Strawberry Coulis

Strawberry coulis is a simple, 4 ingredient sauce that is perfect for drizzling on ice cream, pancakes, cheesecake, waffles, and more! It’s the best way to make the most of fresh strawberries when they are in their peak season.

about this strawberry coulis

I love a good strawberry coulis. There’s something about that tart and bright intense strawberry flavor that makes my mouth water just thinking about it!

Were you a fan of strawberry syrup when you were a kid? When I was young, I loved strawberry syrup whenever we went out for breakfast. It was my favorite sauce to reach for and it always went straight on my pancakes and waffles.

Of course, this strawberry coulis isn’t that same super sweet syrup. It’s about a million times better! The strawberry sauce it slightly thick, incredibly smooth, tart, tangy, and just the right touch of sweetness.

It’s a gorgeous pop of color on your favorite dessert (like a big ol’ slice of cheesecake!) or breakfast! You’ll love the intense fresh flavor and since it takes only 15 minutes to make, you will make it all summer long while strawberries are at their peak ripeness.

what is a coulis?

A coulis is a sauce! It’s a smooth, thinner sauce that’s made from vegetables or fruits that have been pureed. It’s smoother and thinner than a strawberry compote. Usually it’s used to drizzle over desserts, but it’s also great to drizzle over breakfast items like pancakes, waffles, and more! It’s vegan and also makes a fantastic gift.

ingredients

strawberries – you can use fresh or frozen strawberries for this recipe! If you are using frozen strawberries, be sure to thaw and drain them first so the sauce comes out to the right consistency.

lemon – you will only need one fresh lemon for this recipe. It calls for both the zest and the juice! Fresh lemon juice is definitely preferred for this recipe in particular. You could also use lime juice and lime zest for a different flavor profile.

sugar – I use granulated sugar in this recipe. You can honestly use whatever sugar you prefer, just note it will impact the flavor. Do not use a sweetener like Stevia or Truvia. You could also use honey or maple syrup, if preferred.

this recipe’s must haves

You only need a few simple tools for this recipe. First is a chef’s knife and a cutting board to prep the strawberries.

To prepare the sauce, you will need a saucepan. You can either use an immersion blender right in the saucepan, or pour the mixture into a high-powered blender like a Vitamix to blend.

Strain the sauce with a fine mesh sieve. It’s the best way to make sure the sauce comes out perfectly smooth.

here’s how to make this strawberry coulis recipe

simmer

Simmer strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a saucepan over medium heat. Let it simmer, stirring frequently, until the berries have softened. Do not let the mixture boil. This will take about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat.

blend

Use an immersion blender to high-speed blender to blend the sauce until pureed. You can also pour the mixture into a food processor, blending until smooth to make the thick sauce.

strain

Strain the mixture through a sieve to make it smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

tips for success

use a fine mesh sieve. Using a fine mesh sieve will allow you to strain out the seeds so it’s perfectly smooth.

if it’s too thick. sometimes the coulis can come out a bit of thick if you simmer it too long accidentally! Fortunately, that’s an easy fix. Add 1 Tbsp water at a time until it is the desired consistency (do this after straining!).

make variations. You can use this basic recipe to make a raspberry coulis or blueberry coulis! Simply swap the strawberries for a different berry and proceed with the recipe as instructed.

Desserts to try this coulis on: Raspberry Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake | Smashed Mixed Berry Pavlova | Double Chocolate Chip Waffles | Raspberry Nutella Brie Waffle Sandwiches

can I freeze this strawberry coulis?

Yes! This sauce will last for up to 2 months in the freezer. Start by pouring the sauce into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Pop them out and store in a sealable bag or container. Defrost as many as you would like in the fridge or on the counter.

can I use the strawberry coulis when it’s frozen?

Yes you can! I like to use the cubes to make frozen cocktails or smoothies.

Need some more inspiration for dessert? Check out my desserts recipe page!

how to I use strawberry coulis?

I love a tasty strawberry coulis on so many different things! Here’s a list of my favorites to get you started:

• cheescake
• waffles (like our fluffy strawberry waffles!)
• pancakes
• crepes
• ice cream
• yogurt parfait
• chocolate cake or victoria sponge cake
• oatmeal
• panna cotta
• french toast
• overnight oats

how to store

This strawberry coulis will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cool it down and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. We like to store ours in mason jars. You can also make a double or triple batch and freeze the excess! Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

To reheat, you can simply warm in the microwave or on the stove in a saucepan. However you can also serve this cold if you prefer! I personally like it both ways, depending on what I’m serving the coulis on.

Finally, if you make this easy strawberry coulis recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!