Strawberry Desserts

Desserts are wonderful. So are strawberries. Add the two together (as in Strawberry Desserts), and we're talking something very yummy.

To that end, here are six strawberry desserts to help you through the day, including Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies, Strawberry Maple Oat Cookies, and Strawberry Balsamic Ice Cream. Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY PIE



Several summers ago, my daughter and I checked out a local fruit stand and came away with a quart of strawberries. They were on sale for $3 for a quart, so how could we pass them up?

Of course, then we had to decide what to do with all these yummy strawberries. And what better use for them than in a pie? So, here goes what I made.



Ingredients

1 quart strawberries

1 C sugar

3 Tablespoons corn start

3/4 cup hot water

1 pie crust

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place pie crust in an ungreased pie pan. Using a fork, pierce crust a couple of times (though don't go overboard), and bake for 10 - 15 minutes, or until lightly brown.

Note: If you're using a store-bought pie crust, bake until brown according to the package directions.

Wash strawberries. Cut up half of the berries (about 1 pint) and arrange in pie crust. You don't need to cut the strawberries too small; maybe in half or, for larger strawberries, in fourths.

Mash the remaining berries and place in a medium saucepan. Pour sugar over the strawberries in the pan and combine. Cook over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

In a small bowl, whisk hot water and cornstarch together, then stir into boiling strawberry mixture. Reduce heat, then simmer until mixture has thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour thickened mixture over berries in pie crust. Chill for several hours before serving. Oh, and be sure to share!

EASY FRESH STRAWBERRY PIE

This is from Laurel Randolph at Simply Recipes. For this recipe, Laurel wrote, "My whole life, I’ve never had my fill of strawberries. When berry season rolls around, all I want is perfectly ripe, sweet strawberries day and night. As a kid, my mom would have to cut me off, knowing I’d eat the freshly picked berries from the farm down the road until my stomach ached. And my cravings don’t stop at plain berries, either—strawberry desserts, like strawberry cake and strawberry pie are equally welcome."

Prep Time 15 minutes; Cook Time 10 minutes; Chill Time 4 hours; Total Time 4 hours 25 minutes; Servings 8 servings; Yield 1 (9-inch) pie

To view this online, go to https://www.simplyrecipes.com/fresh-strawberry-pie-recipe-8654730.

Ingredients

1 (9-inch) graham cracker or deep dish pastry pie crust

2 pounds fresh strawberries, divided, plus a few extra for garnish

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup water

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional

2 cups whipped cream (made from 1 cup of heavy whipping cream) or whipped topping

Directions

Prepare the crust, if needed:

If you’re using a store-bought graham cracker crust, then all you need to do is unwrap it. If you’re using a frozen or refrigerated pastry pie crust, bake according to the package directions and let cool before using.

Prep the strawberries:

Cap the strawberries and slice them in half; you should have 6 to 7 cups. If your strawberries are huge, you may want to quarter them. Add about 4 cups of them to a medium pot, and set the remaining strawberries aside.

Mash the strawberries in the pot slightly with a potato masher or fork. Add the sugar to the pot and stir.

Cook the pie filling:

Turn on the heat to medium and stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves.

Meanwhile, combine the water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Whisk together with a fork until fully combined.

Once the strawberry mixture is boiling and the sugar has dissolved, add the cornstarch and water mixture while stirring. Stir continuously as the mixture comes up to a boil, then boil while stirring for 1 to 2 minutes. The filling will thicken and turn from opaque to clear when it’s ready. Turn off the heat.

Fill the pie:

Add the remaining strawberries to the pot along with the lemon juice, if using, and stir to coat all of the berries. Add the filling to the prepared crust and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 4 hours; 12 to 24 hours is even better.

Simple Tip!

Depending on the size of your pan and pie crust, you might end up with a little extra filling. Reserve the extra in a covered container and refrigerate, enjoying it later with vanilla ice cream or yogurt.

