Easy Raspberry Sauce

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Use frozen or fresh raspberries to make this easy raspberry sauce. It’s a raspberry reduction that gives a pop of color, perfect for cheesecakes, ice cream and pancakes.

raspberry sauce in a jar with a spoon

One thing weโ€™ve learned from our kitchen adventures over the past 25 years is that almost every dessert can be enhanced by a great sauce. This easy raspberry sauce is one of our all-time favorites.

This homemade raspberry sauce recipe is a true game-changer. I add a secret ingredient to the dessert sauce that makes takes it to the next level. Perfect for special occasions or random summer Saturdays when you have fresh berries.

Why you’ll love this easy raspberry sauce recipe:

  • This raspberry sauce is incredibly easy to make. Even if you’re new to cooking or are feeling a little bit intimidated by the idea of creating a sauce from scratch, this recipe is designed to be accessible and straightforward. All it takes are a few simple ingredients and less than 25 minutes.
  • It solves a common problem many home cooks face: how to add a quick and unique flavor punch to everyday dishes. Too often, we find ourselves stuck in a cooking rut, using the same recipes and flavor profiles over and over again. The Easy Raspberry Sauce breaks through that monotony, bringing a fresh and fruity twist to both savory and sweet dishes.
  • Itโ€™s versatile. You can drizzle this delicious raspberry sauce over ice cream for an elevated dessert experience, add it to your smoothie bowl to make breakfast a bit more special, or even mix it into your savory dishes, like grilled chicken or baked ham, to add a sweet and tangy dimension. Itโ€™s the secret weapon you didn’t know your kitchen needed!

โญ๏ธ โญ๏ธ โญ๏ธ โญ๏ธ โญ๏ธ Reader Phyllis says, “This is so amazing, our family loves it in yogurt on ice cream and pancakes. Yum good on everything. Thank you so much for sharing. Has become our favorite!”

โญ๏ธ โญ๏ธ โญ๏ธ โญ๏ธ โญ๏ธ Reader Tyzer says, “Wonderfully simple and flavorful sauce! I steeped a large habanero (seeded and cut) in my sauce while the raspberries and water were breaking down. It added a delicious level of heat to it!”

Is this the same as raspberry coulis?

Raspberry sauce is a broad term that can refer to a wide range of preparations. It could be a chunky sauce or smooth, sweet or tangy, and it might contain various added ingredients such as spices, vinegar, or other fruits such as orange juice. Itโ€™s often used as a topping for desserts, but can also complement savory dishes.

Raspberry coulis, on the other hand, is a specific type of sauce. The word โ€˜coulisโ€™ is derived from the French verb โ€˜coulerโ€™, which means โ€˜to flowโ€™. A coulis is traditionally a smooth, strained sauce made from pureed fruit or vegetables.

A raspberry coulis recipe typically blends raspberries, sugar, and a bit of lemon juice, and then strains out the seeds for a velvety, smooth consistency. The primary goal of a coulis is to enhance the natural flavor of the fruit, so itโ€™s less common to see additional flavorings used.

What is raspberry sauce made of?

There are only 6 ingredients in this raspberry sauce:

ingredients for raspberry sauce on a table
  • Raspberries. Are fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries best? You do not have to thaw frozen raspberries before cooking them. Frozen raspberries are conveniently available year-round and are typically frozen at their peak, retaining their nutritional value and flavor. For recipes like our Easy Raspberry Sauce, both fresh and frozen raspberries can be used.
    If you opt for frozen, remember there’s no need to thaw them before use.
  • Cornstarch. This is what thickens the sauce.

How to Make Raspberry Sauce

This easy recipe is very similar to our homemade strawberry topping. Here’s how you make it:

  • Place 1 ½ cups raspberries in a medium saucepan with sugar and water. Cook over medium-low heat until the mixture is at a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and add vanilla.
sugar, water and raspberries in a saucepan
  1. In a small cup, combine the cornstarch and water. Whisk this together until it is smooth. Don’t just throw the cornstarch into the raspberry mixture or you’ll end up with little clumps of white cornstarch in your beautiful red raspberry sauce. And nobody wants that. Mixing the cornstarch with water first helps the cornstarch to completely mix in.
raspberries boiling on a stovetop
  1. Once the cornstarch and water are mixed, add it to the raspberry sauce. Cook and stir this mixture, letting it simmer until it is slightly thickened. Maybe 3-4 minutes, depending on how hot your mixture is.
  2. Then remove the pan from the heat and add butter. The butter is our secret ingredient that adds a delicious richness to the raspberry flavor.
butter melting in raspberry sauce in a pan
  1. Let the mixture cool, then add the remaining raspberries (from the original 12 ounce bag) and stir gently.
a piece of angel food cake on a plate with raspberry sauce and whipped cream

Can I strain the seeds?

