Strawberry Desserts
Since it's almost time for Florida's annual Strawberry Festival, I figured I'd post Strawberry Desserts. Check out the Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream, the Strawberry Frosted Layer Cake, and the rest of today's yumminess. And if you have a chance to visit the Strawberry Festival, do so. 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-RHUBARB UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
This is from Molly O'Neil in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Molly wrote, “This humble dessert would never win a beauty contest when pitted against a towering layer cake swirled with frosting, but what it lacks in looks, it makes up in flavor and simplicity of preparation. The cake itself is light yet moist and soaks up the juice released by the strawberries and rhubarb while baking. Sliced almonds add a gentle crunch. It can be a bit tricky to unmold, so don't forget to line the pan with parchment and grease it generously with butter.” Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes; makes 8 to 10 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
The topping:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons for greasing the pan
3/4 cup light-brown sugar
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1 pint strawberries (about 12 ounces), stemmed, hulled and halved
3 cups rhubarb, trimmed, cut across into 1/4-inch-thick slices, blanched for 2 minutes and drained well
The cake:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch round pan (at least 2 inches deep) with parchment paper and grease the parchment with 1 to 2 teaspoons softened butter. To make the topping, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Add the brown sugar to the remaining butter and cook until the sugar is melted, stirring until smooth. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Scatter the almonds over the brown-sugar mixture. Arrange the strawberries over the almonds in concentric circles, cut-side up. Top with the rhubarb and set aside.
To make the cake, using an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine the vanilla with the milk. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
Spread the batter over the fruit in the pan. Bake until the cake springs back when touched in the center, about 1 hour. (Cover the cake with foil if the top browns too much before the cake is done.) Remove the cake from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a cake plate. Replace any fruit that sticks to the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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 FROSTED LAYER CAKE
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "The star of this beautiful cake is the fresh strawberry buttercream frosting that’s bursting with summer flavor. As impressive as it looks, this cake is made easy with Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ white cake mix."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Cake
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix
Water, vegetable oil and whole eggs called for on cake mix box
Frosting
3/4 cup butter, softened
4 oz (half of 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened
4-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup seedless strawberry jam
1 teaspoon vanilla
Betty Crocker™ Red Gel Food Color
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries (about 10 medium)
Decoration
Whole fresh strawberries
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide evenly between pans.
Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
In large bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. On low speed, beat in powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in strawberry jam and vanilla until blended. Tint frosting with food color to desired color.
Place one cake layer rounded side down on serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup of the frosting on top. Place 1/2 cup sliced strawberries, in single layer, on frosting layer to within 1/2 inch from edge of cake. Top with second cake layer, rounded side down. Spread 2/3 cup of the frosting on top and add remaining sliced strawberries; top with third cake layer rounded side up. Frost sides and top of cake with remaining frosting. Refrigerate cake at least 1 hour before serving. Place whole strawberries in center on top of cake. Store any remaining cake loosely covered in refrigerator.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
If baking three layers but not all three fit in the oven, refrigerate one pan of batter until others are baked, and then bake remaining layer separately.
tip 2
When making frosting, be sure the butter and cream cheese are softened before beating with electric mixer. This, and scraping the bowl, will help your frosting be smooth and lump free.
tip 3
To keep your serving plate clean while frosting this cake, place strips of waxed paper around edge of plate. Remove after frosting is complete.
tip 4
A cake decorating turntable is helpful when frosting a cake. It allows you to turn the cake as you frost, which make it easier to smooth the surface.
FRESH STRAWBERRY PIE
This is from Samantha Seneviratne in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Samantha wrote, “This pie is a celebration of perfectly ripe, summertime strawberries. Only two cups of the berries are cooked down into a quick jam, which holds the rest of the fruit together for a delightfully fresh pie. With a crunchy shortbread crust and a cloud of freshly whipped cream, it’s reminiscent of strawberry shortcake — but maybe even better.”
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019379-fresh-strawberry-pie
Ingredients
For the Crust
10-2/3 ounces shortbread cookies (2 5.3-ounce packages)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling
2-1/2 pounds strawberries (about 8 to 10 cups), hulled
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons strawberry preserves
1/4 cup cornstarch
Pinch of kosher salt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For the Topping
1 cup cold heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
Preparation
Prepare crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, combine shortbread cookies, sugar, flour and salt and blend until you have fine crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a medium mixing bowl. Add butter and mix with a fork until crumbs are evenly moistened. Tip crumbs into a standard 9-inch pie plate and press them in an even layer on the bottom and up the sides of the plate. Bake until golden brown and set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Prepare filling: Cut each of the strawberries in quarters or eighths, if they are large. Transfer 2 cups berries to a small saucepan and crush completely with a potato masher. Set aside the remaining berries in a large bowl. Add the sugar, preserves, cornstarch, 1 tablespoon water and salt to the saucepan.
Bring strawberry mixture to a boil over medium heat and then cook it an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add strawberry mixture and lemon juice to the strawberries in the bowl and stir to combine. Transfer to the prepared crust and gently tap it down into an even layer. Transfer to the fridge to set for at least 4 hours.
Just before serving, whip cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla, if using, to soft peaks. Top pie with whipped cream.
HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM
This comes from Authentic Florida (originally posted on Feb. 20, 2018, and sent out again on January 14, 2021). The recipe begins, "Did you know that Plant City, Florida is the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World?!? Right now (February) is the perfect time to take a trip to Plant City or to your local pick your own strawberry field and fill up a bucket of fresh, delicious strawberries. Grocery stores and farmers’ markets are also keeping a plentiful inventory. Read on to see how to use these delicious fresh-picked berries for an authentic Florida fresh Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe.
"Enjoy this easy recipe and the delightful pleasure of making your own homemade ice cream."
This can be viewed online at https://authenticflorida.com/articles/homemade-strawberry-ice-cream/.
Ingredients for Florida Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
3 Cups fresh Florida strawberries, stemmed and sliced
4 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1-1/2 Cups of sugar divided (1/2 cup & 1 full cup)
1-1/2 Cups of whole milk
2-3/4 Cups heavy cream
1-1/2 Teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions
Step One
In a small bowl, combine the strawberries with the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of the sugar.
Stir gently and allow the strawberries to macerate in the juices for 2 hours.
Using a strainer, strain the berries, reserving the juices.
Then, mash or puree half the berries.
Step Two
In medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the milk and remaining granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1-2 minutes. If you don’t have a mixer, use a hand whisk for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the heavy cream, reserved strawberry juice, mashed strawberries and vanilla.
Step Three
Turn the machine on; pour the mixture into the freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened about 20-25 minutes.
Five minutes before the mixing is completed, add the reserved sliced strawberries and let mix in completely.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, don’t despair, you don’t need one, just:
Pour in the reserved strawberries, mix and place into a plastic container covered with a tight lid and chill in the freezer overnight, stirring occasionally until hardened.
Note: The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.
Adapted from Cuisinart recipe.
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-RHUBARB UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
This is from Molly O'Neil in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Molly wrote, “This humble dessert would never win a beauty contest when pitted against a towering layer cake swirled with frosting, but what it lacks in looks, it makes up in flavor and simplicity of preparation. The cake itself is light yet moist and soaks up the juice released by the strawberries and rhubarb while baking. Sliced almonds add a gentle crunch. It can be a bit tricky to unmold, so don't forget to line the pan with parchment and grease it generously with butter.” Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes; makes 8 to 10 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
The topping:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons for greasing the pan
3/4 cup light-brown sugar
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1 pint strawberries (about 12 ounces), stemmed, hulled and halved
3 cups rhubarb, trimmed, cut across into 1/4-inch-thick slices, blanched for 2 minutes and drained well
The cake:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-inch round pan (at least 2 inches deep) with parchment paper and grease the parchment with 1 to 2 teaspoons softened butter. To make the topping, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Add the brown sugar to the remaining butter and cook until the sugar is melted, stirring until smooth. Spread the mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Scatter the almonds over the brown-sugar mixture. Arrange the strawberries over the almonds in concentric circles, cut-side up. Top with the rhubarb and set aside.
To make the cake, using an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Combine the vanilla with the milk. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined.
Spread the batter over the fruit in the pan. Bake until the cake springs back when touched in the center, about 1 hour. (Cover the cake with foil if the top browns too much before the cake is done.) Remove the cake from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a cake plate. Replace any fruit that sticks to the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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 FROSTED LAYER CAKE
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "The star of this beautiful cake is the fresh strawberry buttercream frosting that’s bursting with summer flavor. As impressive as it looks, this cake is made easy with Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ white cake mix."
Prep Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes; Servings: 12
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Cake
1 box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix
Water, vegetable oil and whole eggs called for on cake mix box
Frosting
3/4 cup butter, softened
4 oz (half of 8-oz package) cream cheese, softened
4-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup seedless strawberry jam
1 teaspoon vanilla
Betty Crocker™ Red Gel Food Color
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries (about 10 medium)
Decoration
Whole fresh strawberries
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide evenly between pans.
Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
In large bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese with electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. On low speed, beat in powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in strawberry jam and vanilla until blended. Tint frosting with food color to desired color.
