Submitted by nicole on Wed, 05/24/2017 - 13:42

Looking for an easy summer dessert? Whip up a batch of homemade strawberry sauce to top your ice cream. My pastry-chef/microbiologist mother created the recipe and technique for this homemade strawberry sauce, and WOW is it delicious!

Homemade strawberry sauce with vanilla ice cream, topped with a fresh strawberry.

This homemade strawberry sauce is easy to make, and is full of so much amazing, fresh berry flavor! Even if you really don't care for the jarred stuff from the store (I don't like it, either), if you like strawberries, you'll love this ice cream topping.

Homemade strawberry sauce ice cream topping in a glass jar on a white background.

Even the color looks bright and fresh, doesn't it? And with no artificial colors!

Homemade strawberry sauce in a mason jar, next to strawberries and a strawberry print apron.

You could put this on plain yogurt, or heck, just eat it with a spoon.

Homemade strawberry sauce being poured over vanilla ice cream.

But over good vanilla ice cream? Mmm, that's heaven.

Homemade Strawberry Sauce Ice Cream Topping Recipe:

Homemade strawberry sauce ice cream topping in a mason jar, surrounded by fresh strawberries.

This recipe takes about 15 minutes to make, and is very simple and unfussy.

Ingredients for homemade strawberries on a wooden cutting board.

Homemade Strawberry Sauce Ingredients:

3 cups of strawberries, chopped
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon corn starch
pinch salt
1 teaspoon commercial jam or jelly (optional)

Fresh strawberries chopped and in three white bowls.

Chop your strawberries and divide into three equal portions.

Homemade strawberry sauce being cooked in a pot on the stovetop, with a wooden spoon in the pot.

Put the sugar and the first cup of strawberries in a pot, and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

After the first five minutes of cooking, add the second cup of chopped strawberries. Cook, stirring, for an additional five minutes

Add the third cup of strawberries, the salt, and the corn starch. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the teaspoon of commercial jam. That's a trick my mom learned in pastry school. Commercial jellies and jams have SO many preservatives, that if you add just a tiny bit to your fresh berry sauce, it will help it last a lot longer, but it won't change the brilliant fresh flavor of your homemade sauce. This step is optional, but is wise if you're going to keep the strawberry sauce for more than a couple days.

Homemade Strawberry Sauce in a mason jar on a white surface covered with red checkered tablecloth and fresh strawberries.