Serve:

When ready to serve, pipe or mound whipped cream onto the center of the top of the pie and garnish with a few halved strawberries, or serve the whipped cream alongside for dolloping on each slice.

STRAWBERRY CAKE

This is from Laurel Randolph at Simply Recipes. For this recipe, Laurel wrote, "I’m one of three sisters, and all of our birthdays are within a few weeks of each other. My poor mother would make each of us a birthday cake, lighting the candles and going through the whole birthday party rigamarole week after week. She’d ask each of us what kind of cake we wanted, and while we tried to mix things up to keep it interesting, all any of us really wanted was a strawberry cake.

"My mother made countless vibrant pink strawberry layer cakes, and we gobbled them up. I called her up when I started the recipe development process, and she revealed that the strawberry cakes she made for us growing up contained strawberry Jell-O, giving the cake its bright hue.

"When one of my sisters requested a strawberry cake as her wedding cake, my mother went back to the drawing board, making a semi-homemade and superior version using puréed strawberries and strawberry cake mix.

"I wanted to recapture the strawberry cake magic I remember from my childhood in a homemade recipe. It took a lot of testing, but I finally ended up with a cake I’m delighted with—moist, tender, with tons of real strawberry flavor. And it’s incredibly easy to make!"

Prep Time 30 minutes; Cook Time 40 minutes; Cool Time 60 minutes; Total Time 2 hrs 10 minutes; Servings 10 servings; Yield 1 (2-layer) cake

To view this online, go to https://www.simplyrecipes.com/strawberry-cake-recipe-8650303.

Ingredients

For the cake

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs, room temperature

2/3 cup strawberry jam, room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Red food coloring or gel, as desired, optional

For the frosting

1 cup (22g) freeze-dried strawberries

1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

3 cups powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

Up to 3 tablespoons milk, as needed

A handful of fresh strawberries, sliced, for decoration

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Grease two 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with rounds of parchment and lightly grease the paper.

Combine the dry ingredients:

To make the cake, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

Make the cake batter:

Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer. Beat at medium speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until well combined after each addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.

Add half of the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Add the strawberry jam and mix until combined. Mix in the rest of the dry ingredients, scrape down the bowl, then add the sour cream, vanilla, and red food coloring, if using. Mix just until combined and no streaks of flour remain.

Bake:

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared baking pans. Gently spread into an even layer.

Bake until a tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Set the pans on a cooling rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Carefully invert the pans on the rack, remove the pans, and peel off the parchment. Let cool completely.

Make the strawberry powder:

Once the cakes are cool, make the frosting. Add the freeze-dried strawberries to a spice grinder or mini food processor and process until a fine powder forms. Alternatively, place the fruit in a zip-top bag and pound using a rolling pin or similar instrument.

Simple Tip!

Make sure that whatever you use to grind up the freeze-dried strawberries is completely dry.

STRAWBERRY MAPLE OAT COOKIES

This is from Crofter’s Organic, and was featured in the December 2018 issue of Taste For Life, which I’d picked up at one of my favorite places, Rollin’ Oats in St. Petersburg, Florida. If you’re ever in St. Pete (especially if you live nearby), check it out!

Anyway, the recipe begins, “This recipe is far from your grandma’s oatmeal cookie. These cookies are the epitome of summer - chewy oatmeal goodness bursting with juicy strawberry flavor all thanks to our strawberry premium fruit spread. Count us in. This flavor combination is one for the books and will take your cookie game to the next level. Not to mention, they’re healthier than your average cookie but shhh no one needs to know. That’s because they taste great. Give them a try and see for yourself! Yum!”

Serves 6 - 8; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes.

Check them out online at https://croftersorganic.com/recipe/strawberry-maple-oat-cookies/.

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt

1 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder

1/2 cup coarsely ground walnuts

1 egg

2 tablespoons coconut oil melted and cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 cup Crofter’s Organic Strawberry Premium Fruit Spread

Directions

In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients - flour, oats, baking powder, and salt. Add spices and walnuts. Mix all together until combined.

