Because sometimes the most delicious things can be the simplest

Berry Sauce for Ice Cream (and more!)

This weekend I sat staring at the half gallon of vanilla ice cream that’s been left over from the past few birthday celebrations we’ve had. It looked so lonely, and I wanted to find a way to use it up before our freezer becomes filled with canned jams and frozen corn (spoiler alert: it already has)

An epiphany lead me to pull out the Instant Pot and got to making a recipe that we would make summer after summer. Just fruit, lemon juice, and sugar. Essentially jam, but there’s something special about putting it over vanilla ice cream and savoring the fresh flavors of summer.

• The difference of a 3 ingredient dessert
• Why berries?
• Recipe + Printable Recipe Card
• Canning Fruit Puree
• FAQ’s
• Pin for Later

Why this Berry Sauce Recipe is Different

This is one of those recipes where the simpler the better. Using only 3 ingredients lets each of the flavors meld together perfectly and when it comes to thickening the sauce? Citrus fruits are naturally rich in pectin so there’s no need to add pectin or cornstarch.

What texture is this topping? Think sugar glazed fruit, like in pie filling or fruit jam

I call this my “last minute” dessert for two reasons. One, it’s made with ingredients I know I have on hand and second, it can be made in under 30 minutes and all you have to do is pour it over your dessert of choice. When our vanilla ice cream is gone I want to try this with my homemade donuts!

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Why should I use Berries?

The softness of the berries allows for the goodness to leak out when introduced to heat: pectin, sugar, natural pigments, all of it.

Each berry brings a different experience: the sweetness of a strawberry, the tartness of the raspberry, or the flavorful combination of multiple berries.

For me, this recipe is accompanied by memories of helping the kids lace up their shoes, handing out ice cream buckets, and heading out to watch them pick the most vibrant berries they could find whether it was searching in our backyard for strawberries or walking through blueberry bushes on a trip up north.

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Fresh Fruit Topping Recipe

Equipment

• Instant Pot

Ingredients

• 4 cups Quartered Fruit
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

Steps

1. Wash Fruit
2. Add fruit and sugar to the Instant Pot and stir. Allow them to marinate for an hour or until the fruit is juicy.
3. Add in fresh lemon juice and mix well
4. Cover and lock the lip and pressure cook or use the manual button and adjust the timer to 1 minute. When the timer beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release until the float valve drops. This takes approximately 15 minutes – then unlock the lid.
5. Using a potato masher or blender, blend the sauce until the desired consistency.
6. Press the Saute button on the pot and boil for 5 minutes or until the sauce reaches the desired gel state. Skim off and discard any foam.
7. Pour into mason jar to store and enjoy! (or, canning instructions below)

Printable Recipe Card

How to Can this Berry Jam

The natural acidity of berries combined with the lemon juice make this a safe and ideal combination for canning. Canning in an airtight container will give you up to 8-10 months in the freezer.

1. Ladle into hot, sterilized glass containers or jars, leaving 1/2″ headspace.
2. Seal the containers or jars following the instructions that came with your canning jars.
3. Allow to the sauce to cool and then serve. Store remaining mixture in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid for up to a couple weeks in the refrigerator or up to 10 months in the freezer.

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Questions about Homemade Berry Sauce

Pin for Later!

More Fruit Forward Desserts

• Homemade Peach Crisp
• Grandma’s Rhubarb Crisp
• Strawberry Pretzel Rice Krispie Treats
• Rhubarb Cooler

I’ll let you get to it – grab a spoonful (or three) and enjoy!