Indulge your tastebuds in this Strawberry Topping for Cheesecake! The natural sweetness is absolutely delicious and irresistible, loaded with fresh strawberry flavor. This strawberry cheesecake topping is not just for cheesecake! Serve it on waffles, sponge cake, ice cream, and more.

Fresh strawberry topping in a serving bowl.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission. Thank you!

Why you’ll love making this easy strawberry sauce recipe

This cheesecake topping takes less than 20 minutes to throw together. Then allow it to cool before adding the strawberry topping to cheesecake, cake, or ice cream!
Making strawberry sauce couldn’t be more straightforward! You blend half of the strawberries before cooking them with a few extra ingredients and then allow the sauce to cool. So simple!
We love to make this sweet strawberry topping recipe ahead and store it in the fridge overnight. It’s ready to use when we need it.
Made with natural ingredients like fresh fruit and lemon juice, there is no red food coloring in this recipe! We do use granulated sugar, but you could easily swap that for coconut sugar or honey if desired.
We ladle this strawberry sauce on pretty much any dessert! Ice cream, cakes, pancakes, you name it. See below for a list of our favorite desserts this strawberry topping goes well with.

Ingredients you’ll need

Ingredients needed, cornstarch, sugar, vanilla extract, strawberries, and fresh lemon juice.

How to make strawberry sauce with step-by-step instructions

A complete printable recipe and the US customary and metric measurements are available in the recipe card below.

Divide the strawberries in half and set aside. Place one half in a food processor or blender and puree.

For easier cleanup, we like to use an immersion blender straight in the pot we’ll be cooking in.

Ingredients in a pan, with lemons and strawberry halves around the pan. — Blend half the strawberries, transfer to a pan, add the additional ingredients, stir, and bring to a boil.

Strawberry sauce in a pan, ready to use. — Add the remaining strawberries, stir, and remove from the heat.

Someone placing a bowl of strawberry topping on a table. — Allow to cool completely before using.

Transfer the blended fresh strawberries to a medium pot and add the cornstarch, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.

Heat over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil.

Remove the pot from the heat and add the remaining strawberries; stir with a wooden spoon to combine and taste; adjust the lemon or sugar if desired.

The sauce thickens as it cools. Allow it to cool completely before using.

When ready to serve, pour the strawberry sauce over the homemade cheesecake, slice, serve with a dollop of whipped cream, and enjoy!

Strawberry sauce in a bowl, a tablespoon rests in it ready to scoop it out.

Recipe notes and expert tips

Fresh or frozen strawberries
You can use either fresh or frozen strawberries for this strawberry sauce recipe. This is handy because in the winter, strawberries may not be as available as they are in summer (strawberry season!). If you’re using frozen strawberries, thaw them the night before, strain them, and prepare them as the recipe is written.
Not thick enough
Keep in mind that this sauce thickens as it cools. If your fresh strawberry sauce is still a little runny, make a cornstarch slurry to thicken it. To do this, mix a teaspoon of cornstarch with a teaspoon of strawberry sauce and mix them together. Add more sauce and mix until it is pourable. Pour the slurry into the pot and mix it over heat until thick.
Lemon juice
We prefer fresh lemon juice for this recipe as it tastes delicious and better than bolled juice. You could substitute lime juice for a fun twist on this homemade strawberry topping.
Smooth sauce
If you’re not a fan of strawberry chunks, you can make this sauce completely smooth by blending all of the strawberries instead of half. Blend all of the strawberries and then continue to follow the recipe as it is written. If you want extra smooth, strain the blended strawberries through a cheesecloth before adding the other ingredients.
Other berries
If you’d like to try a different topping for cheesecake, switch the strawberries for blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, or cherries. You can also do a mixture of berries; stick to the quantity in the recipe.
Hulling strawberries
When you hull strawberries, it means you slice the green stem and leaves from the top.

A delicious bowl of strawberry sauce on a wooden plate, ready to eat.

How to store leftover fresh strawberry topping

Store any leftover strawberry sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Can you freeze strawberry sauce?

You can also freeze strawberry topping for later. Store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before serving.

And while you can’t use the topping for this recipe, if you’re a real fan of strawberries, you have got to try this awesome strawberry Bakewell tart.

What is a good cheesecake recipe for this strawberry sauce?

Cheesecake is quite possibly our favorite dessert. Here are a few tried and tested recipes that go well with strawberry sauce:

What to serve with this homemade strawberry sauce recipe

We made this strawberry topping for cheesecake, but there are plenty of other uses for it!

Mini cheesecakes for individual-sized portions.

Cakes! There are so many cake options to choose from. A few of our favorites include strawberry shortcake cake, vanilla pound cake, angel food cake, strawberry-filled cupcakes, and a classic Victoria sponge cake filling.

Pour it over strawberry or Vanilla ice cream. Delicious!

Strawberry sauce on French toast, pancakes, or waffles is a great idea for breakfast!

And finally, nothing beats dessert pizza for pizza night! This strawberry sauce goes so well with our Nutella Pizza. You’ve got to try it!

Homemade strawberry topping for cheesecake in a serving bowl, with lemons and strawberries around it.

More easy strawberry recipes for you to try

A bowl of freshly made strawberry topping for cheesecake.

Print Pin Recipe

5 from 38 votes