Strawberry Coulis

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This easy strawberry coulis recipe is an absolute winner - a deliciously simple sauce that can take any dessert up a notch. It's a breeze to make, and once you made it once will make it time and again. It's a classic sweet sauce that is versatile and wonderfully flavorful.

A half full glass jar of strawberry coulis with a spoon inside.

Pour this smooth sauce over your favorite ice cream for a decadent dessert to die for! Or keep it simple and add it to your brunch-time yogurt or oats.

However you want to use it, this strawberry coulis recipe is just delightful.

Why you'll love strawberry coulis

This delicious strawberry sauce is so easy! It's just a case of throwing some ingredients in a pan, whizzing them together with an immersion blender and voilá!
It's the perfect sauce for the whole family
Fresh strawberry coulis can be served with ice cream, pancakes and all kinds of desserts, so it's very versatile
The intense strawberry flavor is wonderful and elevates any recipe
You can use leftover berries, mango, peaches, or any other kind of fruit to make different variations

Equipment you'll need for this recipe

Before you start making this homemade strawberry coulis recipe there are a few items that you'll need:

Fine mesh sieve – a fine mesh strainer will help remove seeds from your strawberry sauce
Saucepan – you'll need to invest in a quality stainless steel pan to cook this homemade strawberry coulis
Scales – use a quality set of kitchen scales to get the right measurements

How to make strawberry coulis

You need fresh strawberries, sugar and lemon juice for this recipe.

Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved.

Crank up the heat and let it simmer for a few minutes.

Transfer to a food processor and blend until smooth.

This is an optional step. If you like your sauce perfectly smooth, sieve the sauce in a bowl and let it cool before storing in the fridge. Serve with your favorite desserts. Enjoy!

Top tip

Don't try and guess the measurements as you won't get that perfect consistency.

What to serve with simple strawberry coulis

Over Desserts

Panna Cotta: Drizzle this thick sauce over white chocolate panna cotta for a sweet and tangy contrast.
Cheesecake: Spoon the coulis over a classic cheesecake to add a burst of fruit flavor and vibrant color.
Ice Cream: Pour the coulis over vanilla or chocolate ice cream for a refreshing, fruity topping. You could also serve it as a sublime sauce in ice cream sundaes.
Pavlova: Top a pavlova with whipped cream and fresh berries, then drizzle the strawberry coulis over the top.

With Breakfast

Pancakes or Waffles: Use the coulis as a topping for pancakes, waffles, or French toast instead of syrup.
Yogurt or Oatmeal: Stir the coulis into Greek yogurt, frozen yogurt, overnight oats, or oatmeal for a fruity, flavorful breakfast.
Smoothies: Add a spoonful of coulis to your smoothie for extra sweetness and strawberry flavor.

On Baked Goods

Cakes: Use the coulis as a filling between cake layers, or drizzle it over the top of a pound cake or sponge cake.
Cupcakes: Fill the center of cupcakes with strawberry coulis for a surprise inside.
Scones: Serve the coulis alongside scones with clotted cream for a sweet and tangy complement.

As a Sauce

Over Meringues: Pair with crisp meringues for a light and airy dessert with a tangy topping.
With Chocolate Desserts: Drizzle over chocolate mousse, flourless chocolate cake, or brownies to cut through the richness. It would work beautifully with this chocolate delice!
With Cheeseboards: Use the coulis as a sweet dip or spread for a cheese board, particularly with creamy or tangy cheeses like brie, goat cheese, or ricotta.

In Drinks

Cocktails: Stir the coulis into a glass of sparkling wine, champagne, or a cocktail for a fruity twist.
Lemonade or Iced Tea: Mix a spoonful of coulis into lemonade or iced tea for a refreshing and flavorful drink.

Variations to this recipe

Spiced Strawberry Coulis: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the mixture for a subtle spice. This works particularly well if serving the coulis with fall or winter desserts.
Herb-Infused Coulis: Add a few fresh basil or mint leaves to the strawberries as they cook. Remove the leaves before blending for a fresh, aromatic twist on the traditional coulis.
Alcohol-Infused Coulis: Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of a liqueur like Grand Marnier, Chambord, or even balsamic vinegar after the coulis has finished cooking and been blended. This adds depth and complexity to the flavor.

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Popular substitutions

Honey or Maple Syrup

Replace the white sugar with an equal amount of honey or maple syrup for a different flavor profile. Keep in mind that this may slightly alter the sweetness and consistency.

