Strawberry cocktails are very popular because strawberry provides the perfect sweetness to balance out the strong alcohol flavor. Many of these strawberry cocktails are made with strawberry puree.
You have two main options when searching for strawberry puree for cocktails. You can purchase pre-made strawberry puree, or you can make strawberry puree yourself at home.
Below we will go over the best pre-made strawberry purees on the market, as well as a few ways to make strawberry puree at home. Let’s dive in.
Premade Strawberry Puree
Sometimes it is just easier to buy the ingredients for your cocktail than to take the time to make every component. These pre-made strawberry purees will taste as if you made them yourself.
Funkin Strawberry Puree
Funkin Strawberry Puree is a popular choice for bars and mixologists. It is made from sun-ripened strawberries at the peak of the season and real cane sugar.
Funkin Purees are also non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, Kosher, and Halal. When it comes to allergens, this is a safe choice unless you are allergic to strawberries, of course!
Their packaging is easy to pour and open, completely resealable, and BPA-free. You can also freeze it to ensure it stays fresh longer. This is a great benefit because the Strawberry Funkin Puree is sold in large batches of over 2 pounds each.
Strawberry Jungle Pulp
Strawberry Jungle Pulp is an awesome selection if you support green practices.
They use strawberries grown on local farms in Costa Rica, which is highly sustainable because Costa Rica has strict environmental laws for growing and harvesting produce. They also use local sugar cane to sweeten their puree, so you can guarantee this product supports small local communities, farms, and their families.
It comes in a PET bottle, so it is easy to pour and reseal. Since it is pasteurized, simply refrigerate after opening, and you’ll have yummy strawberry puree whenever you need it.
The Strawberry Jungle Pulp can also be used in salad dressings, desserts, and more. That is if you have some leftovers after your cocktails.
Island Oasis Strawberry
The Island Oasis Strawberry Mix is made from fresh strawberries and real cane sugar. Island Oasis is a part of the Forest Stewardship Council, so not only are all of their ingredients fresh, but their packaging is responsibly sourced and sustainable.
It is gluten-free with no artificial high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors. Island Oasis Strawberry mix is perfect for your cocktails, resealable, and comes in convenient, recyclable 1-liter carton bottles.
Primor Natural Fruit Strawberry Puree
Primor Strawberry Puree is simply delicious. Made from fresh fruit and sweetened with all-natural cane sugar, you won’t find any processed sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners. It is vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and Kosher, which is great for those with dietary restrictions.
It comes in one-gallon increments with an easy pour handle and a resealable lid. The Primor Strawberry Puree should be refrigerated but can also be frozen. The cocktail options are endless!
Strawberry Real
Strawberry Real was created with mixologists in mind. They use handy squeezable bottles with a wide mouth opening to prevent waste and a spout that lends itself well to drip-free mixing. No more sticky fingers!
It has a high-intensity concentrated flavor that comes from Albion, Camorosa, and Ventana strawberries hand-picked in California and is sweetened with 100% cane sugar. A little Strawberry Real will go a long way in your strawberry cocktails.
Finest Call Strawberry
Finest Call has been a popular brand in bars for years, largely due to its quality, affordable pricing, and bartender-friendly packaging.
All of the Finest Call purees have a spout similar to the ones they use for liquor, except these are larger to accommodate the thickness of purees and seals, making them great for high-speed pouring.
The Finest Call Strawberry Puree mix uses Albion, Camorsa, and Ventana strawberries from California picked at the peak of the harvest season and a patented, FDA-approved gentle processing method to ensure the best flavor, color, and shelf-life. They also use a two-step purification and filtration process with their water to go the extra mile in curating a clean, vibrant flavor.
Monin Strawberry Puree
Monin Strawberry Puree has put in the work to not only be sustainable but allergen-friendly and easy to pour.
Some of their sustainable initiatives include BPA-free bottles, recyclable boxes made with 30% recycled content, biodegradable water-based ink with no pollutants for branding, and using waste syrup to feed the bees. Just their syrup recycling has fed over 350 billion bees since 2008.
The Monin Strawberry syrup also is non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, Halal, and Kosher with no artificial colors, flavors, ingredients, preservatives, or sweeteners. Instead, they use fresh strawberries complete with the seeds and flash pasteurization to develop their authentic, highly concentrated strawberry flavor.
