Got some pound cake that turned out a little drier than you’d like? Grab some strawberries and make this easy sauce.

Looking for a quick and easy dessert at the very last minute? Grab some vanilla ice cream and top it with this sauce.

Want to elevate your breakfast game? Make some pancakes and serve them with this sauce.

Got some cheesecake that you want to give a little different flavor? Top it with this sauce.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

This quick and super easy Strawberry Sauce is made with only four ingredients and is the perfect thing to elevate all kinds of dishes.

Combine fresh strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and a pinch of salt in a sauce pan and simmer to create a thick, rich, perfectly sweet strawberry topping.

Can I use frozen strawberries?

You bet. The sauce texture and color might end up a little different, but it will certainly work. Just make sure to purchase unsweetened, frozen sliced strawberries.

How do I thicken my sauce?

This sauce thickens as it cooks and the water evaporates. Also, keep in mind that the sauce will thicken more as it cools. So if your sauce is too thin, just cook it a little longer. If it gets too thick, you can add a little water to thin it out. Some recipes out there call for adding a cornstarch slurry to the mixture to tighten it, but I’m not a big fan of the gelatinous texture it gives this sauce. So, I like to allow the heat to do the work.

How do I store this strawberry sauce?

Store this in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. When chilled, the sauce will be super thick. You can zap it in the microwave to warm it up and even add a little water to thin it out.

Can I double this recipe?

Absolutely. This recipe makes about 1 cup of sauce. If that’s not enough, you can double or even triple the recipe.

Take a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the next level. (Stacey Little / Southern Bite)

Easy Strawberry Sauce

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Serves: 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh strawberries
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

1. Wash, hull and coarsely chop the strawberries.
2. Add the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and salt to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently. It will seem dry at first, but the strawberries will release moisture when cooked to help create your sauce.
3. Once bubbling, reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. Keep in mind the sauce will thicken more once it cools.
4. Serve at room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

This recipe originally appeared on SouthernBite.com. For more great recipes, visit the website or check out ”The Southern Bite Cookbook.”