These strawberry sundaes are pure childhood bliss! Homemade strawberry sauce, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream are a match made in dessert heaven.
Why you'll love it
My inner 7-year old is ecstatic to share these strawberry ice cream sundaes! I mean, just looking at them fills me with joy. The sweet flavor of the strawberry sauce mixed with the creamy vanilla ice cream is divine.
And let's face it, it isn't a true strawberry sundae without a boatload of whipped cream! Every year we go strawberry picking and come home with four too many buckets of fresh strawberries. So I'm always on the hunt for sweet and savory ways to use them up!
These strawberry sundaes are ready in 15 minutes. You can easily double the strawberry sauce recipe for more servings.
Strawberry Sundae Ingredients
Strawberries - Be sure to use bright red, plump, peak-season berries! The sweeter the berries, the better the sauce! That being said, if it's not strawberry season, no worries. You can use frozen strawberries! Partially thaw them and cut them into chunks first.
Cornstarch - To thicken the sauce mixture so it's not too runny. Honestly, if you don't want to add cornstarch, you can leave it out. You may just have to cook the mixture a bit longer to thicken it.
Lemon juice - A squeeze of fresh lemon juice makes the strawberry flavor pop! If you don't have lemon, a lime works too.
Sugar - To sweeten and thicken the sauce.
How to make a strawberry ice cream sundae
1. Make the Strawberry Sauce
In a small saucepan, combine the water and cornstarch. Stir until combined.
Add the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir to combine.
Cook the strawberries over medium heat until the mixture thickens, about 6 to 8 minutes. Be sure to stir once the mixture bubbles so it doesn't burn.
The sauce should thicken but still look saucy. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let cool for a minute.
Transfer the strawberry sauce to a bowl and set aside.
2. Make the Strawberry Sundaes
Now for the fun part! Assembling a sundae is so much fun.
First, grab two small glasses or sundae cups. Spoon some strawberry sauce into the bottom of each glass.
Top the strawberry sauce with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Then add more strawberry sauce.
Add another scoop of ice cream, then top with more strawberry sauce. Finally, add a generous amount of whipped cream!
Top with sprinkles and fresh strawberries. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- If you like smaller chunks of strawberries, dice the strawberries instead of quarter them. Or you can mash the strawberries some as they cook.
- Be sure to stir the strawberries when they cook. Once they start to bubble, the sauce thickens quickly.
- Let the sauce cool for a minute, otherwise it will melt your ice cream! I like it warm, but not hot. If you don't mind melty ice cream, go for it right away.
Ways to use strawberry sauce
If you have extra strawberry sauce, it's delicious on more than just ice cream! Here's a few delectable ideas to use it all up:
- Pancakes - Warm it up and drizzle it on pancakes, waffles, or biscuits!
- Oatmeal - Scoop it onto oatmeal or as a filling for overnight oats.
- Yogurt - Mix it into Greek yogurt and top with strawberries.
Storage Tips
- Store the strawberry sundae sauce in a jar with a lid or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
FAQs
A strawberry sundae is a sundae made of vanilla ice cream, strawberry sauce, and whipped cream! It's sweet and slightly tart with a burst of fresh strawberry flavor.
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries. Partially thaw the strawberries so you can chop them up before you make the sauce.
The strawberry sundaes at McDonald's weren't popular enough. The amount of sales didn't justify the cost of having them. Hot fudge and caramel sundaes are far more popular and sell better!
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Strawberry Sundaes
Equipment
- small saucepan
Ingredients
For the homemade strawberry sauce:
- 1 ¼ cup strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice or lime juice
For the strawberry sundaes:
- vanilla ice cream
- whipped cream
- sprinkles
- fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered for topping
Instructions
Make the strawberry sauce:
- In a small saucepan, combine the water and cornstarch. Stir until the cornstarch is dissolved into the water.
- Add the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir well.
- Cook the strawberry mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and the strawberries soften, about 7-8 minutes. You can mash the strawberries some with a spatula if you like.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the sauce cool for a minute.
Assemble the sundaes:
- Spoon some strawberry sauce into two glasses. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to each glass, then top with more sauce.
- Top each sundae with another scoop of ice cream, then some strawberry sauce, and finally whipped cream, sprinkles, and fresh strawberries.
- Enjoy immediately!
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