This article provides everything you need to know to make a delectable keto strawberry sauce, the perfect topping for cheesecakes, pancakes, waffles, and more. This sugar-free strawberry sauce recipe uses just a few simple ingredients and is ready in under 15 minutes! Whether you're following a ketogenic, low-carb, gluten-free, or sugar-free diet, this versatile sauce is a fantastic way to add a burst of fresh strawberry flavor to your favorite desserts and breakfast items.
Why You'll Love This Keto Strawberry Sauce
There are many reasons to adore this sugar-free strawberry sauce recipe:
- Simple Ingredients: Requiring less than five simple ingredients, this keto-friendly recipe is easy to make. Plus, if you’ve been making gluten-free or refined sugar free baked goods, you likely already have them on hand.
- Easy Recipe: Simply add the ingredients to a saucepan, heat, and stir occasionally. It’s ready in less than 15 minutes.
- No Added Sugar: Whether you are looking for a strawberry compote, low carb strawberry sauce or strawberry sauce without sugar, this easy recipe has you covered.
- Versatile: This sauce is perfect on sugar free cheesecakes, ice cream, custard and pancakes.
Key Ingredients for Keto Strawberry Sauce
This easy strawberry sauce uses basic ingredients:
- Strawberries: Frozen strawberries are often preferred because they taste great even when it’s not strawberry season. Plus, using frozen strawberries helps cut down on prep time since you don’t have to wash or cut the stems off. You can use fresh strawberries though if you wish. If using fresh strawberries, clean them thoroughly and chop off their stems prior to cooking the sauce.
- Keto Sweetener: Granular Monk Fruit Erythritol is a great option for added sweetness. But, you can use any sugar substitute or keto-friendly sweetener that you prefer. Some are sweeter than others, so you may have to adjust amounts accordingly. Swerve is a one-to-one substitution for regular sugar as its sweetness level is quite comparable to regular sugar. A powdered erythritol and monk fruit sweetener blend that is a 1:1 sugar replacement also works well. Pure erythritol, allulose or xylitol will work just as well.
- Xanthan Gum (Optional): Xanthan Gum helps give the sauce a thicker consistency. (If you need another thickener due to dietary limitations, comment in the Comments section below.)
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice gives the sauce a nice lift and also helps to preserve it.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to make this simple keto strawberry sauce:
- Prepare the Strawberries: Hull and slice the strawberries. If using frozen strawberries, thaw them slightly before cooking. Cut each strawberry into quarters, unless they’re small.
- Blend (Optional): For a smoother sauce, put the hulled and sliced strawberries in a blender and blend to a smooth puree. If you prefer a chunkier sauce, skip this step.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium-sized saucepan, add the strawberries (pureed or chopped), keto sweetener, and lemon juice (if using).
- Cook the Sauce: Set your burner to low-medium heat. Cook on medium until the strawberries defrost. If you're using a strawberry puree, heat the strawberry puree in a saucepan over a low-medium heat together with lemon juice and powdered sweetener. Leave it to bubble away gently.
- Simmer: Over medium high heat, simmer for 10 minutes. Stir frequently, smashing strawberries against sides and bottom of pan. Reduce the heat to medium to a light simmer (not a rolling boil) for 10 minutes, stirring and mashing the strawberries as they cook. The berries will reduce and the mixture will thicken. Cook for another 5-10 minutes until the strawberries have reached your desired consistency.
- Thicken (Optional): If using Xanthan Gum, mix the Xanthan Gum with a small amount of a neutral-tasting oil like melted coconut oil to reduce clumping. Add the Xanthan gum to the pan and continue to cook until a syrup forms. Xanthan gum serves as a thickener and cooks quickly so keep an eye on it.
- Cool: Remove the pan from the heat. Allow the sauce to cool. Note that it thickens further as it cools.
Tips for the Perfect Keto Strawberry Sauce
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste the sauce as it cooks and add more sweetener if needed.
- Control the Chunkiness: If you prefer a smoother sauce, use a hand blender after cooking to reduce the strawberry chunks or make a strawberry puree.
