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Strawberry Puree

Homemade Strawberry Puree is incredible on baked goods, pancakes, yogurt, and so much more.
a glass jar full of strawberry sauce with a spoon, lemon, and mint in a wooden board

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Fresh flavorful Strawberry Puree is a great recipe to showcase this wonderful summer fruit without needing to know any special kitchen skills (like canning).  Homemade strawberry sauce is incredible on baked goods, pancakes, yogurt, and so much more. 

a glass jar full of strawberry sauce with a spoon, lemon, and mint in a wooden board

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Summer is such a great time for fresh produce, with the star of the show being strawberries! We grow lots of strawberries in our vertical strawberry towers every year, and making this delicious sauce is a reward for the hours of berry picking each week.

Homemade strawberry puree is one of those incredible ingredients you can make yourself and use in so many different ways. Let me show you to make (and freeze) a batch today!

What is Strawberry Puree Made Of?

Just strawberries (fresh or frozen), lemon juice/zest, and sugar (optional). It’s pure fresh goodness that is delicious on everything! If you’re using fresh strawberries and want to save some of that goodness for later, check out this post on How to Freeze Strawberries.

Grocery store berries are grown for shipment and looks and not really for taste. If you’re dealing with some sad berries that are lacking flavor, macerating them before blending will go a long way to create a tastier sauce.

To macerate strawberries: slice clean berries into quarters and sprinkle with 2 tbsp of sugar and stir gently. Allow them to sit uncovered on your counter for 2-3 hours or in the fridge for at least 5 hours. The sugar will draw out any natural juices in the berries and greatly improve the finished product.

a glass bowl of strawberris with a lemon and a dish of sugar

How Do You Make Strawberry Sauce From Scratch?

It’s super easy! Blend your berries, lemon, and sugar (if using) in a food processor, blender, or using a stick/immersion blender. That’s it! The sauce will be delicious with a thin consistency. It’s great for using on whole wheat pancakes, incorporating into Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream, or drizzled over cold start Instant Pot yogurt.

2 photos showing strawberries in a food processor

You’ll also love adding it to drinks like a Virgin Mojito, Instant Pot Iced Tea, or a Moscow Mule Mocktail. 

If you want a thicker strawberry sauce for cheesecake or baked goods, you’ll want to make a strawberry reduction. This is also bonkers easy to make. You’ll take the puree you made above and cook it down in a saucepan for 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened. It will have the delicious consistency of Strawberry Freezer Jam.

Do you want to remove all the seeds from your sauce? Place a fine-mesh strainer over a clean bowl and pour the blended berries into the strainer. You may need to “push” the sauce through with a silicone spatula or wooden spoon to get every last drop. You can also use this filtered sauce as the base for homemade Strawberry Syrup.

strawberry seeds in a mesh strainer placed over a bowl

How Long Does Strawberry Puree Last in the Fridge?

If you use lemon juice and sugar, your strawberry sauce is good for up to five days. No lemon juice or sugar? Make sure you enjoy it within three days. 

To freeze, place in ice cube trays or small canning jars (4 and 8 oz are my favorites), and store for 3-6 months.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

  • If using frozen strawberries, allow them to fully defrost before blending. This will prevent the sauce from becoming watered down as it defrosts further.
  • Scrape a bit of vanilla seed (or use Vanilla Extract) and mix it into the sauce for an even more delicious flavor.
  • If you’re using a high-powered blender, make sure you “pulse” or blend on low to process the fruit. Something like a Vitamix or Blendtec will liquify rather than “sauce” the berries if you’re not too careful.
pound cake on a dish topped with homemade strawberry puree and whipped cream

WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS

One serving of Strawberry Puree has 0 WW Freestyle SmartPoints (when sugar is omitted).

a glass jar full of strawberry sauce with a spoon, lemon, and mint in a wooden board
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Strawberry Puree {Homemade Strawberry Sauce}

Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time0 mins
Optional Cook Time10 mins
Total Time20 mins
Homemade Strawberry Puree is incredible on baked goods, pancakes, yogurt, and so much more.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups strawberries {hulled and quartered}
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp sugar {optional}

Instructions

Strawberry Puree

  • Wash berries, remove the green tops and cut into quarters (eights for huge strawberries).
    4 cups strawberries
  • In a food processor or blender, "pulse" the berries until the consistency is smooth.
  • Stir in lemon juice and optional sugar.
    1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp sugar

{Optional} Strawberry Reduction

  • Take the puree and cook it down in a saucepan for 10-15 minutes over medium-low heat until the sauce has thickened. Stir often.

Notes

Remove seeds by pressing sauce through a fine-mesh strainer.
 
If you use lemon juice and sugar, your strawberry sauce is good for up to five days in the fridge. No lemon juice or sugar? Enjoy within three days. 
 
To freeze, place in ice cube trays or small canning jars, and store for 3-6 months.
Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Puree {Homemade Strawberry Sauce}
Amount Per Serving (3 tbsp)
Calories 12 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 46mg1%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 4IU0%
Vitamin C 18mg22%
Calcium 5mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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2 comments on “Strawberry Puree”

  1. 10/10 would recommend! I usually am solely focused on jam, but had enough good berries to expand to something else and this was perfect to have on hand over several months. Pulled out of freezer for cocktails, to stir into yogurt and once just to eat.