Julie Clark
Updated:
Raspberry Sauce with a Secret Ingredient
May contain affiliate links. Disclosure policy.
Make an easy raspberry sauce with fresh or frozen raspberries. This raspberry reduction is rich and smooth thanks to a touch of butter, perfect for creamy cheesecake, vanilla custard, homemade pancakes, and more.
This homemade raspberry sauce (also known as raspberry coulis) is quick to make and adds a pop of color and bright berry flavor to any of your favorite desserts or breakfast dishes. It’s made with just a handful of ingredients, including a small pat of butter for extra richness. Use fresh or frozen raspberries depending on the season.
From our kitchen to yours:
Over the years, we’ve found that a simple sauce can breathe new life into everyday recipes. Whether you’re topping a smoothie bowl or giving french toast casserole a fresh twist, this raspberry sauce brings just the right touch of sweet-tart flavor.
It’s one of those family recipes we come back to again and again, not just because it’s easy, but because it makes ordinary dishes feel a little more special. We served this over ice cream at Braden and Hannah’s wedding rehearsal. It’s just that special.
If you’ve never made a sauce from scratch, this is a great place to start. You can even serve it over savory dishes such as grilled chicken or baked ham.
And depending on the season, you can make it with fresh blueberries or fresh strawberries, too.
Enjoy! -Julie
What is raspberry sauce made of?
There are only 6 ingredients in this raspberry sauce:
- 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.
- Cornstarch. This is what thickens the sauce.
✨ See the recipe card for full ingredients and amounts. ✨
Easy Raspberry Sauce
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
Ingredients
- 12 ounces frozen unsweetened raspberries, divided about 2-2 ½ cups of raspberries
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together 1 ½ cups raspberries, sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved. Heat the mixture to boiling, stirring often. 12 ounces frozen unsweetened raspberries, divided, ¾ cup granulated sugar , ½ cup water
- 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. 2 teaspoons cornstarch , 2 tablespoons water
- Remove the pan from the heat. Add the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of butter and mix until the butter has completely melted. ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 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 you’d like!
Video
Notes
- 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 for longer storage. Store for up to 8 weeks in a freezer-safe container.
- Can I strain the seeds? Yes, if you’d like you can strain the raspberry seeds. If you want a completely smooth consistency, don’t worry about holding back raspberries to add in at the end. Add them all at the beginning, then strain out the seeds through a fine mesh sieve after you make the sauce.
- Makes 2 ¼ cups sauce.
- Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
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
How to Make Raspberry Sauce: Step by Step
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.
- In a small cup, combine the cornstarch and water. Whisk this together until it is smooth. 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.
- Then remove the pan from the heat and add butter.
- Let the mixture cool, then add the remaining raspberries (from the original 12 ounce bag) and stir gently.
How to Use Raspberry Sauce
Think of this raspberry dessert sauce as the perfect topping on:
- angel food cake
- old fashioned pound cake
- whole grain waffles or chocolate waffles
- baked French toast
- swirl it into hearty oatmeal
- in our Heaven on Earth Cake recipe
- spread on top of raspberry coconut muffins
- buttermilk biscuits
- over chocolate mayo cake
- swirled in plain yogurt
- baked brie with puff pastry
- chocolate cheesecake or fudgy brownies
Can I use this sauce to fill a layer 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. 😋 There are countless different ways to experiment with this sauce.
How would you make this sauce a little thicker so it would stay on top of the cheesecake when you cut it
Absolutely delicious!
Does this sauce stay thick enough on top of this cheesecake so when you cut it it does not run?
Does anyone know how many cups this makes?
Can you thaw the frozen raspberries 1st
Do you thaw out the raspberries or keep them frozen to make the sauce? I’m really excited to try it because I have been looking for a recipe for a long time.
Could this recipe be canned?
Would it be possible to water bath this recipe for canning?
I made seedless by using fresh black raspberries. Blended the raspberries on low and strained through a sieve. (I love raspberries but hate the seeds). Can reduce the amount of sugar and cornstarch a bit if you do this first. Delicious!
Made this and it is delicious. How long should this be kept in the fridge?
Will this freeze well?
This was so yummy! Poured it over rice pudding! But would be so good on ice cream or crepes! Finger linking good!
This looks so delicious! I’d love to make it mostly seedless. What would be the best way to do that?
I’ve made this 4 times in the last month and just made a double batch. I put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in a bowl with a half cup of this sauce and instant raspberry fool dessert. I could live on this stuff lol
Yummy recipe! I’m going to serve it on my home made cheesecake…first time I made that, too!