7 Strawberry Desserts That Celebrate Spring
Is there anything more quintessentially spring (or summer) than a pint of fresh-picked strawberries? June is their prime time, but you have until October to snap them up while they're in season. And though they're near-perfect on their own, if you want to dial up the sweetness (and presentation) factor of your strawberries, try making one of these delicious dessert recipes, like the Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars or Strawberry Ginger Slab Pie. Cooking them is also the perfect way to put overly ripe or frozen fruit to use, so you won't have any reason to waste any of your ruby reds this season.
RELATED: This is The Most Effective Way To Wash Your Fresh Summer Strawberries
Strawberry Buckle With Pecan Streusel
Buckles take their name from the way their buttery yellow cake "buckles" when baked under the weight of juicy berries and crunchy streusel. This one makes the perfect casual end to a springtime meal. For the ultimate indulgence, try serving it with a few scoops of ice cream on top and spoons for all of your guests.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Buckle With Pecan Streusel
Honey Whole Wheat Strawberry Clafoutis
Here, you'll give your fresh strawberries a quick roast under the broiler prior to baking the clafoutis to bring out their natural sweet flavors and give them a soft, creamy consistency.
Get the recipe: Honey Whole Wheat Clafoutis
Fresh Strawberry Panna Cotta
Though they taste luxe, panna cottas are a cinch to put together and practically impossible to mess up. The only tricky part of traditional recipes comes when the cook must flip the custards out of their ramekins without breaking them. That's why we skip that step!
Get the recipe: Fresh Strawberry Panna Cotta
Cranberry-Strawberry Crumb Pie
Sour cranberries mesh with sweet strawberries in this delicious pie recipe. Pro tip: to prevent a nightmare-ish oven mess from the juices of all the fresh (or frozen) fruit bubbling over the crust, simply place the pie on top of a sheet pan covered with aluminum foil inside the oven.
Get the recipe: Cranberry-Strawberry Crumb Pie
Strawberry Ginger Slab Pie
This easy, homespun pie is a great way to feed a crowd and would be an ideal addition to any bbq or picnic. But keep the season in mind when making it: summer strawberries are delicious, but tend to be juicier than their out-of-season counterparts, which means it may take a bit more cornstarch to thicken them.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Ginger Slab Pie
Strawberry and Vanilla Bean Semifreddo
Semifreddo means "half-frozen" in Italian—a reference to soft texture of this luscious dessert. Our version layers strawberry cream with vanilla cookies, which soften over time and add a sweet cakey element to each serving.
Get the recipe: Strawberry and Vanilla Bean Semifreddo
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars
Making a simple homemade jam for these crumb bars helps keep the sugar in check and lets the real fruit flavor shine through. The key to the getting the decadent, shortbread-style crust just right? Chilled, high-quality unsalted butter—and lots of it.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars
