Strawberry Desserts
Fresh straberries. Dessert. Put them together, as in Strawberry Desserts, and you've got a winner.
To that end, here are six strawberry desserts to help you through the day, including Strawberry S'mores Parfait Cups and Strawberry Layer Cake. 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!
STRAWBERRY S'MORES PARFAIT CUPS
This is from WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers). It begins, "These make-ahead parfaits combine the best elements of trifles and s’mores. You get soft cake, fresh fruit, and creamy “custard” just like in a trifle. And you also get hits of chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow as in a s’more. These hold up well in the fridge for up to a day, so you can make them ahead and enjoy them later."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Serves: 4; Difficulty: Easy; 5 personal points
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp powdered sugar (confectioner's)
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3 oz Angelfood cake, cubed
1 cup strawberries, raw, chopped
1/4 cup Graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup Mini marshmallows
Instructions
In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, sugar, and cocoa until well combined. Into 4 parfait glasses, evenly divide the cake cubes. Top evenly with the yogurt mixture. Divide the strawberries evenly over the yogurt mixture; sprinkle evenly with the graham cracker crumbs and marshmallows.
Serving size: 1 parfait
STRAWBERRY SLAB PIE
This is from Nicole Taylor in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Nicole wrote, "On Juneteenth, which celebrates the abolition of slavery in the United States, the picnic table overflows with summertime pies and red foods, a symbol of perseverance. That makes this festive strawberry slab pie ideal for Juneteenth, though it’d be welcome anytime in berry season. The rectangular pie is made in a quarter sheet pan; if you don't have one, use a comparably sized casserole dish. Cracked black pepper in the crust and fresh ginger in the filling add a bit of spice. This isn't an especially sugary dessert, so if you want something sweeter, top it with vanilla ice cream."
Total Time: 4 hours, plus 2 hours' cooling; Yield: 12 to 16 servings
This recipe was featured in "Hot Links and Red Drinks: The Rich Food Tradition of Juneteenth," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018797-strawberry-slab-pie.
Ingredients
For the Crust
2-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks), cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus more for buttering the pan
3/4 cup ice water
2 tablespoons buttermilk
For the Filling
3 pounds fresh strawberries, small berries cut in half and larger berries cut in quarters (see note)
3 to 4 tablespoons loosely packed dark brown sugar, depending on how sweet your berries are
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon grapefruit zest
1-1/2 teaspoons grapefruit juice
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Preparation
Make the crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, the salt and the pepper. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour until the largest pieces of butter are the size of lentils.
Sprinkle ice water over dough a tablespoon at a time, stirring and scooping the dough with your hands as you go to incorporate the water, until the dough just begins to adhere and you can gather it into an imperfect ball. (You may not need all the water.) Transfer dough to a piece of plastic wrap and press into a disk. Wrap tightly and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Lightly butter a quarter sheet pan with a 1-inch rim, including the top edge of the rim, and set aside. (Quarter sheet pans are usually 8 by 11 inches or 9 by 12 inches, depending on the manufacturer.)
Lightly flour a large work surface, a rolling pin and the dough. Roll the chilled dough into an 1/8-inch-thick rectangle. From that, cut a rectangle three inches bigger than the dimensions of your pan on each side (i.e., an 11-by-14-inch rectangle for an 8-by-11-inch pan, or a 12-by-15-inch rectangle for a 9-by-12-inch pan). Reserve the extra dough.
Gently press the dough rectangle into the quarter sheet pan, trimming excess dough at the edges. The dough should go all the way up and over the top edge of the pan, if possible. Transfer pan to refrigerator and chill for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, line another baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out reserved dough to 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 1- and 2-inch biscuit cutters, cut out about 30 circles of different sizes (or use all one size if you prefer), rerolling dough as necessary. Transfer circles to parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate.
Make the filling: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Set aside for about an hour, while crust chills.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. When oven is hot, paint some of the buttermilk on the edges of the pie crust. Transfer berry mixture to crust, patting the berries down into a roughly even layer. Place pan on a larger baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake for 30 minutes.
Paint buttermilk over reserved pastry circles and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon granulated sugar. Place circles all over the bubbling berries. Continue baking pie until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, an additional 50 to 60 minutes.
Run a small knife around the edge of the pie while it's warm. Transfer the pie in its quarter sheet pan to a wire rack. Let cool for at least 2 hours before cutting and serving from the pan.
