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Home » Recipes » Desserts & Baking

easy homemade blueberry sauce (blueberry topping)

April 13, 2023 Leave a Comment

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Blueberry Sauce easily comes together in minutes with just a few basic ingredients. It’s a versatile topping for so many sweet treats! Enjoy it as a topping for cheesecake, spoon it over a bowl of vanilla ice cream, or serve it with slices of pound cake. It’s the perfect way to elevate any dessert!

A jar of blueberry sauce with a spoon digging in. this recipe

Why you’ll love this Blueberry Sauce recipe:

  • Deliciuous Blueberry Flavor – This blueberry topping is packed with fresh blueberry flavor, enhanced by the hint of lemon and vanilla.
  • Easy Recipe – Anyone can make this easy blueberry sauce recipe!
  • Versatile Recipe – This blueberry dessert sauce can be used on lots of desserts and treats.
Blueberry cheesecake topped with blueberry sauce.

Ingredient Overview:

  • Blueberries – Use fresh or frozen blueberries. If using frozen, do not thaw them first.
  • Granulated sugar – A little sugar adds sweetness and helps release the juices.
  • Corn Starch – This helps thicken the sauce!
  • Fresh Lemon Juice & Zest – Lemon is the perfect compliment to blueberry.
  • Vanilla extract – Use real vanilla extract.

Ingredient Substitutions:

  • Dairy-free – This recipe is dairy-free as is!
  • Gluten-free – This recipe is gluten-free as is!
  • Other Fruits – See notes in the FAQs below.

How to Make this Easy Blueberry Sauce Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Make the Blueberry Sauce. Add 2 cups of the blueberries to a medium saucepan with the sugar. Cook for a few minutes so the berries release their juices.

A pot of blueberry sauce cooking.

Step 2: Continue making the Blueberry Sauce. Add a mixture of cornstarch, lemon juice, and warm water to the pot – this is your slurry to thicken things. Simmer for a few more minutes, then add the last 1/2 cup of blueberries – this adds a little texture to the sauce as these won’t break down as far. Cook a few minutes more – until the sauce holds for a second when you drag the spoon through the pot. Add a tablespoon or so of lemon zest at the end for extra flavor.

A pot of cooked blueberry sauce.

Serving + Storing this Recipe:

Transfer blueberry sauce to a shallow bowl to cool in the fridge before using. Store in an airtight container or a jar with a lid, in the fridge for a week or so.

A jar of blueberry sauce.

Expert Success Tips:

  • Don’t Over Cook – As long as you follow the directions, you’ll be fine. But, if you over cook the sauce, it can up thick and gloopy.
  • Corn Starch Lumps – Be sure that the cornstarch is fully dissolved in the water before adding it to the pot, or you could end up with some little cornstarch lumps in the sauce.
  • Don’t Skip Refrigerating – The sauce needs to cool before you use it, unless spooning it warm over ice cream or stirring into oatmeal.

FAQs:

Can I double this recipe?

 Yes, that should work just fine. You may need to cook it a bit longer – just keep an eye on things and follow the cues in the recipe card.

Can I try this recipe with other berries or fruits?

 I recommend trying the Peach Filling from my Peach Cupcakes for peaches, my 10-Minute Strawberry Compote for strawberries, and the Cherry Sauce from my White Forest Cake for Cherries. I also have a delicious Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce!

What’s the difference between Compote and Jam? 

Jam is cooked longer than a fruit compote, until the fruit is broken down much farther resulting in a thicker consistency. Pectin is also often used in jam. Compote is a great option for those who don’t want to take on the extra work of jam making!

Can I freeze this recipe?

 Yes! Let it cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container for 1-2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

Can I use any other sweetener instead of granulated sugar?

 I haven’t tried anything besides granulated sugar in this recipe, so I’m not sure if something like honey or maple syrup would work as a 1:1 swap.

Help! My sauce didn’t thicken. 

If you cook this over low heat, it won’t thicken. It has to get hot enough for the cornstarch to activate.

What’s the texture of this compote like? 

The blueberries break down, but not to the point that this is a completely smooth sauce – it still has a little bit of nice texture. You could use an immersion blender to carefully blend it if you want a completely smooth puree.

Recipe Variations:

  • Other Fruits – I don’t know if this exact ratio of corn starch to water and this cook time will work for other fruits as different ones have different moisture contents. See FAQs one section above for my sauce recipes for Peaches, Cherries, Strawberries, and Strawberry Rhubarb! A recipe for raspberries is coming soon! I do think this could work well with blackberries.
  • Spices – Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom if you want a hint of warm spices in your compote.
Blueberry sauce filled lemon thumbprint cookies.

Special Tools:

  • Nonstick Sauce Pan – Use this to cook your strawberry compote in, and any of my other fruit sauce recipes.
  • Mason Jars – I like using mason jars to store fruit compotes in!

Recipes to Serve Blueberry Sauce With:

  • Spoon it over slices of my Lemon Loaf
  • Layer it on top of my 4-Ingredient Cheesecake Dip
  • Top my Classic Vanilla Cheesecake with it
  • Top my Blueberry Cheesecake with it
  • Top my Chocolate Cheesecake with it
  • Serve it with Brioche French Toast
  • Enjoy it with waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, or yogurt! You can even spread it over cream cheese on your morning bagel.

More Blueberry Recipes to Love:

  • Blueberry Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
  • Double Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake
  • Strawberry Blueberry Pie
  • Baked Blueberry Streusel Donuts
  • One-Bowl Blueberry Crisp
  • Bakery-Style Blueberry Muffins
  • Skillet Blueberry Peach Cobbler

Did you make this recipe? Snap a photo and leave a comment! 

Be sure to follow bluebowlrecipes on instagram and tag #bluebowlrecipes with your photo! You can also post a photo of your recipe to the bluebowlrecipes Facebook page. I’d love to see what you make!


A jar of blueberry sauce.

Easy Blueberry Sauce (Blueberry Topping)

This Easy Homemade Blueberry Sauce comes together in minutes with just a few basic ingredients. It's a versatile topping for so many sweet treats! Enjoy it as a topping for cheesecake, spoon it over a bowl of vanilla ice cream, or serve it with slices of pound cake. It’s the perfect way to elevate any dessert!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Dessert
Keyword: Blueberry Topping, Blueberry Sauce, Blueberry Desserts
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 78kcal
Author: Stephanie Simmons

Ingredients

  • 2 and 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, divided If using frozen, do not thaw, frozen weighed 350 grams
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar 105 grams
  • 2 tsp corn starch
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp warm water
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Make the Blueberry Sauce: Add 2 cups of blueberries & the sugar to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes so the berries begin to release their juices. (Cook for 1 additional minute if using fresh blueberries.)
    Add cornstarch, lemon juice, & warm water to a small bowl and whisk to dissolve the cornstarch. Add to the pot, and bring to a heavy simmer (almost a low boil) over medium-high heat, then continue simmering over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
    Add the remaining 1/2 cup of blueberries, & cook for 2-3 minutes more, until thick enough that the blueberries hold for a second when you drag a wooden spoon through the pot (like you're parting the red sea). It should feel like a jammy sauce – not thin and runny. If it's thin, bring it back to a simmer and cook for a few more minutes to thicken.
  • Serve & Store: Chill in a bowl in the fridge at least 30 minutes (or until cold) or up to 24 hours (cover if storing longer than the minimum time).
  • Uses: See list above the recipe card for recipes to pair this sauce with!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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