- Don't Overcook: Be careful not to overcook the sauce, as it will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Every stove is different: Heat your sauce over medium high heat and stirred it frequently. If your sauce is bubbling a lot, you can turn the heat down a little. You just want the strawberries to soften and break down while they simmer.
Serving Suggestions
This keto strawberry sauce is incredibly versatile. Here are a few ideas:
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Cheesecake Topping: This strawberry topping goes great on regular-sized and mini cheesecakes. First make sure the cake has cooled. Besides that, you should also make sure the sauce is at or close to room temperature too.
- Pancakes and Waffles: This easy keto dessert sauce is actually the perfect way to give your pancakes and waffles extra strawberry flavor. If you prefer a warmer topping, you can heat it for a few seconds in the microwave before using it on your pancakes or waffles.
- Low-Carb Strawberry Shortcake: To make strawberry shortcake using this strawberry sauce, gather a few small cake pans or parfait bowls. Then, make alternating layers of cake, strawberry sauce, and whipped cream.
- Yogurt Parfaits: Mix some of this sauce in with some keto yogurt for an extra special treat.
- Ice Cream Topping: This sauce is amazing served over your favorite keto ice cream.
- Other Desserts: Pour it over low carb cakes and mousses or enjoy with pancakes or on parfaits. Try it on crepes, waffles, these yummy Low Carb Dutch Baby Muffins, scones, keto English muffins, this German Pancake, keto ice cream, cakes, and of course, cheesecake! Try it on these cute little No Bake Mini Cheesecake Cups.
Variations
- Other Berries: If you prefer a different berry, you can follow the same steps but substitute a different berry altogether. For example, you can make sugar-free blueberry sauce and keto raspberry sauce. You can apply the same method to make the strawberry sauce for other berries such as raspberries, blueberries, or a mixture.
- Strawberry Lemon Blueberry Sauce: You can also combine strawberries with other fruits. For example, you could make a strawberry lemon blueberry sauce.
- Vanilla Extract: You can also add vanilla extract to this keto strawberry sauce to add extra flavor and depth.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store your sugar-free sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. When making keto strawberry cheesecake, store this fruity sauce separately. Sugar free strawberry topping will thicken in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: You may freeze the syrup for up to two months if you intend to use it on a later day.
Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?
Yes! In fact, for recipes where the strawberries are cooked, frozen strawberries are often preferred instead of fresh. In this case, blend the sauce AFTER you have cooked the berries. The cooking time would also increase by a few minutes.
Are Strawberries Keto-Friendly?
Strawberries are a popular choice of fruit on a keto diet. 100 g of strawberries contain just 5.68 g of net carbs. This is the lowest net carbs count of all berries.
Keto Strawberry Sauce Recipe
Here's a simple recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 10 ounces strawberries or 2 heaping cups; if frozen, partially thawed
- ½ cup water
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sweetener (such as Monk Fruit Erythritol or Swerve)
- 2 teaspoons tapioca starch for Paleo, AIP, Gluten-free, VAD and Vegan; for Keto, use ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice (optional)
Instructions:
- If your strawberries are fresh, rinse them briefly to wash. If your strawberries are frozen, allow to defrost at room temperature for about 20 minutes, so they're easy to cut. Cut each strawberry into quarters, unless they're small.
- Place fresh or frozen strawberries in a medium-small size saucepan (mine has a 4-cup capacity). Add water and sweetener, and bring to a simmer.
- Lower heat so the strawberries slow-simmer. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While strawberries cook, stir together remaining water and tapioca flour (or with xanthan gum for Keto: sprinkle the xanthan gum on top of the sauce and stir it in. Do not dump the xanthan gum, or it will clump). For non-Keto, add tapioca slurry to the strawberries. Stir and simmer for 1 additional minute until mixture looks thickened and saucy.
- Remove from heat, and add the vanilla. (You may also add fresh lemon juice, if desired.)
- Add optional 1 additional cup of fresh strawberries, chopped, and stir in.
- Serve warm or chilled.
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