Macerated strawberries are fresh strawberries and sugar mixed together, left to rest, soften and release juices to create a sweet syrupy topping thats perfect for topping for any breakfast or dessert dish. Learn how to macerate strawberries in a couple of easy steps.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I have several easy and fresh strawberry recipes on the blog that I absolutely adore. My Strawberry Banana Pudding, Easy Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Whipped Cream, No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Tiramisu, Strawberry Mousse, Strawberry Parfait and Strawberry Glaze are just a few of my favorite strawberry recipes on the blog. I am so excited to add this easy strawberry topping to the blog.
- Only 2 ingredients needed. You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make a batch of strawberry glaze.
- The perfect topping. Whether you need a quick and easy strawberry topping for cheesecake, cakes, pancakes, waffles or as a fun mix in for ice cream, this macerating strawberries makes the perfect topping.
Ingredients
This macerated strawberries recipe needs only 2 simple ingredients to make and you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge. Here’s what you will need to make this easy syrupy strawberry topping.
Gather fresh strawberries and sugar.
Substitutions
Here are my recommended substitutions to make these easy sugar soaked strawberries if you need them.
- Fresh Strawberries: Use fresh, ripe and sweet strawberries. Taste the strawberries to ensure they are sweet. Frozen strawberries can be used, but must be thawed overnight and drained of the excess liquid before mixing with the sugar.
- Sugar: For an easy refined sugar free option use maple sugar, honey or maple syrup.
Variation
Add herbs, citrus, liquor or alternative sugars for flavor variations. Herbs such as basil, rosemary or mint can be added to the strawberries and sugar for a fresh, earthy flavor. Add 1 - 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice for fresh tart flavor. Balsamic vinegar, rose water, vanilla extract or liquors such as bourbon, brandy or amaretto for bold and unique flavor.
How To Make
Learn how to make strawberry whipped cream in a few easy steps.
- Wash and dry the fresh strawberries. Hull or de-stem the strawberries. Slice or chop the strawberries into your desired shape and size. If you would like very soft strawberries, gently mash the sliced berries.
- Place the prepared strawberries into a large mixing bowl. Top the strawberries with sugar and any other flavor additions such as fresh herbs, extracts, liquor or citrus juice. Gently mix the berries and sugar together. Ensure that all the berries are fulled coated in sugar. Allow the sugar and strawberries to macerate together at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Strawberries can also rest in the fridge, but will take a bit longer to soften and for the juices to release. Gently stir the berries and sugar together every 15 - 30 minutes to encourage the juices to release.
3. When it’s time to serve, transfer the soften sugar strawberries to a serving dish or top your favorite dessert with the syrupy strawberry topping.
How To Store, Freeze, Thaw and Serve
- Store: Keep the macerated berries in an airtight container for up to 2 days. For longer storage transfer the berries to the freezer.
- Freeze: Transfer the sugared strawberries to an airtight container to store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: Transfer the frozen macerated strawberries to thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Serve: Macerated strawberries are the perfect topper for any breakfast or dessert dish you would typically add fruit on or serve with fresh fruit such as pancakes, waffles, parfait, cake, cheesecake, brownies or even ice cream. I highly suggest serving sugared strawberries with my Hot Milk Cake, Condensed Milk Cake, Chocolate Olive Oil Cake or Creme Brulee Cheesecake.
M’s Expert Tips
- Use ripe, fresh and in season strawberries. To make the best macerated strawberries make sure to use ripe, in season strawberries.
- Decide how sweet you want the strawberries to be. The ideal amount of sugar is between 2 - 6 tablespoons sugar per pound of strawberries. 2 - 4 tablespoons sugar is good for strawberries that are already sweet and can macerate for at least 2 hours. Add more sugar if you plan on resting the strawberries for less than 1 hour.
- Macerate the strawberries for at least 30 minutes. After mixing the strawberries and sugar together, allow the berries to rest for at least 30 minutes. The sugar needs time to draw out the juices from the strawberries and create a syrup.
- Stir the berries every so often. It’s helpful stir the berries and sugar together every 15 -20 minutes. This encourages the sugar to dissolve and for the strawberries to release juices.
- Decide if you want soft berries with lots of syrupy juice or softened berries with a little less syrupy juice. For the softest macerated berries with lots of juice, chop or gently mash whole strawberries before mixing with the sugar. Whole strawberries or halved strawberries will be soft with a little less syrupy juice.
- Add herbs, citrus, liquor or alternative sugars for flavor variations. Herbs such as basil, rosemary or mint can be added to the strawberries and sugar for a fresh, earthy flavor. Add 1 - 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice for fresh tart flavor. Balsamic, rose water, vanilla extract or liquors such as bourbon, brandy or amaretto for bold and unique flavor.
FAQs
Yes, but first the frozen strawberries need to thaw in the fridge overnight. Then drain the excess liquid crated from thawing the strawberries. Then slice the strawberries, mix with sugar and allow the berries to macerate.
After mixing the strawberries and sugar together allow the berries to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours or in the fridge for up to 2 days. The ideal macerating time is 1 - 2 hours.
Allowing the strawberries to soak in sugar or liquid allows the strawberries to become more intensely sweet, softer and creates a syrupy, jammy consistency.
Strawberries can be macerated in brown sugar, honey or maple syrup.
This easy and fresh macerated fruit can last about 2 days when stored in the fridge.
Other Strawberry Recipes to Try
If you try this Macerated Strawberries recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! - M
Macerated Strawberries Recipe
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 large spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) fresh strawberries
- 4 - 6 tablespoon (50 - 75 g) granulated sugar
Instructions
- Wash and dry the fresh strawberries. Hull or de-stem the strawberries. Slice or chop the strawberries into your desired shape and size. If you would like very soft strawberries, gently mash the sliced berries.1 pound (454 g) fresh strawberries
- Place the prepared strawberries into a large mixing bowl. Top the strawberries with sugar and any other flavor additions such as fresh herbs, extracts, liquor or citrus juice. Gently mix the berries and sugar together. Ensure that all the berries are fulled coated in sugar.4 - 6 tablespoon (50 - 75 g) granulated sugar
- Allow the sugar and strawberries to macerate together at room temperature for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Strawberries can also rest in the fridge, but will take a bit longer to soften and for the juices to release. Gently stir the berries and sugar together every 15 - 30 minutes to encourage the juices to release.
- When it’s time to serve, transfer the soften sugar strawberries to a serving dish or top your favorite dessert with the syrupy strawberry topping.
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