Description
A quick and versatile homemade strawberry sauce made with fresh berries, lightly sweetened, and optionally brightened with orange zest and juice. Perfect for topping desserts, breakfast dishes, or mixing into yogurt.
Ingredients
4 cups fresh strawberries, rinsed and quartered
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons warm water
Optional: 1 teaspoon orange zest
Optional: 2 tablespoons orange juice
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together the warm water and cornstarch until dissolved.
- Add the strawberries, sugar, cornstarch mixture, and (if using) orange juice and zest to a saucepan.
- Bring to a slow boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, and cook for 5–7 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- For a smoother texture, remove 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the strawberries, puree them, and stir back into the sauce.
- Allow the sauce to cool at room temperature before transferring it to a jar for storage.
Notes
You can use frozen strawberries; no need to thaw before cooking.
Replace sugar with honey or maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
Add balsamic vinegar for a tangy twist.
Fresh mint leaves can be stirred in after cooking for a refreshing taste.
Swap orange zest and juice for lemon for a sharper citrus note.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
