavor, I recommend using pure vanilla extract.
- Citrus Zest: Stir in a teaspoon of orange, lime, or lemon zest for an extra layer of citrus.
- Spices: A pinch of cinnamon gives the sauce a warm, spiced flavor. I also find that cardamom works well. You could even add a pinch of my homemade masala chai spice.
- Mixed Berries: Swap out some of the strawberries for other frozen berries like raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries. I love making mixed berry sauce.
- Herbal Twist: Add a few leaves of fresh mint or basil while the sauce is simmering. This will add a subtle herbal note.
How to Use
- Desserts: You can drizzle it over any dessert you can think of. Strawberry sauce for vegan cheesecake using frozen strawberries is a total time saver! I also love to pair it with my vegan almond flour cake or use it to make panna cotta.
- Breakfast: Spoon it onto all your breakfast favorites like pancakes, waffles, or French toast. You can even stir it into oatmeal or yogurt.
- Drinks: Stir a spoonful into sparkling water or cocktails for a fruity twist. You could even add it to plant-based milk.
- Ice Cream: Use it as a strawberry topping for sundaes or swirl it into homemade vegan ice cream. Then add a dollop of my vegan whipped cream!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Store the strawberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a couple of hours when you're ready to use.
Yes! You can use a sugar-free sweetener. Just keep in mind that the taste and texture may vary slightly depending on the sweetener you choose.
If your sauce is too thin, it likely didn’t simmer long enough. Return it to the stove and let it simmer over medium-low heat for a few more minutes. It should coat the back of a spoon when ready.
Of course! I love using fresh berries when they are in season. However, since they release less liquid than frozen ones, you may need to add a bit more water to help them cook down.
If your sauce tastes too tart, try adding a bit more sugar to balance the flavor.
⭐️ One Last Thing! If you make my delicious strawberry sauce from frozen strawberries recipe please leave a review and rating to let me know how you liked it! Doing so helps other readers and me too! Your feedback makes a difference.
Strawberry Sauce From Frozen Strawberries
Ingredients
- 1 lb frozen strawberries
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoon water
- 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine the frozen strawberries, sugar, and water in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries are fully thawed and soft, and the sugar has completely dissolved.
- Transfer the strawberry mixture to a food processor or blender and puree until completely smooth. You can skip this step if you want a chunky sauce.
- Strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve back into the saucepan to remove any seeds.
- If the sauce is thinner than you'd like, simmer over medium-low heat for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until it thickens. It's typically good once it coats the back of a spoon.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, taste, and add more if needed. The lemon juice should brighten the strawberry flavor without overwhelming it.
- Allow the sauce to cool before serving. It will thicken up a bit.
- Drizzle over cakes, spoon onto ice cream, swirl into yogurt, or use as a topping for pancakes and waffles.
Notes
- To store, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months and thaw before use.
- Adjust the lemon juice to suit your taste—start with less and add more as needed.
- Be patient when thickening the sauce. It should reach a consistency that isn’t runny but still pours easily.
- You can puree the sauce or or leave it chunky.
- This recipe will work with any type of frozen berries.
Kim Grimmett says
So easy and perfect for any dessert. I love that I can make it with frozen strawberries year round.