Despite the packaging being completely sustainable, it is still easy to store and pour from. It has a resealable pour spout, slim profile, and textured bottleneck for grip.
Homemade Strawberry Puree Recipes
Homemade strawberry puree can be made in a variety of ways and with various equipment. Don’t want to use the stove? There’s a recipe for that. Don’t have a blender? We’ve got you. Check out these homemade strawberry puree recipes and have some fun making your cocktails.
Strawberry Puree Recipe
This Strawberry Puree Recipe by Sugar Geek Show allows you to skip the blender or food processor. Though the final result is a bit chunkier, it adds great texture to your cocktails. You can also make it with fresh or frozen strawberries.
Simply chop up fresh strawberries or thaw frozen strawberries and add them to a small saucepan. Simmer the mixture on medium heat until strawberries begin to break down, the extra liquid is just about gone, and the sauce thickens. Then add sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and just a pinch of salt and stir.
Let the fresh strawberry puree cool before adding it to your cocktail, and feel free to freeze extra in an airtight container.
This strawberry puree recipe by Food with Feeling uses both a blender or food processor as well as the stove, but the finished puree is a smooth strawberry sauce with tons of fresh strawberry flavor.
To make this recipe, add frozen or fresh berries with the stems removed, granulated sugar, and optional lemon juice and lemon zest to a pot and let it cook on medium heat until it breaks down and thickens.
At this point, you can add more sugar to make it sweeter or even keep cooking a little longer for a thicker version. Then, once it has the perfect taste, let it cool for a bit and use an immersion blender, food processor, or blender to blend until smooth.
Strawberry Puree
The Strawberry Puree by A Couple Cooks doesn’t require a stove, so during those warmer months, you don’t have to heat up the kitchen. It is also quite flexible.
The basic recipe is to combine strawberries with granulated sugar and fresh lemon juice, then blend in a blender or food processor.
However, if you want to make frozen strawberry puree, you can use frozen strawberries. You can also choose your sweetener if you don’t want to use white sugar. Try maple syrup, honey, agave, or coconut sugar.
Tips for Making Homemade Strawberry Puree
There are a few things to know in order to make the best strawberry puree at home. Here are some tips.
Fresh vs. Frozen
Though you can use fresh or frozen strawberries to make a fresh puree, there are some differences. If you have gone strawberry picking and have an abundance of fresh strawberries, the puree is a great way to use them up before they get too ripe. Fresh, juicy strawberries also make delicious garnishes for strawberry drinks, so they are more versatile.
However, frozen strawberries can often be more affordable and widely available throughout the year. Feel free to make a strawberry puree with fresh or frozen berries depending on your situation. At the end of the day, either way, you’ll have a delicious drink.
Level of Sweetness
Keep in mind that different sweeteners and how much you use them are going to provide a different sweetness. If you like your drinks sweet, consider adding more sweetener to your puree, but if you like them on the tart side, adding more lemon juice may be the way to go. Every strawberry will have a slightly different starting sweetness, so taste as you go!
Storing
Strawberry puree is excellent for drink recipes, but it can also be used in cakes and desserts or as a refreshing topping for ice cream or yogurt. If you make a big batch of homemade strawberry puree to save prep time later or use for all of your summer treats, you’ll want to make sure you store it properly. The homemade strawberry puree will last one to two weeks in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer in an airtight container. Don’t leave it out on the counter!
Cocktails to Try With Strawberry Puree
Once you have made your favorite strawberry puree recipe or purchased a pre-made one, try making one of these tasty drinks!
Strawberry Daiquiri
A strawberry daiquiri uses your strawberry puree, vodka or light rum, and lime juice to become the perfect summer cocktail. On the rocks or blended with ice for a frozen treat, the choice is yours!
Strawberry Margarita
Add your strawberry puree to your favorite margarita recipe to enjoy a strawberry margarita. It sweetens up the otherwise tart margarita and will have you sipping all night long!
Strawberry Vodka Cocktail
Vodka is the perfect complement to your strawberry puree. Mix your puree with lemonade and vodka for a strawberry lemonade cocktail, or shake it with strawberry vodka for an awesome strawberry martini!
Try These Strawberry Puree Options
Whether you make strawberry puree yourself or buy a pre-made one, it makes for a delicious addition to a variety of cocktails. These are the best to buy or make, so get to it and enjoy a refreshing cocktail with strawberry puree.
