Easy Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce: Microwave in 6 Minutes

Name: 6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 14 min
Ingredients: 1-1/2 cup frozen strawberries; 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon sugar or 1 pkg sweetener (optional)

Last updatedFebruary 5, 2024

23 Comments

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Sneak Preview: Try this Easy Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce over some yogurt or ice cream. It’s made with fresh or frozen strawberries and balsamic vinegar. Use a microwave to make this reduction in 6 minutes.

strawberry balsamic sauce drizzles over yogurt

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Looking for a quick strawberry fix in the middle of the winter? Use frozen strawberries to make this easy strawberry balsamic glaze.

It can be difficult to find flavorful and reasonably priced strawberries in the wintertime. So how’s a person to get his strawberry fix?

Try this strawberry balsamic sauce with frozen strawberries. When cooked in the microwave, frozen strawberries are transformed into a thick and richly flavored sauce.

Happy Cooks Speak Up

“I made this with frozen blackberries last night, added a little sugar, and it was an amazing add on to my morning waffles! thanks for the great and quick recipe! 😀 “–DAVID R.

How Can I Serve This Strawberry Sauce?

Some would call it a reduction, but I call it perfect for pouring over yogurt, ice cream, pound cake, and waffles. Make this creamy strawberry yogurt salad dressing with it. Or try this strawberry muffin recipe that is a dupe for the ones at Central Market.

How To Make 6-Minute Microwave Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce in Three Easy Steps

chopped frozen strawberries — 1. Chop 1-1/2 cup frozen berries–a little smaller than seen here.

adding balsamic vinegar — 2. Place chopped strawberries into nothing smaller than a 1-quart Pyrex bowl. Add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar to uncooked strawberries, or leave it out if you prefer.

Random Thoughts: This will remind you of strawberry preserves. However, it’s a little thinner and not as sweet unless you add sugar or sweetener. If I want it sweeter, depending on what I’m serving it with, I start with one tablespoon of sugar or honey or two packets of Splenda and go from there.

Help at Your Fingertips: For questions or suggestions, email Paula at saladinajar.com. If you need help, I’m happy to troubleshoot via email (faster than leaving a comment). Attach pictures and as many details as possible for the best advice.

Yield: servings (2 tablespoons)

6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

By Paula Rhodes

A tasty strawberry-balsamic reduction or syrup is made quickly and easily in the microwave in 6 minutes.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep time: 8

Cook time: 6

Total time: 14

Ingredients

1-1/2 cup (225 g) frozen strawberries
¼ cup (63 g) balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar or 1 pkg sweetener optional

Instructions

Chop 1-1/2 cup (225 g) frozen strawberries.
Place into nothing smaller than a 1-quart Pyrex bowl. Add 1/4 cup (63 g) balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon sugar or 1 pkg sweetener to uncooked strawberries or leave it out, if you prefer.
Cook in the microwave for 6 minutes, UNCOVERED, no stirring necessary. Sauce thickens as it cools.

Equipment

2-Quart Batter Bowl

Nutrition

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Paula Rhodes, owner

As a retired home economist, I created Saladinajar.com to share my belief that you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Bread machines (used in an unconventional way), homemade yogurt, and quick microwave recipes are my specialty.

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

23 Comments

Jim Bednar says:

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Would it be possible to use fresh strawberries? Can this be used as a salad dressing? If so, how might the recipe change?

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Jim,
  
  Check out this link for a strawberry sauce-based salad dressing recipe: Creamy Strawberry Salad Dressing for Fresh Fruit or Greens. You can use fresh fruit instead, and it doesn’t take quite as long to cook. Instead of making the creamy strawberry salad dressing, you could just add your favorite oil to the strawberry sauce.
  
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Kimberley Legaspi says:

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All I know, is I’m on WW, and I had most of these ingredients. Hubby is getting the ice cream / Greek yogurt at the store. Choosing to use a pan, and pure raw honey instead of sugar, which I will ad at the end. Bet it’ll be wonderful!!! Thanks!

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Mid Mod Tom says:

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I couldn’t cut my frozen strawberries when I made this on Saturday, so I put them (an entire bag of frozen strawberries mind you) and 1/2 cup balasmic in my 1 quart pyrex and cooked it on high for six minutes. After six minutes the berries were thawed and the sauce was hot. Then I pureed in my food processor and strained through a fine mesh sieve. I served this sauce with my no-baked white chocolate cheesecake at brunch on Sunday and everyone loved it. Thank you! Mine may have been a 9 minute sauce, but I sincerely appreciate the initial direction!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Tom, Your freezer must be colder than mine. If you plan to puree anyway, no need to chop, as you already figured out. Your cheesecake sounds fabulous and I can only imagine how good it was with the strawberry sauce. Glad you wrote back. pr
  
  Reply
David R says:

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I made this with frozen blackberries last night, added a little sugar, and it was an amazing add on to my morning waffles! thanks for the great and quick recipe! 😀

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Feast on the Cheap says:

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What a treat! My goodness…I would stir this into just about anything

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SallyBR says:

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Paula, just reporting back….

made it yesterday and LOVED IT! In my microwave it took just one minute longer to get the right texture. The flavor is amazing, I am enjoying it with yogurt and a little cereal – what a great breakfast item!

If my pictures turned out bearable, I will blog about it and of course give you all the credit!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  I agree about using it for breakfast. It’s a great back-up plan when I have no fresh fruit in the house.
  
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Piper@GotItCookIt says:

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Fun idea… you know how much I like using stuff I have on hand, and I almost always have frozen strawberries in the freezer!!
Normally, I am not the biggest balsamic fan, but with sweet strawberries it actually sounds good. I mostly object to the sweetness of balsamic on savory items like salads, but this SOUNDS NICE!

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Nicole says:

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Love the combo of strawberries and balsamic. Glad I have all the ingredients to make this:)

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`Suzanne says:

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Yum Paula, this sauce sounds great and simple, it could go on so many things. I always enjoy your simple tips that make a big difference 🙂 have a wonderful weekend.

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TheKitchenWitch says:

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You’re a genius! I’m definitely trying this one.

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Paula says:

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Your post over at California Strawberry was wonderful! I love all your salad ingredients you keep stocked at your workplace and the dressing looks delicious.

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SallyBR says:

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What an interesting recipe, loved it, and intend to try it soon.

Plus, the microwave trick is intriguing, I almost never use mine, just for the eventual warming up of leftover

Loved the first photo, mouthwatering… 😉

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Jodi @CaliforniaStrawberries says:

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Hi Paula,
Thanks again for creating this wonderful strawberry sauce/dressing! We love your site and look forward to spending more time on your site! We posted a link to your post on our FB page today!
Have a good day!
Jodi

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Thanks so much Jodi. Had a great time playing with frozen strawberries. Paula
  
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Mid Mod Tom says:

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I’m definitely going to make this. I think I would puree it as well. I think this would make a great gift sieved into a mason jar with a pretty label and a ribbon.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Puréeing just adds another step but it would be wonderful. And I like your idea for gifts.
  
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The Café Sucré Farine says:

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Wow Paula! This sounds amazing – and it’s so pretty too!

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Sarah says:

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This might even be a great salad dressing. I’m trying it today! Thanks 🙂

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Sarah, you are exactly right. Add some water, maybe lemon juice and some sort of herb such as basil or mint and you’ve got a winner.
  
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Lorraine says:

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So easy and looks so good! Yum!

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