Tip
Use smaller, fresh farm strawberries rather than conventional supermarket berries, if possible. The farm berries release less juice, which makes for a less runny filling.
STRAWBERRY LAYER CAKE
This is from Lisa Donovan in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lisa wrote, "Summer is a soft, or strong, hue of pink in the South, depending on who is making the strawberry cake. When strawberries come alive, anywhere from early March down in Louisiana to as late as June as far up as East Tennessee, Southerners take to their strawberry cakes for as many celebrations as they can. Often referred to as church cakes in the South, layer cakes reign supreme. And strawberry layer cakes take the cake as the most sought-after style for many bakers. This recipe, with a soft and moist but sturdy crumb, uses store-bought preserves, but if you can roast your own high season strawberries, it is recommended you do so. The frosting is light and ethereal. And the color? That is all up to you and how heavy you pour the red food coloring. No matter the shade of pink you aspire to, you’ll get a regal and splendid cake worthy of any high celebration or common weekday luncheon."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes; Yield: 12 servings (one 9-inch layer cake)
This was featured in "This Impressive Cake Has Many Layers," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025294-strawberry-layer-cake.
Also, check out Melissa Clark's wonderful guide, "How to Frost a Cake."
While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Why? Great recipes, great guides, and more.Ingredients
For the Cake
Baking spray (such as Baker’s Joy) or softened butter and flour, for the pans
3-3/4 cups cake flour or all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, such as Morton (or 1-3/4 teaspoons Diamond Crystal)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2-1/2cups strawberry preserves (see Tip)
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla paste
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
2-1/4 cups granulated sugar
6 medium or large eggs
1 to 2 teaspoons red food coloring gel (optional)
For the Frosting
1-1/2 cups salted butter, softened but slightly chilled
1 cup/8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons vanilla paste
1 cup strawberry preserves
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon red food coloring gel (optional)
For the Layers
1 cup strawberry preserves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of 3 (9-inch) cake pans with baking spray or butter and flour. Line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper then spray or butter and flour the top of the parchment.
Prepare the cakes: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda and whisk together until well incorporated. In a large measuring cup with a spout, combine the strawberry preserves, buttermilk and vanilla paste; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and granulated sugar on medium-high until well combined and incredibly fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping the bowl after each addition. After the last egg is added, scrape the bowl once more. Turn the speed up to medium-high and beat until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes more.
Add one third of the dry ingredients to the bowl with the butter mixture. Mix on low to medium speed until incorporated, scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl well, then add one third of the wet ingredients, scraping well after the addition. Repeat adding the dry and wet ingredients twice more, ending with the wet mixture. Scrape the sides and bottom once more, then add food coloring gel, if using, tinting to your preferred color. Beat on medium-high for 30 to 45 more seconds, really giving it a good last spin.
Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared pans. (For uniform layers, use a scale to weigh the batter.) Bake until a cake tester inserted into the centers comes out clean and the layers are lightly colored, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating the pans on their racks midway through for even baking. Let cool on wire racks until completely cooled, about 1 hour. (The cake layers can also be made ahead: Place fully cooled layers between 9-inch cake boards and wrap well with plastic film. Refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months, bringing to room temperature before frosting.)
Make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together on medium-high speed until well combined and slightly fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, scraping the bowl as needed. Switch to the whisk attachment and add the vanilla paste and strawberry preserves. Whisk until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add food coloring, if using, and tint to your preferred color, whisking until incorporated.
To assemble: Turn the cooled layers out onto a cutting board and, using a serrated knife, trim the domed tops off, making a level surface. Place 1 tablespoon frosting in the center of a serving platter or a cake board and top with 1 cake layer, cut side up. Spread 1/2 cup strawberry preserves on top of the first layer, then top with 1 generous cup frosting, spreading evenly over the preserves. If the frosting is soft, chill in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes to allow the frosting to set and firm up slightly. Repeat with the second layer, cut side up, adding preserves and then frosting. Chill 10 minutes to set frosting and then top with the final layer, cut side down.
Using a large offset spatula, spread a crumb coat (a thin layer of frosting) on the entirety of the cake, making sure the sides and top are evenly covered. Chill to set the crumb coat, 10 to 15 minutes, then cover with the remaining frosting, decorating as you like. The assembled cake can be stored at room temperature, covered with a cake stand, overnight, or refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Tip
Look for a brand of strawberry preserves that uses sugar versus high-fructose corn-syrup, such as Bonne Maman.
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 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.