Icing sugar

You can also use powdered sugar in place of regular sugar when making coulis recipes.

Stevia or Other Sweeteners

Use a low-calorie sweetener like Stevia, but adjust the amount based on the sweetness level of the alternative sweetener.

Fresh Lemon Juice

Lime Juice: Substitute lemon juice with lime juice for a slightly different citrus note.
Orange Juice: Use this for a silky sauce with a less acidic flavor.

Strawberries

Mixed Berries: Use a combination of berries like raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries instead of or in addition to strawberries for a mixed berry coulis.
Frozen Berries: If fresh strawberries aren’t available, frozen berries work perfectly fine. Just thaw them slightly before cooking.
Different fruit: Make this recipe with a different types of fresh fruit. Swap out strawberries for raspberries to make this a raspberry coulis. You could even use blueberries for a blueberry coulis recipe.

Top tips

Use a fine mesh sieve for an extra smooth strawberry puree.
If you don't have a blender you can use a potato masher to make a chunky sauce.

What makes a sauce a coulis?

A coulis is a thin silky sauce made from cooked, blended and strained fruits. It can be made from all kinds of different fruits, including strawberry, raspberry, apricot and peach. Coulis are typically drizzled over desserts like ice cream or pancakes.

A coulis (/kuːˈliː/ koo-LEE) is a form of thin sauce made from puréed and strained vegetables or fruits. A vegetable coulis is commonly used on meat and vegetable dishes, and it can also be used as a base for soups or other sauces. Fruit coulis are most often used on desserts.

The word coulis – pronounced koo-LEE – means flowing or running in Old French, which refers to the flowing texture of the sauce.

What is strawberry coulis made of?

Strawberry coulis is made from puréed and strained strawberries that have been simmered with sugar and fresh lemon juice.

Do you use fresh or frozen strawberries for coulis?

Fresh strawberries shine in a coulis recipe. You can use frozen strawberries, but I much prefer using the fresh variety.

What is the difference between strawberry coulis and strawberry compote?

Both are a smooth fruit sauce, yet the main difference is that coulis can be made using cooked down fruit or fresh fruit, whereas a compote is always cooked until softened.

What is the difference between fruit puree and coulis?

A fruit sauce purée is not cooked, whereas a coulis can be made using uncooked fruit or, as in the case of this simple strawberry coulis recipe, by cooking the fruit on a medium heat before whizzing it up with an immersion blender or food processor.

What is the recommended rate of sugar to fruit when making a strawberry sauce?

For the perfect strawberry coulis, use half a cup of sugar to one pound of strawberries. You can scale up or down as you want, but keep this ratio the same.

How long can you keep fruit coulis?

Fresh strawberry coulis keeps for up to four days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How can I make my coulis thicker?

Cornstarch or arrowroot are both great for thickening a coulis. You could also use a suitable cornstarch or arrowroot powder substitute.

Mix the powder with an equal amount of water to create a paste. Pour this paste into the cooking pot and whisk continuously over a high heat until the sauce starts to thicken.

When is strawberry season?

Fresh strawberries are the best when it comes to making homemade strawberry sauce. You're most likely to find locally grown strawberries during the summer months.

Strawberry coulis on top of ice cream scoops.

How do you store strawberry sauce?

Refrigeration

Once cooled, transfer the coulis to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days.

Freezing

If you want to store it for longer, you can freeze strawberry coulis. Pour the coulis into a freezer-safe container or an ice cube tray for easy portioning. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To use, thaw the coulis in the refrigerator overnight. Stir well before serving, as it may separate slightly after freezing.

Handling Leftovers

If you've frozen the coulis in ice cube trays, you can easily thaw just the amount you need by taking out a few cubes at a time.
Stir the coulis before using it if it has been sitting in the refrigerator, as some separation may occur.

More sensational strawberry recipes

Once you've made this irresistible strawberry sauce, satisfy that sweet tooth by making more classic strawberry recipes:

Strawberry Cheesecake – creamy, rich, and bursting with fresh strawberry flavor, this no bake cheesecaek recipe is ideal for spring or summer get-togethers.
Strawberry Flan – a wonderful flaky base with a delicious custard filling and strawberry sauce topping
Strawberry blackberry banana smoothie – fresh, fruity and it tastes like a dream, this smoothie is the perfect accompaniment to hot summer days
Strawberry curd – this smooth and flavorful strawberry curd is the perfect topping for desserts and makes for a delicious colorful addition to breakfast dishes.

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