In a separate bowl whisk the egg, coconut oil, vanilla, and maple syrup. Mix well with a whisk until well combined.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix. Finally, stir in the diced strawberries. Mix gently with a spoon. Let the mixture sit for few minutes.

Preheat oven to 356F (180C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

With a scoop or spoon, scoop the dough, and place it on the baking sheet. Arrange the cookies 2-inches apart. Slightly flatten the dough with the spoon.

Bake 12-15 minutes until the edges of the cookies begin to brown.

Remove cookies from the oven, and let them cool for few minutes on a baking sheet. Then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE BROWNIES

This is from Ree Drummond on the Food Network.

Active Time: 25 minutes; Total: 6 hours (includes cooling and chilling times); Yield: 8 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/strawberry-cheesecake-brownies-5237476.

Ingredients

Brownies:

Nonstick cooking spray, for the pan and parchment

1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Cheesecake Layer:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam

Directions

For the brownies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment, leaving 2 inches overhanging on 2 sides. Grease the parchment with cooking spray.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter with the chocolate, whisking until smooth and fully melted. Whisk in the cocoa powder until combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the granulated and brown sugar until combined. Whisking constantly, add the eggs and mix until fully incorporated. Add the flour and whisk until completely smooth; the mixture will be very thick. Set aside.

For the cheesecake layer: Beat the cream cheese in a bowl with an electric mixer or in the bowl of stand mixer until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and vanilla and continue to mix until fully incorporated and fluffy. Add the egg and mix until fully combined.

Spoon the brownie mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, using a spatula to spread it into an even layer. Carefully pour the cheesecake mixture over the brownie layer; distribute evenly and smooth.

Stir the strawberry jam with a spoon to loosen it. Drop spoonfuls of the jam over the cheesecake mixture. Using a toothpick or skewer, swirl the jam into the cheesecake, being careful not to press too deep and disturb the brownie layer.

Fill a separate baking dish with hot water and place on the bottom rack of the oven. This will add moisture to the oven during baking so the cheesecake layer does not crack. Place the cheesecake brownie pan on the center rack above and bake for 40 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave in the oven for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove the brownies from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan. Refrigerate the pan until the brownies are chilled, 2 to 4 hours. Using the parchment edges, transfer the brownies to a board, then remove the parchment from under. Trim off the edges and cut into 8 bars.

STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC ICE CREAM

This comes from Audra (otherwise known as The Baker Chick). I absolutely love her site; it’s one of the ones that I go back to time and again. If you haven’t signed up for her emails, I highly recommend doing so. Go ahead, I’ll wait…

Yield: about 1 quart

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

For the strawberries:

3 cups strawberries, hulled and quartered

2-1/2 tablespoons of sugar

2 tsp. balsamic vinegar

For the custard base:

5 egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

1-3/4 cups heavy cream

3/4 cup milk (any fat content besides skim will be fine, but I used whole.)

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tsp. balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon vodka (optional but recommended)

Instructions

In a small saucepan, combine the strawberries and 2-1/2 tablespoons of sugar. Stir until berries are cooked and soft, about 5 minutes, stir in 2 teaspoons of balsamic and pureé with an immersion blender or in a regular blender. Set aside.

In a larger saucepan combine the egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, heavy cream, milk and salt. Cook on low heat, stirring with a whisk constantly until it starts to thicken.

Continue to stir with a spoon until the custard coats the back and a line remains when you run your finger down the spoon.

Stir in the strawberry pureé and the remaining 2 teaspoons of balsamic and the vodka if using. (It helps keep the ice cream from getting too frozen.)

Cool thoroughly (ideally overnight.)

Churn according to your ice cream maker's instructions and enjoy right away (soft serve consistency,) or freeze for a few hours to firm it up.

Notes: Recipe adapted from the cookbook: Sweet Cream and Sugar Cones.

Comments

Popular Posts