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    Decorated Treats Β» Recipes Β» Fillings, Sauces & Syrups

    Strawberry Filling (Easy Homemade Recipe)

    Published: Dec 3, 2020 Β· Modified: Jul 12, 2023 by Priya Maha

    Jump to Recipe

    This strawberry filling recipe is super easy and delicious. With only 5 common ingredients, you can cook a fresh jar of strawberry filling in less than 20 minutes.

    This recipe works well with both fresh strawberries and frozen ones, so you can have your homemade strawberry filling anytime you want.

    Top view of a jar of strawberry filling. A spoon is on top, filled with the filling.
    Fresh Homemade Strawberry Filling
    Jump to:
    • ❀️Why you will love this recipe
    • πŸ“‹Ingredients
    • 🧾Substitution and Variations
    • πŸ‘©β€πŸ³How to Make
    • 🍽️Serving & storage
    • πŸ’‘Expert Tips
    • ⭐What can you use the filling for?
    • πŸ’­FAQs
    • ❀️More Recipes You Will Love
    • πŸ“–Recipe

    ❀️Why you will love this recipe

    • This is an easy strawberry filling recipe with very simple ingredients. And it makes absolutely delicious strawberry filling.
    • It is a small batch recipe, and is perfect for making fresh strawberry filling whenever you want it.
    • You get to adjust the consistency to suit your liking. I like my fruit filling to be packed with fruits rather than the sauce, and I can only achieve this by making my own.
    • The fruit filling is very versatile. Not only can you use it as a simple strawberry pie filling in buttery pie crust, you can also pair it with so many other desserts and food – as a strawberry cake filling between layers of plain white cake or vanilla cake, chocolate cake (like this chocolate pound cake), or even strawberry cake layers. You can also use it as cupcake filling, toppings for cheesecakes, as a donut filling or puff pastry filling. This fruit filling pairs well with buttercream frosting and cream cheese frosting. See how I used this strawberry filling to make a yummy almond strawberry cake.
    • It’s a great way and easy way to use up those extra fruits you have around during strawberry season and a great and easy way to enjoy them even when they are offseason. 

    Like this easy recipe? Here are my other posts you might want to check out:

    • Light Fruit Cake Recipe
    • Almond Strawberry Cake
    • 75th Birthday Cake Idea for Dad
    • Blueberry Filling Recipe
    • Oreo Strawberry Cheesecake
    • Small Batch Strawberry Jam (Homemade Recipe without Pectin)
    • Strawberry Rolls with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Glaze
    • Strawberry Jam Cookies (Sandwich Cookies)

    πŸ“‹Ingredients

    • Strawberries - use well ripened fresh berries for best results.
    • Sugar - I use plain white sugar. It is not necessary for castor sugar or granulated sugar or powdered sugar as it is going to be cooked over heat and will get dissolved anyway, so either is fine. 
    • Cornstarch - helps thicken the filling.
    • Water - use filtered water.
    • Lemon juice - enhances the taste of the filling. Strain before using to remove any seeds.

    *Refer to the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and exact quantities. For best results, use a digital kitchen scale where applicable*

    🧾Substitution and Variations

    • Fresh strawberries can be replaced with frozen ones. Thaw them completely and drain off all liquid from the thawing process before using the berries.
    • Lemon juice can be replaced with lime juice. Use in the exact same quantity.
    • You can add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract into the homemade filling right before removing it off the heat for a vanilla flavored delicious strawberry filling.

    This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you do try, please let me know in the comments section below!

    πŸ‘©β€πŸ³How to Make

    Making the filling

    • Start by preparing the strawberries. Wash, hull and cut them. If you like chunks of strawberries in your filling, halve or quarter the strawberries. If you like smaller pieces, chopped them to smaller pieces.
    A bowl of cut strawberries.
    A bowl of fresh strawberries
    • Add them to a small saucepan or pot.
    • In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water and add this solution to the fruits. Mixing with a little water helps prevent the cornstarch from becoming lumpy when added to the fruits.
    • Also, add the sugar and lemon juice. Cook the fruits on low heat until they turn soft and the sugar-lemon juice mixture has thickened. As the sugar melts, the filling will look very watery. Continue to cook over low heat until it thickens. Stir often to ensure the fruits don’t get burnt.
    • Once thickened, remove it from fire and let it cool completely to room temperature before using or storing.  
    Top view of a jar jam.
    Fresh Strawberry Filling

    🍽️Serving & storage

    • This strawberry filling is very similar to strawberry jam. The only difference is that cornstarch is added here to thicken the filling, while there is none in the jam.
    • The filling, if not used immediate, should be refrigerated. Similar to the jam, you can store it in a jar or even a container.
    • This strawberry filling can last in the fridge for a good 1 week. If you wish to keep it longer, freeze it. Let it thaw in the fridge before using. The filling should last in the freezer for at least one month.

    πŸ’‘Expert Tips

    • It is important to use ripe strawberries, not too ripe nor unripe. Hull them and cut them into smaller pieces if you wish for smaller chunks of strawberries in your filling.
    • For a smooth filling (i.e. strawberry sauce or strawberry coulis), blend the strawberries before cooking them. Cut the strawberries as indicated in the recipe card below, and then add them to a food processor or immersion blender and process to a strawberry puree before cooking the ingredients into a smooth filling.
    • The main purpose of cornstarch in this recipe is to thicken the filling mixture. Avoid adding it directly to the filling as it can clumpy and become lumpy in your filling. Make a cornstarch slurry with some water. Mix well to break any lumps before using.
    • Cornstarch in the slurry tends to settle to the bottom if left unmixed after some time. Make sure to mix it well before pouring into the filling.
    • Unlike jams without pectin where lemon juice is essential (especially fruits low in pectin) to help the gelling process of the jam, the use of lemon juice in this homemade strawberry filling and my blueberry filling recipe here is purely for taste. The lemon juice, though added in small quantity, really help is bringing out the flavor of fruits in the fillings. 