To that end, here are six strawberry desserts to help you through the day, including Strawberry S'mores Parfait Cups and Strawberry Layer Cake. 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!
STRAWBERRY S'MORES PARFAIT CUPS
This is from WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers). It begins, "These make-ahead parfaits combine the best elements of trifles and s’mores. You get soft cake, fresh fruit, and creamy “custard” just like in a trifle. And you also get hits of chocolate, graham cracker, and marshmallow as in a s’more. These hold up well in the fridge for up to a day, so you can make them ahead and enjoy them later."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 15 minutes; Serves: 4; Difficulty: Easy; 5 personal points
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp powdered sugar (confectioner's)
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3 oz Angelfood cake, cubed
1 cup strawberries, raw, chopped
1/4 cup Graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup Mini marshmallows
Instructions
In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, sugar, and cocoa until well combined. Into 4 parfait glasses, evenly divide the cake cubes. Top evenly with the yogurt mixture. Divide the strawberries evenly over the yogurt mixture; sprinkle evenly with the graham cracker crumbs and marshmallows.
Serving size: 1 parfait
STRAWBERRY SLAB PIE
This is from Nicole Taylor in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Nicole wrote, "On Juneteenth, which celebrates the abolition of slavery in the United States, the picnic table overflows with summertime pies and red foods, a symbol of perseverance. That makes this festive strawberry slab pie ideal for Juneteenth, though it’d be welcome anytime in berry season. The rectangular pie is made in a quarter sheet pan; if you don't have one, use a comparably sized casserole dish. Cracked black pepper in the crust and fresh ginger in the filling add a bit of spice. This isn't an especially sugary dessert, so if you want something sweeter, top it with vanilla ice cream."
Total Time: 4 hours, plus 2 hours' cooling; Yield: 12 to 16 servings
This recipe was featured in "Hot Links and Red Drinks: The Rich Food Tradition of Juneteenth," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018797-strawberry-slab-pie.
Ingredients
For the Crust
2-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out dough
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 cup cold unsalted butter (2 sticks), cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus more for buttering the pan
3/4 cup ice water
2 tablespoons buttermilk
For the Filling
3 pounds fresh strawberries, small berries cut in half and larger berries cut in quarters (see note)
3 to 4 tablespoons loosely packed dark brown sugar, depending on how sweet your berries are
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon grapefruit zest
1-1/2 teaspoons grapefruit juice
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Preparation
Make the crust: In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, the salt and the pepper. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour until the largest pieces of butter are the size of lentils.
Sprinkle ice water over dough a tablespoon at a time, stirring and scooping the dough with your hands as you go to incorporate the water, until the dough just begins to adhere and you can gather it into an imperfect ball. (You may not need all the water.) Transfer dough to a piece of plastic wrap and press into a disk. Wrap tightly and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Lightly butter a quarter sheet pan with a 1-inch rim, including the top edge of the rim, and set aside. (Quarter sheet pans are usually 8 by 11 inches or 9 by 12 inches, depending on the manufacturer.)
Lightly flour a large work surface, a rolling pin and the dough. Roll the chilled dough into an 1/8-inch-thick rectangle. From that, cut a rectangle three inches bigger than the dimensions of your pan on each side (i.e., an 11-by-14-inch rectangle for an 8-by-11-inch pan, or a 12-by-15-inch rectangle for a 9-by-12-inch pan). Reserve the extra dough.
Gently press the dough rectangle into the quarter sheet pan, trimming excess dough at the edges. The dough should go all the way up and over the top edge of the pan, if possible. Transfer pan to refrigerator and chill for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, line another baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out reserved dough to 1/4- to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 1- and 2-inch biscuit cutters, cut out about 30 circles of different sizes (or use all one size if you prefer), rerolling dough as necessary. Transfer circles to parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate.
Make the filling: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Set aside for about an hour, while crust chills.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. When oven is hot, paint some of the buttermilk on the edges of the pie crust. Transfer berry mixture to crust, patting the berries down into a roughly even layer. Place pan on a larger baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake for 30 minutes.
Paint buttermilk over reserved pastry circles and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon granulated sugar. Place circles all over the bubbling berries. Continue baking pie until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, an additional 50 to 60 minutes.
Run a small knife around the edge of the pie while it's warm. Transfer the pie in its quarter sheet pan to a wire rack. Let cool for at least 2 hours before cutting and serving from the pan.
Tip
Use smaller, fresh farm strawberries rather than conventional supermarket berries, if possible. The farm berries release less juice, which makes for a less runny filling.
