I may love being in the kitchen but I also love an easy recipe as much as the next person. A simple and quick Homemade Strawberry Topping is all you need to elevate any dessert (or even breakfast).
The strawberries at my local were starting to look fat and plump and after picking up a punnet of the juicy, red berries, I was inspired to make this strawberry topping.
For a quicker sauce, try these macerated strawberries.
This recipe will work for most berries and even cherries like the topping on this Easy Baked Cherry Cheesecake though.
Hmmm so, strawberry topping vs strawberry compote?
The only difference between strawberry topping and strawberry compote is the name. Each one will have very slight variations but essentially they are just strawberries stewed with a little fruit juice and sometimes sugar until thick and syrupy.
How to make it
This recipe uses fresh or frozen strawberries. If using fresh, make sure they’re nice and ripe but either way this is super simple to make.
Just place all the ingredients into a saucepan (a heavy based saucepan is best to keep the heat distributed better), and let it heat and simmer for around 15 minutes and you have strawberry topping.
Uses for strawberry topping
This homemade strawberry topping is perfect over cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes, waffles – you name it – see some ideas below:
- Over pancakes or waffles
- Spread on toast
- Over pound cake or tarts
- As a filling for hand pies
- Over cheesecake (Black Forest Cheesecake)
- Baked into cheesecake (Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake)
- Stuffing for a surprise cupcake centre (Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes)
- Baked into bars (Strawberry Cheesecake Bars)
- Over panna cotta (Vanilla Panna Cotta)
Substitutions
You can swap the strawberries for mixed berries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries – the list goes on. Just note that some berries will break down more than others leaving you with a less chunky sauce.
Best picks if you like a chunky sauce would be strawberries, blueberries and cherries.
So do you have some delicious berries and 15 minutes? If you do, you could have a batch of Homemade Strawberry Topping ready to top anything at a moments notice.
Other recipes you might like
- Homemade Strawberry Sauce
- Blueberry Topping
- Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
- Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
- Raspberry Compote
- Fresh Cherry Sauce (Cherry Compote)
IF YOU TRY THIS strawberry topping recipe, please take a moment to leave a rating and comment below. I love hearing from you, and it helps other readers too!
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Homemade Strawberry Topping
Ingredients
- 3 cups hulled & quartered strawberries (frozen or fresh)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (notes 1)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
Makes 1.5 cups
- Place all ingredients in a heavy based saucepan over low heat. Heat gently, stirring occasionally, for around 15 minutes until the strawberries are soft and the juice has thickened slightly.
- Allow to cool, then place in an airtight sterilised jar, in the fridge and use within 2 weeks.
- Please take a moment to rate this recipe. I helps me to keep creating free recipes and helps other readers too.
Notes
- I use a standard Australian 20ml tablespoon (equals 4 teaspoons worldwide)
- Homemade Strawberry Topping will keep in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
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22 Comments on “Homemade Strawberry Topping”
Looks delicious. Can you can these? I would love to make a few jars to have for later use.
Hi Paula. No, this is just a quick sauce and not a preserve and, while I haven’t tested, it likely won’t hold up to canning for extended periods. It does freeze fine though.
Love it. Perfect and easy THANKYOU
So happy to hear it, Nola. Thanks for commenting 🙂
Easy and amazing, my entire family loves this recipe. Goes great with Yorkshire pudding and scones.
So happy you love it, Cece.
I’m going to make this and just realized I don’t have a lemon for zest. Can I just add more lemon juice?
Hi Mary, no just leave the zest out.
Hi love your stuff! One of your recipe notes says u use an Australian tablespoon (20ml) is that for ALL your recipes or just the one specified bc the American and Australian tablespoons are a teaspoon of difference and looking to try a few recipes 😁
Thank you so much, Sarah. Yes, all tablespoons in my ingredients list are using a 20ml tablespoon (so where I mention a tablespoon, it’s 4 teaspoons). I wish tablespoons were uniform the world over 😅
Have you ever canned this?
No Amber, it’s only a small quantity so I always use it all up.
I really Love it so ya my.
Thank you my dear.
thank you so much 🙂
Does using frozen strawberries taste any less fresh or should I get fresh strawberries?
Fresh and in-season is better but frozen do work well. Sometimes just not quite as sweet.
This was just the perfect sauce for cheesecake! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much, Liz. I’m so happy you loved it
I absolutely love this topping it was perfect
Thanks so much Leticia 🙂
Strawberry compote is so easy to make. I fall back on this recipe when I overload on strawberries and don’t know what else to do with them. I love this with ice cream, just the best!
Yum, I feel like some ice cream now