Tangy Sweet Berry Sauce (Printable version)
A tangy-sweet mixed berry topping, ideal for desserts, pancakes, and breakfast favorites.
# What you need:
→ Berries
01 - 2 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen; strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
→ Sweetener
02 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
03 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ Thickener
04 - 2 teaspoons cornstarch
05 - 2 tablespoons cold water
# How To:
01 - In a medium saucepan, combine the mixed berries, sugar, and lemon juice.
02 - Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir occasionally until the berries release their juices and the mixture gently simmers, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and cold water until smooth.
04 - Stir the cornstarch slurry into the simmering berry mixture.
05 - Continue cooking over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and develops a glossy appearance, about 2 to 3 minutes.
06 - Remove from heat. For a smooth texture, blend with an immersion blender or strain through a fine sieve to remove seeds; otherwise, leave chunky.
07 - Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm or chilled according to preference.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It transforms soft or frozen berries into something elegant enough for guests, yet simple enough for a weekday breakfast.
- Ready in fifteen minutes, which means you can go from berries to dessert topping faster than takeout arrives.
- Works with whatever berries you have—no need to hunt for a specific type or wait for peak season.
02 -
- Frozen berries work just as well as fresh, sometimes even better because they've already been at their peak ripeness when frozen.
- The cornstarch slurry must be smooth before it hits the hot sauce—I learned this the hard way when my first attempt had tiny grainy bits throughout.
- Don't skip the lemon juice; it's the secret ingredient that prevents the sauce from tasting like sugar-coated fruit and gives it brightness instead.
03 -
- Always whisk your cornstarch slurry until completely smooth—a few seconds of whisking prevents an entire pot of sauce from becoming grainy.
- The sauce will continue to thicken slightly as it cools, so if it seems perfect on the stove, it'll be even better in fifteen minutes.