STRAWBERRY LAYER CAKE
This is from Lisa Donovan in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Lisa wrote, "Summer is a soft, or strong, hue of pink in the South, depending on who is making the strawberry cake. When strawberries come alive, anywhere from early March down in Louisiana to as late as June as far up as East Tennessee, Southerners take to their strawberry cakes for as many celebrations as they can. Often referred to as church cakes in the South, layer cakes reign supreme. And strawberry layer cakes take the cake as the most sought-after style for many bakers. This recipe, with a soft and moist but sturdy crumb, uses store-bought preserves, but if you can roast your own high season strawberries, it is recommended you do so. The frosting is light and ethereal. And the color? That is all up to you and how heavy you pour the red food coloring. No matter the shade of pink you aspire to, you’ll get a regal and splendid cake worthy of any high celebration or common weekday luncheon."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes; Yield: 12 servings (one 9-inch layer cake)
This was featured in "This Impressive Cake Has Many Layers," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025294-strawberry-layer-cake.
Also, check out Melissa Clark's wonderful guide, "How to Frost a Cake."
While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Why? Great recipes, great guides, and more.Ingredients
For the Cake
Baking spray (such as Baker’s Joy) or softened butter and flour, for the pans
3-3/4 cups cake flour or all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, such as Morton (or 1-3/4 teaspoons Diamond Crystal)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2-1/2cups strawberry preserves (see Tip)
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla paste
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
2-1/4 cups granulated sugar
6 medium or large eggs
1 to 2 teaspoons red food coloring gel (optional)
For the Frosting
1-1/2 cups salted butter, softened but slightly chilled
1 cup/8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons vanilla paste
1 cup strawberry preserves
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon red food coloring gel (optional)
For the Layers
1 cup strawberry preserves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat the bottom and sides of 3 (9-inch) cake pans with baking spray or butter and flour. Line the bottoms with rounds of parchment paper then spray or butter and flour the top of the parchment.
Prepare the cakes: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda and whisk together until well incorporated. In a large measuring cup with a spout, combine the strawberry preserves, buttermilk and vanilla paste; set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and granulated sugar on medium-high until well combined and incredibly fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well and scraping the bowl after each addition. After the last egg is added, scrape the bowl once more. Turn the speed up to medium-high and beat until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes more.
Add one third of the dry ingredients to the bowl with the butter mixture. Mix on low to medium speed until incorporated, scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl well, then add one third of the wet ingredients, scraping well after the addition. Repeat adding the dry and wet ingredients twice more, ending with the wet mixture. Scrape the sides and bottom once more, then add food coloring gel, if using, tinting to your preferred color. Beat on medium-high for 30 to 45 more seconds, really giving it a good last spin.
Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared pans. (For uniform layers, use a scale to weigh the batter.) Bake until a cake tester inserted into the centers comes out clean and the layers are lightly colored, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating the pans on their racks midway through for even baking. Let cool on wire racks until completely cooled, about 1 hour. (The cake layers can also be made ahead: Place fully cooled layers between 9-inch cake boards and wrap well with plastic film. Refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months, bringing to room temperature before frosting.)
Make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together on medium-high speed until well combined and slightly fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, scraping the bowl as needed. Switch to the whisk attachment and add the vanilla paste and strawberry preserves. Whisk until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add food coloring, if using, and tint to your preferred color, whisking until incorporated.
To assemble: Turn the cooled layers out onto a cutting board and, using a serrated knife, trim the domed tops off, making a level surface. Place 1 tablespoon frosting in the center of a serving platter or a cake board and top with 1 cake layer, cut side up. Spread 1/2 cup strawberry preserves on top of the first layer, then top with 1 generous cup frosting, spreading evenly over the preserves. If the frosting is soft, chill in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes to allow the frosting to set and firm up slightly. Repeat with the second layer, cut side up, adding preserves and then frosting. Chill 10 minutes to set frosting and then top with the final layer, cut side down.
Using a large offset spatula, spread a crumb coat (a thin layer of frosting) on the entirety of the cake, making sure the sides and top are evenly covered. Chill to set the crumb coat, 10 to 15 minutes, then cover with the remaining frosting, decorating as you like. The assembled cake can be stored at room temperature, covered with a cake stand, overnight, or refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Tip
Look for a brand of strawberry preserves that uses sugar versus high-fructose corn-syrup, such as Bonne Maman.
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 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.
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