    ⭐What can you use the filling for?

    • Use it as a cake filling between cake layers. It pairs well with any classic layer cakes (like this moist vanilla cake), sponge cakes and chiffon cakes.
    • Use it as a cupcake filling. Core the center of the cupcakes and use a piping bag or a small spoon to fill the cupcakes. Cover with your choice of frosting or whipped cream (like this mascarpone whipped cream).
    • Use it as a filling for pastries such as turnovers, hand pies, or Danish pastries and tarts.
    • Use it as a topping for cheesecakes like this Oreo strawberry cheesecake, ice cream, pancakes and waffles.
    • Use it to make layered parfaits or dessert cups. Alternate layers of strawberry filling with whipped cream, yogurt, or granola for a beautiful and tasty dessert. Top it off with fresh strawberries or a dollop of whipped cream.

    πŸ’­FAQs

    Can I make the filling without the cornstarch?

    The purpose of the cornstarch in the recipe is to thicken the sauce. If you do not add the cornstarch, you filling will be very runny.

    Cooking the filling for a longer time can thicken it, however, that will leave you without much sauce.

    Can I make the filling without the lemon juice?

    The purpose of the lemon juice in the recipe is to enhance the taste. The filling will still turn out ok without the juice, however, there will be difference in taste.
    For best results, do not omit the lemon juice.

    Top view of a jar of fruit jam.
    Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling with Fresh Sweet Strawberries

    ❀️More Recipes You Will Love

    • A slice of Oreo strawberry cheesecake with strawberry topping and fresh strawberries.
      Oreo Strawberry Cheesecake (Creamy Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries)
    • A piece of strawberry cinnamon roll on a gold rimmed white plate and a fork on the side.
      Strawberry Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Glaze
    • Round scalloped cookies sandwiched with strawberry jam. Cookies are with a small heart shaped hole on top
      Strawberry Jam Cookies (Sandwich Cookies)

    Do you like this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐rating in the recipe card below and consider a review further down this page. I would love to hear from you. Thank you!

    πŸ“–Recipe

    Top view of a jar of strawberry filling. A spoon is on top, filled with the filling.

    Strawberry Filling (Easy Homemade Recipe)

    This easy homemade strawberry filling is so true to its name. It is so easy to make even for first timers and you would want to keep making it over and over again.
    4.72 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Yield: 200 g
    Author: Priya Maha
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Metric - US Customary

    For best results, use the metrics measurements. US customary measurements have not been tested and are only meant for guide.

    Ingredients

    • 200 g strawberries
    • 100 g sugar
    • β…“ tablespoon cornstarch
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Wash the strawberries and drain the water. Hull the fruits and cut them up as you wish.
    • In a saucepan, add the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice and let simmer over very low heat.
    • Mix cornstarch with water and add the mixture into the simmering fruits mix.
    • Let the fruits soften and simmer in the sugar syrup until the sugar is completely dissolved and the fruits start to soften.
    • Continue to simmer over low heat, stirring often until the mixture thickens.
    • Remove the strawberry filling off the heat and let it cool to room temperature before storing it in a clean jar or container.
    • Keep the fruit filling refrigerated until it is ready to be used.
    • This amount makes about 200 grams of filling.

    Video

    Notes

      • Fresh strawberries can be replaced with frozen ones. Thaw them completely and drain off all liquid from the thawing process before using the strawberries.Β 
      • Lemon juice can be replaced with lime juice. Use in the exact same quantity.
      • Add half a teaspoon of vanilla extract into the homemade filling right before removing it off the heat for a vanilla flavored delicious strawberry filling.
      • Use ripe strawberries. Hull them and cut them into smaller pieces if you wish for smaller chunks of strawberries in your filling.
      • For a smooth filling (i.e. strawberry sauce or strawberry coulis), blend the strawberries before cooking them.Β 
      • The main purpose of cornstarch in this recipe is to thicken the filling mixture. Avoid adding it directly to the filling as it can clumpy and become lumpy in your filling. Make a cornstarch slurry with some water. Mix well to break any lumps before using.
      • Cornstarch in the slurry tends to settle to the bottom if left unmixed after some time. Make sure to mix it well before pouring into the filling.
      • Unlike jams without pectin where lemon juice is essential (especially fruits low in pectin) to help the gelling process of the jam, the use of lemon juice in this homemade strawberry filling is purely for taste. The lemon juice, though added in small quantity, really help is bringing out the flavor of fruits in the fillings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 2kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 2mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @decorated_treats or tag #decoratedtreats!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dakota

      June 26, 2024 at 4:19 am

      5 stars
      I've been using this recipe for years and it always turns out fantastic with or without the cornstarch! It also works great as a basic jam recipe or for flavoring things like frosting.

      Reply
    2. Sarah g

      February 21, 2021 at 8:01 am

      Is this a good recipe?

      Reply
    3. Nikki

      February 06, 2021 at 4:59 am

      5 stars
      Thank you πŸ’―πŸ™πŸΎ

      Reply
    4.72 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Top view of a jar of strawberry filling. A spoon is on top, filled with the filling.

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