Strawberry Topping for Cheesecake

This strawberry topping for cheesecake is homemade, glossy, and full of sweet berry flavor. It also works beautifully on any dessert including angel food cake, pound cake, ice cream, and layer cake, and even breakfast like pancakes, crepes, and waffles. You'll learn how to make strawberry syrup that turns simple desserts into something special. Save this strawberry cheesecake topping so you have an easy fruit sauce ready anytime.

Pin

Why this is the best Strawberry Topping recipe for Cheesecake and Pancakes

It's a simple recipe with simple ingredients. This strawberry topping for cheesecake uses basic ingredients like strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch, so you may already have most of what you need in your kitchen. If not, everything else should be easy to find at your local grocery store or try the farmer's market for seasonal strawberries (they'll taste even better!).

It's very easy. All you have to do to make this fresh strawberry syrup is to cook the strawberries with sugar and lemon juice until they soften, then thicken the mixture into a glossy sauce. Let it cool completely before spooning it over cheesecake so it does not melt the filling.

Fresh strawberry sauce tastes amazing. The sweet strawberries, light tartness from the lemon juice, and thick syrupy sauce make strawberry syrup taste fresh, fruity, and extra special. It adds the right amount of sweetness without overpowering the creamy cheesecake.

This easy strawberry sauce is great for cheesecakes, desserts, and make-ahead treats. You can prepare this strawberry topping ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve. It is an easy way to make a plain cheesecake look pretty and taste even better. Use it for cheesecake, layer cake, pancakes, waffles, fruit salads, French toast, or strawberry shortcake using angel food cake or pound cake. Or, what about a yogurt parfait with layers of yogurt, granola, and strawberry syrup? That sounds like heaven.

What you'll need to make Strawberry Topping for Cheesecake

Equipment

• Strawberry corer - Or a sharp paring knife will work too.
• Citrus juicer - If you don't have a citrus press, check YouTube for instructions on how to juice a lemon using a fork.
• Small saucepan - The smaller the pan, the better.

Ingredients

See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information .

• Fresh strawberries - These should be cored and sliced thin.
• Granulated white sugar
• Fresh lemon juice - This is less than the juice of a whole lemon
• Rum extract - This is optional and could easily be replaced by almond extract. or even vanilla extract.

How to make strawberry cheesecake topping

1. Mix strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and extract in a small saucepan, then stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a robust simmer, but you don't want a full boil.
2. Lower the heat and simmer the strawberry mixture for ten minutes, then remove from the heat.
   Pin
3. Allow the strawberry topping to cool before serving. Syrup will be thick.
   Pin
4. If desired, you may strain or puree with an immersion blender for a smoother syrup consistency. If using in place of simple syrup in cocktails, straining or pureeing is highly recommended.

Cook's tips for a great recipe

Strawberry syrup thickens as it cools. If your sauce isn't thickening up to your satisfaction, make a slurry using a tablespoon cornstarch with a tablespoon water, then stir that into the strawberry mixture in the saucepan and cook another 5-10 minutes, until bubbly.

The strawberries will cook down a lot, but if you want your strawberry sauce to be a perfectly smooth strawberry syrup, then you should use an immersion blender to get rid of the chunks.

Pin

Substitutions & variations

You can use fresh berries or frozen strawberries for this strawberry topping for cheesecake. Fresh strawberries give the sauce the best flavor and texture, but frozen strawberries work well when berries are not in season. If using frozen strawberries, thaw them first and drain off extra liquid so the topping does not become too thin.

You can adjust the sweetness of homemade strawberry sauce depending on your berries. If your strawberries are very sweet, use a little less sugar; if they are tart, add a bit more. Lemon juice helps brighten the flavor, but you can also use orange juice for a softer citrus flavor.

This simple strawberry sauce can also be made using other berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a mixed berry blend. For a smoother sauce, mash the berries more as they cook or blend the topping after it cools. For a chunkier topping, leave some of the strawberries sliced or halved so you get pieces of fruit in every spoonful.

Pin

Storing leftovers

Store leftover strawberry topping in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let it cool completely before storing, and give it a quick stir before spooning it over cheesecake or other desserts.

You can also store strawberry sauce in the freezer for up to six months. Portion it into ice cube trays, Souper Cubes, or airtight freezer containers before storing. (If using ice cube trays or Souper Cubes, once the strawberry sauce is frozen solid, transfer to a plastic freezer bag; I have not had good luck keeping food in Souper Cubes longterm, and of course, ice cube trays are open to the air which makes freezer burn happen in under three days.)

Thaw overnight in the fridge before heating in the microwave, or you can just use it at room temperature or chilled.

Check out more delicious sauce recipes

• Fresh Raspberry Sauce for Cheesecake, Ice Cream, or Shortcake
• Lemon Syrup for Pancakes and Desserts
• Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce
• Red Lobster Copycat Pina Colada Sauce for Coconut Shrimp
• Sweet Teriyaki Sauce

Recipe