Strawberry Filling (sweetened with honey)
If you’re looking for a wholesome, flavorful strawberry filling without red food dye, you’ve come to the right place! Mine is made with fresh strawberries, sweetened with honey, and thickened with all-purpose flour. We love using this filling to make strawberry sweet rolls. But it’s also great for cakes, pies, and more! This recipe post includes a video tutorial so you can make it alongside me, step-by-step!
This post may contain affiliate links of items I know and love. Read our disclosure policy for more information. I NEVER use AI (artificial intelligence) to create content for Plum Branch Home. Recipes, blog posts, photos, videos, podcasts, social media content: everything is made from scratch by me, Molly LaFontaine. After developing my recipes, they’re tested 2x by my husband, Tyler, and I before publishing. What you see from Plum Branch Home is real. It’s made for a reason, tested, and loved!
You’ve got to try this homemade strawberry filling in my sourdough strawberry sweet rolls! It makes the best filling for them. This is a favorite weekend breakfast recipe in our house during strawberry season.
If you want to make my sweet roll recipe but don’t have a sourdough starter, no worries! Grab a copy of my free sourdough starter eBook to make your own.
Strawberry Filling Made From Scratch
When I was developing my sourdough strawberry sweet rolls, I needed a strawberry filling, so I created a wholesome recipe out of fresh berries. It’s so simple to make. You’re going to love this recipe!
P.S. My husband loves this filling on his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in place of jelly! He says it has the best flavor and texture. So you’ll have to give that a try!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple to Make: The steps are so simple, even beginner bakers can whip it up.
- Wholesome Ingredients: Each ingredient is wholesome so you don’t have to worry about additives or junky ingredients.
- No dyes: There are zero dyes in this recipe.
- Best Flavor: The flavor of strawberries, lemon, honey, and vanilla are perfect together!
- Multiple Uses: You can use this filling for cakes, pastries, pies, and so much more.
- Texture: The texture is smooth, with little pieces of strawberry sprinkled throughout.
What Does this Strawberry Filling Taste Like?
My filling tastes like sweet strawberries mixed with honey, a zing of lemon, and a hint of vanilla. It’s the perfect blend to enhance the flavors of the berries.
Best Strawberries to Make Filling
The best berries for this filling are organic, fresh strawberries. They have the best flavor and create a wonderful filling. You can also use regular strawberries, home-grown strawberries, or even frozen.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Strawberries: I use fresh, organic strawberries for the best flavor.
- Raw Honey: This is the perfect natural swap for sugar.
- Lemon Juice: Adds the perfect freshness to the sweet berry mix.
- Vanilla: I use pure vanilla extract.
- Flour and Water: I use this for a wholesome slurry to thicken the filling.
Helpful Kitchen Tools for This Recipe
This section contains Amazon affiliate links I use and love!
- medium stainless steel saucepan
- masher
- spoon (for stirring)
- cutting board
- pairing knife
How to Make Strawberry Filling
Rinse strawberries with water and dry them with a towel.
Slice off the green tops of the berries, and then slice them into 4 pieces each.
Add sliced strawberries to a medium-sized saucepan along with honey, lemon juice, and vanilla. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes on the counter to increase flavor.
Then add in lemon juice and heat on medium heat for 15 minutes.
Stir occasionally, and use a masher or spoon to break down the fruit almost completely (leave little tiny chunks if desired but not too big).
In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and water. Then add to the pot of strawberries by whisking to combine as you’re adding it in.
Bring to a simmer on low-medium heat until the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely before using. Enjoy!
Video Tutorial
How to Store Strawberry Filling
Place cooled-down strawberry filling in an airtight container. It will last 1-2 weeks in the fridge.
Freezing Instructions
Place cooled-down filling in an airtight container and store in the freezer up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to use it.
Variations
- More flavor: Add a hint of sea salt for more falvor.
- Multiple Berries: Make this a mixed berry filling by adding in raspberries and blueberries.
- Swap the Honey: You can swap the honey for pure cane sugar if desired.
How to Use Strawberry Filling
You can use this filling for so many things! Here are a few ideas:
- to fill cakes or cupcakes
- to top cheesecake or mix into the batter
- to make strawberry pie (just pour filling into a pie crust)
- to make pastries
- for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Molly’s Tips for Success
- While cooking, mash the berries into smaller chunks to add natural color to your glaze.
- Always add a little lemon juice. It enhances the flavor of the glaze.
- You’ll want to let this filling cool before using it in a recipe.
- Don’t rush the process, you want to let the berries cook down.
FAQs
My strawberry filling is made of fresh strawberries, raw honey, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and a flour slurry.
I recommend refrigerating your filling right after it cools completely.
The main difference is texture and consistency. Filling is a little thinner than jam.
Yes, you can use this filling for pie. I highly recommend putting it in a sourdough pie crust.
This filling is perfect for cakes. You can use it for any cake or cupcake.
Yes, you can use frozen strawberries if you’d prefer. It’s best if you let them thaw overnight in the fridge. I recommend draining off any excess liquid before using them to make this recipe.
More Strawberry Desserts To Try
- Homemade Strawberry Glaze
- Strawberry Sourdough Sweet Rolls From Scratch
- Sourdough Strawberry Scones From Scratch (with chocolate chips)
- Simple Greek Yogurt Strawberry Parfait Recipe
If you made this recipe, give it a 5-star rating below and share a photo of your glaze on your social media stories! Be sure to tag @plumbranchhome
Recipe
Strawberry Filling (sweetened with honey)
Ingredients
- 3 cups sliced strawberries (about 28 berries)
- 1/3 cup raw honey
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp water
Instructions
- Rinse strawberries with water and dry them with a towel.
- Slice off the green tops of the berries, and then slice them into 4 pieces each.
- Add sliced strawberries to a medium-sized saucepan along with honey, lemon juice, and vanilla. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes on the counter to increase flavor.
- Then add in lemon juice and heat on medium heat for 15 minutes.
- Stir occasionally, and use a masher or spoon to break down the fruit almost completely (leave little tiny chunks if desired but not too big).
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and water. Then add to the pot of strawberries by whisking to combine as you're adding it in.
- Bring to a simmer on low-medium heat until the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely before using. Enjoy!
Video