Place one cake layer rounded side down on serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup of the frosting on top. Place 1/2 cup sliced strawberries, in single layer, on frosting layer to within 1/2 inch from edge of cake. Top with second cake layer, rounded side down. Spread 2/3 cup of the frosting on top and add remaining sliced strawberries; top with third cake layer rounded side up. Frost sides and top of cake with remaining frosting. Refrigerate cake at least 1 hour before serving. Place whole strawberries in center on top of cake. Store any remaining cake loosely covered in refrigerator.
Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
tip 1
If baking three layers but not all three fit in the oven, refrigerate one pan of batter until others are baked, and then bake remaining layer separately.
tip 2
When making frosting, be sure the butter and cream cheese are softened before beating with electric mixer. This, and scraping the bowl, will help your frosting be smooth and lump free.
tip 3
To keep your serving plate clean while frosting this cake, place strips of waxed paper around edge of plate. Remove after frosting is complete.
tip 4
A cake decorating turntable is helpful when frosting a cake. It allows you to turn the cake as you frost, which make it easier to smooth the surface.
FRESH STRAWBERRY PIE
This is from Samantha Seneviratne in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Samantha wrote, “This pie is a celebration of perfectly ripe, summertime strawberries. Only two cups of the berries are cooked down into a quick jam, which holds the rest of the fruit together for a delightfully fresh pie. With a crunchy shortbread crust and a cloud of freshly whipped cream, it’s reminiscent of strawberry shortcake — but maybe even better.”
Yield: 8 to 10 servings; Time: 45 minutes, plus chilling
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019379-fresh-strawberry-pie
Ingredients
For the Crust
10-2/3 ounces shortbread cookies (2 5.3-ounce packages)
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling
2-1/2 pounds strawberries (about 8 to 10 cups), hulled
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons strawberry preserves
1/4 cup cornstarch
Pinch of kosher salt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For the Topping
1 cup cold heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
Preparation
Prepare crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, combine shortbread cookies, sugar, flour and salt and blend until you have fine crumbs. Transfer crumbs to a medium mixing bowl. Add butter and mix with a fork until crumbs are evenly moistened. Tip crumbs into a standard 9-inch pie plate and press them in an even layer on the bottom and up the sides of the plate. Bake until golden brown and set, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Prepare filling: Cut each of the strawberries in quarters or eighths, if they are large. Transfer 2 cups berries to a small saucepan and crush completely with a potato masher. Set aside the remaining berries in a large bowl. Add the sugar, preserves, cornstarch, 1 tablespoon water and salt to the saucepan.
Bring strawberry mixture to a boil over medium heat and then cook it an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add strawberry mixture and lemon juice to the strawberries in the bowl and stir to combine. Transfer to the prepared crust and gently tap it down into an even layer. Transfer to the fridge to set for at least 4 hours.
Just before serving, whip cream, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla, if using, to soft peaks. Top pie with whipped cream.
HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM
This comes from Authentic Florida (originally posted on Feb. 20, 2018, and sent out again on January 14, 2021). The recipe begins, "Did you know that Plant City, Florida is the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World?!? Right now (February) is the perfect time to take a trip to Plant City or to your local pick your own strawberry field and fill up a bucket of fresh, delicious strawberries. Grocery stores and farmers’ markets are also keeping a plentiful inventory. Read on to see how to use these delicious fresh-picked berries for an authentic Florida fresh Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe.
"Enjoy this easy recipe and the delightful pleasure of making your own homemade ice cream."
This can be viewed online at https://authenticflorida.com/articles/homemade-strawberry-ice-cream/.
Ingredients for Florida Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
3 Cups fresh Florida strawberries, stemmed and sliced
4 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1-1/2 Cups of sugar divided (1/2 cup & 1 full cup)
1-1/2 Cups of whole milk
2-3/4 Cups heavy cream
1-1/2 Teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions
Step One
In a small bowl, combine the strawberries with the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of the sugar.
Stir gently and allow the strawberries to macerate in the juices for 2 hours.
Using a strainer, strain the berries, reserving the juices.
Then, mash or puree half the berries.
Step Two
In medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed to combine the milk and remaining granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1-2 minutes. If you don’t have a mixer, use a hand whisk for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the heavy cream, reserved strawberry juice, mashed strawberries and vanilla.
Step Three
Turn the machine on; pour the mixture into the freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened about 20-25 minutes.
Five minutes before the mixing is completed, add the reserved sliced strawberries and let mix in completely.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker, don’t despair, you don’t need one, just:
Pour in the reserved strawberries, mix and place into a plastic container covered with a tight lid and chill in the freezer overnight, stirring occasionally until hardened.
Note: The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.
Adapted from Cuisinart recipe.
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