This Easy Homemade Strawberry Topping is the perfect way to elevate your favorite desserts! It’s a simple, vibrant, and incredibly flavorful sauce made with fresh (or frozen) strawberries, sugar, and a touch of vanilla and lemon. I absolutely adore making this Strawberry Topping when strawberries are in season – like right now in beautiful April! It’s fantastic drizzled over cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes, waffles, yogurt… the possibilities are endless. It’s so much better than store-bought and surprisingly easy to whip up!

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Topping

Fresh Strawberry Flavor: Packed with the taste of sweet, juicy strawberries.
Quick and Easy: Comes together quickly on the stovetop with simple ingredients.
Versatile: An amazing topping for countless desserts and breakfast items.
Better Than Store-Bought: Control the sweetness and ingredients without artificial additives.
Perfect Use for Berries: A great way to use up fresh strawberries, or works well with frozen too.

Ingredients for Strawberry Topping

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious fruit topping. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Main Ingredients

Quartered strawberries, divided (Fruit)
White sugar (Sweetener)
Water (Liquid)
Vanilla extract (Flavoring)
Lemon juice (Acid)
Cornstarch (Thickener)
Salted butter (Fat)
Red food coloring (optional) (Coloring)

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)

Variations

I love the classic flavor of this Strawberry Topping, but here are some tasty variations:

Different Berries: Use raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a mixed berry blend instead of strawberries.
Add Citrus Zest: Stir in some lemon zest or orange zest along with the lemon juice for extra brightness.
Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom for a warmer flavor.
Make it Boozy: Stir in a tablespoon of Grand Marnier, Chambord, or rum at the end (off the heat).
Less Sweet: Reduce the amount of sugar to your preference, especially if using very sweet, ripe berries.

Simmering the strawberries in a saucepan for Strawberry Topping.

How to Make Strawberry Topping

Let me show you how easy it is to make this delicious Strawberry Topping:

Cook the Strawberries

In a saucepan over medium heat, I stir together 1 ½ cups of the quartered strawberries, the granulated sugar, and ½ cup of water until the sugar is dissolved.
I heat the mixture to boiling, stirring often.
Once boiling, I reduce the heat.
Then add the vanilla extract and lemon juice.

Thicken the Sauce

In a small cup, I combine the cornstarch and two tablespoons of water. I mix it well to create a smooth slurry.
I pour this cornstarch slurry into the boiling strawberry mixture.
I stir and boil over medium-low heat for 4 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened a bit.

Finish the Sauce

I remove the pan from the heat.
I add the 1 tablespoon of salted butter and mix until the butter has completely melted. This adds a nice richness.
If I’d like my strawberry syrup to have a more vibrant red color, I add a few drops of red food coloring now. This is completely optional.

Add Fresh Berries and Cool

I allow the cooked mixture to cool for about 15 minutes.
Then, I add the last cup of quartered, fresh strawberries and stir to mix. Adding fresh berries at the end gives the topping a wonderful texture and bursts of fresh flavor.
Cool to room temperature.

Tips and Tricks for the BEST Strawberry Topping

Here are my secrets for making this Strawberry Topping truly exceptional:

Use Ripe Strawberries: For the best flavor, use ripe, sweet strawberries, especially for the fresh ones added at the end.
Cornstarch Slurry: Always mix cornstarch with cold water before adding it to hot liquids to prevent lumps.
Don’t Overcook: Simmer just until the sauce thickens; it will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Fresh Berries at the End: Adding fresh berries after cooking provides great texture and fresh flavor contrast.
Adjust Sweetness: Taste the sauce and add more sugar if your berries are tart, or less if they are very sweet.

How to Serve

This Strawberry Topping is incredibly versatile! Serve it warm or cold over:

Cheesecake: A classic and perfect pairing.
Ice Cream: Drizzle generously over vanilla, strawberry, or even chocolate ice cream.
Pancakes, Waffles, or French Toast: Elevate your breakfast or brunch!
Yogurt or Oatmeal: Stir it into plain yogurt or oatmeal for flavor and sweetness.
Pound Cake or Angel Food Cake: A simple yet elegant dessert topping.
Shortcakes: Use it as the star component for strawberry shortcake.

Strawberry Topping drizzled over cheesecake, pancakes, or ice cream.

Make Ahead and Storage

This topping is perfect for making ahead! Once cooled completely, store the Strawberry Topping in an airtight container (like a mason jar) in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

FAQs about Strawberry Topping

Can I use frozen strawberries?
- Yes, frozen strawberries work well for the cooked part of the sauce. You can also use thawed frozen strawberries for the portion added at the end, though fresh berries provide the best texture.
Can I make this without cornstarch?
- Yes, you can simmer the sauce for longer to reduce and thicken it naturally, but it will take more time and yield slightly less sauce. You could also use arrowroot powder as a substitute.
Can I freeze this topping?
- Yes, this sauce freezes well. Let it cool completely, transfer to a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Enjoy this vibrant, flavorful, and incredibly Easy Homemade Strawberry Topping! It’s the perfect way to brighten up your favorite desserts and breakfasts.