This is my simple, go-to strawberry topping recipe for blintzes, cheesecake, pancakes– basically anything that needs a sweet and juicy berry topping. Strawberry season is just around the corner. That means it’s a great time to find beautiful (and affordable) ripe berries at your local market. You can also use frozen berries, just let them thaw and chop them up before measuring. It’s so easy and so scrumptious!
Passover Note: You can use this topping at Passover if you’re avoiding kitniyot, or if you’re grain free. Use potato starch instead of cornstarch.
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Strawberry Topping
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped fresh strawberries
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch (for Passover, use potato starch)
NOTES
Instructions
- Put chopped strawberries and sugar into a small saucepan. Add 1/3 cup water to cover, stir to blend. Heat mixture over medium high heat until it boils. Stir, then reduce heat to medium.
- Mix cornstarch with 2 tbsp of cold or room temperature water until a thick liquid forms.
- Pour the liquid into the pan, stirring continuously, and continue to stir until well blended. Cook the strawberry mixture over medium for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until it becomes thick and syrupy. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.
- You can serve the topping as-is with a chunky texture, or puree it smooth with an immersion blender. You can also puree it halfway, so that it’s almost smooth but still has some texture. Use for anything that requires a sweet strawberry topping- cheesecake, ice cream sundaes, waffles, or cheese blintzes!
LASHAUNDA ROBINSON says
I loved this sauce I’m putting it on my cheesecake.. THANKS
Carmen says
Hi
I was wondering, ive read this recipe but without the cornstarch. What does the cornstarch do?
Tori Avey says
Hi Carmen, the cornstarch thickens the consistency.
Jenny says
Hi! Does this work with blueberries?
Tori Avey says
Hi Jenny, I have a similar blueberry topping recipe in this post: https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2010/05/shavuot-ruth-and-cheesecake
Lauren says
I stopped eating foods with food coloring and since I wont buy strawberry gel anymore I tried this recipe and it was AMAZING!!!! Not only was it easy but it was so yummy!!! Thank you for the recipe, I used it in a strawberry shortcake recipe and I will now use this as a cheesecake topping also! I will also try this recipe with different fruits. Thanks again, for the recipe. The only thing that I noticed was under the ingredients “water”was not listed, it was only listed in the steps of what to do.
Tori Avey says
Hi Lauren, it is a standard practice in recipe composition to include water in the steps rather than the instructions; of course, this may vary based on the style of the individual recipe author. My thinking is that everybody has water in their kitchen so it’s not something you need to include in the list. So glad you enjoyed the topping!
Wendy says
This sauce looked beautiful, but the vanilla flavoring ruined it for me. My son and I both could not eat any. If I make it again, I’ll definitely leave it out.
Tori Avey says
Wendy, so sorry to hear that! The vanilla is my favorite part, I think it makes the sauce special. However you can certainly make it without, it will be a more pure strawberry flavor.
Hailey says
Is this just as good refrigerated and served cold (over cheesecake)?
Tori Avey says
Yes! It’s wonderful chilled.
Naj says
Hi!! Sounds devine … I’m gonna b making some to use over an ice-cream dessert with meringue …
Just wanna know what other fruit can be used ?
Thanx a lot
Tori Avey says
Any berry can be used, Naj. Other sweet fruits like chopped stone fruits will work well too. Enjoy!
Eleanor Newton says
Tried this and loved it. Was wondering if it would work with fresh peaches?
Tori Avey says
Hi Eleanor– yes, it should work well! Glad you liked it. 🙂
Leah says
Hi Tori, I made this topping with the cheese blintzes but the strawberries were losing there color, did I leave it in the pan too long? Or was the temperature to high?
Tori Avey says
Hi Leah, the longer you cook the strawberries the more they will lose their color and take on a “pink” hue. Also some strawberries naturally have a bit less red pigment than others, which will result in a pinker result.
Hilary says
I think in the directions it is suppose to be, “add 1/3 cup of sugar” to the berries in the saucepan, not water. Is that correct? Thanks for the recipe, I will give it a try.
Tori Avey says
Hi Hilary– the instruction reads, “Put chopped strawberries AND SUGAR into a small saucepan. Add 1/3 cup water to cover, stir to blend.” I’ll add the water to the ingredients to clarify.
Shayna says
I am making a 65th birthday party for my husband on Sunday. I just made 75 blintzes and decided to try the sauce. It took me exactly 15 minutes. Looks and smells yummy. can’t wait to have everyone try it.
Tori Avey says
Enjoy Shayna, and happy birthday to your husband!
Cari says
THIS WAS DELICIOUS!!
@Valerie… I wouldn’t worry about the shelf life of this. It’s so delicious, it wouldn’t last long enough in any household to actually go bad. I was honestly eating spoonfuls of this alone. So was everyone else in my house. I had made it to top some “mini cheesecakes” with. I put them in the fridge and the bowl of the topping separately in the fridge, and every time anyone in the house went in the fridge to grab a cheesecake cup, they would put one spoonful on the cheesecake, and follow it with one spoonful in their mouth… myself included.
Sharon says
Although my husband & I keep a kosher home, tonight we are having Italian xmas eve feast at his brother’s house. They are all amazing cooks, and I am really excited took bring my home made cheese cake with this gorgeous and delicious topping. Thank you for the recipe. If I can make it (and I did!) Then it is literally fool proof,
Valerie says
Sounds delicious and am going to make it now but I do have a question… what is the shelf life; how long does this sauce last in the fridge?
Tori Avey says
Hi Valerie! I would guess that it will last around 5 days in the fridge. Honestly it never lasts that long around here, my family loves it!
Mike Baker says
This is so good try it
elyse says
my boyfriend is kosher.. I think he is going to love these
will try it this weekend
Elizabeth says
Hi
sounds super easy and tasty!!!!
can I put this topping in the freezer? will be same?
Tori Avey says
Hi Elizabeth, I have never frozen this topping so I’m not sure. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
mandi says
i am putting this on my pancakes this morning to use up some strawberries. great recipe! 🙂
Emma says
Just made this for a cheese cake topping. Taste great!!! Everybody loves it specially hubby. Thanks!!!!
Tiffany @ DontWastetheCrumbs says
I just made a vanilla bean cheesecake and this is going to the basis for the topping. Thanks for sharing!!
Erika says
I’ve now made this strawberry topping for cheesecake, waffles, and icecream. Very easy and very good. And I think my boyfriend thinks I’m like magic in the kitchen:)