Yes, if youโ€™d like you can strain the raspberry seeds. If you want a completely smooth sauce, donโ€™t worry about holding back raspberries to add in at the end. Add them all at the beginning, then strain out the seeds through aย fine mesh sieveย after you make the sauce.

How to Use Raspberry Sauce

Think of this raspberry dessert sauce as the perfect topping on:

Can I use this sauce to fill a cake or cupcakes? The sauce as the recipe is written is slightly runny and I would not recommend using it as a cake filling. You could try lowering the water or increasing the cornstarch to make it thicker.

But you know what? The leftovers, I just ate with a spoon. ๐Ÿ˜‹ There are countless different ways to experiment with this sauce.

Recipe Variations

  • Reduce the sugar. I’ve made this with ½ cup of sugar successfully.
  • Add lemon. Lemon and raspberries go so well together. Use fresh lemon juice instead of water in the cornstarch slurry for a little bit of an acidic tang.

Storage Instructions

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Can you freeze this sauce? Yes. This sauce freezes well. Store for up to 8 weeks in a freezer-safe container.

raspberry sauce in a mason jar
raspberry sauce in a mason jar

Easy Raspberry Sauce

4.68 from 379 votes
Use frozen or fresh raspberries to make this easy raspberry sauce. Perfect for cheesecakes, ice cream and pancakes!
Servings 10 servings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

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Ingredients
 

  • 12 ounces frozen unsweetened raspberries, divided about 2-2 ยฝ cups of raspberries
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar 150 grams
  • 1/2 cup water 4 ounces
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch 6 grams
  • 2 tablespoons water 30 grams
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter

Instructions
 

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together 1 ยฝ cups raspberries, sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved. Heat the mixture to boiling, stirring often.
  • In a small cup, combine the cornstarch and two tablespoons of water. Mix well. Pour this into the boiling raspberry mixture. Stir and boil over medium-low heat for 4 minutes or until the mixture has thickened a bit.
  • Remove the pan from the heat. Add the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of butter and mix until the butter has completely melted.
  • Allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes, then add the last of the raspberries and stir to mix. Cool to room temperature, then serve over whatever dessert youโ€™d like!

Video

Notes

Makes 2 ยผ cups sauce. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 10, with 1 serving being 1/10 of the sauce. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition

Serving: 110g | Calories: 87kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 8.9mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 87
Keyword raspberry coulis, raspberry recipe, topping for angel food cake, topping for cheesecake
About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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4.68 from 379 votes (313 ratings without comment)
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Suzanne
2 months ago

This sauce was delicious Sweet with a bit of tart, from the lemon. I strained out the seeds to make it a smoother sauce. Weโ€™ve tried it on ice cream & pancakes so far. How long can this be stored in the refrigerator? I didnโ€™t notice suggestions about length of storage. Thanks!

Monica Ferrelli
4 months ago

5 stars
This sauce is wonderful! Adding butter as the secret ingredient enhances the flavor. I put it over orange sherbet with a sprig of fresh mint from my garden. It presented so nicely and everyone loved it!!

Last edited 4 months ago by Monica Ferrelli
April
6 months ago

5 stars
So good! Best sauce I’ve made. A teaspoon of lemon juice is a must. I put it on a chocolate cheesecake I made that day. Perfection!

Linda
9 months ago

Nowhere in the recipe does it mention when to add the vanilla.

Cynthia Arteglier
10 months ago

3 stars
It’s a simple and quick recipe but turned out too thin and runny, and a bit bland.

Sherry J
1 year ago

5 stars
This is the best raspberry sauce Iโ€™ve made (and Iโ€™ve tried several). I also love how easy it was. I used frozen raspberries and added a little lemon juice, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. I served it with my husbandโ€™s chocolate birthday cake, along with some whipped cream. Absolutely delicious! Thank you!

Beth
1 year ago

5 stars
Is recipe able to be canned? I have made the sauce and it’s delicious!! Would like to make another batch and can it.

Samantha
1 year ago

5 stars
I made this with black raspberries from our little backyard patch. It’s delicious! My daughter loves it over her ice cream. โค๏ธ

Laveena
1 year ago

Would I be able to can this, using a hot water bath?

Sariah
1 year ago

5 stars
this was a vary amazing experience and sooo good I love this recipe I 100% recomend this. BUT you have to be able to do this with patience and have a lot of time to do it but i did it for my class and they were bagging me for more i love it and i hope you love it to

Bel
1 year ago

5 stars
Just made this to top an angel food cake with ice cream. It’s absolutely scrumptious!!
How long is it safe to keep in the refrigerator?

Julia
1 year ago

5 stars
I love this recipe! I added about a tablespoon of citric acid (I had some left over from canning) and it made the best sour and sweet combo! I could not find a sour raspberry sauce anywhere but this worked out great!

Carol
1 year ago

5 stars
I Strained the sauce to remove seeds after boiling making sure all berries were cooked down. Then I heated again and added the cornstarch and cooked until thickened.

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