You can debate which meteorological season is the best, but when it comes to fruit, there’s no reason to argue: strawberry season reigns supreme.
How do we love strawberries? Let us count the ways. There’s strawberry pie, strawberry ice cream, strawberry smoothies, strawberry jam, fresh strawberries sprinkled with sugar, and, in a pinch, frozen strawberries to get us through until the next harvest.
Strawberry season arrives with the promise of warm summer nights and long lazy days, filled with visits to farmer’s markets and you-pick strawberry fields. As you load up on the plump fruit, here are some of our favorite fresh strawberry recipes (and one frozen strawberry recipe!) to inspire your kitchen pursuits during the sweetest time of the year.
STRAWBERRY RHUBARB PIE
Tart rhubarb meets its match with sweet strawberries in this well-balanced pie. Made with a full pound of each, this dessert is ideal for parties, picnics, backyard barbecues or any other activity that calls for a summer treat. Try your hand at weaving a beautiful lattice crust (see the recipe for instructions) and top it all off with ice cream for maximum praise.
STRAWBERRY PIE
Strawberry purists, this is the dish for you. With just a handful of ingredients, this strawberry pie combines cooked strawberries with fresh strawberries for the best berry texture, and a picture-perfect presentation. All in, it takes just an hour to make from prep to finish—including the vanilla-flavored homemade whipped cream topping.
HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY JAM
It’s strawberry jam in name, but with one lick you can taste that there’s a lot more going on here! Tartness from a grated Granny Smith apple adds a nice, tangy flavor to balance the sweetness of the berries, and McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract adds extra complexity. Made with three pounds of fresh berries, this jam allows you to extend the strawberry season all year long.
STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE ICE CREAM
We thought strawberry cheesecake was the quintessential creamy dessert. Then, we tried this Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream recipe, which takes homemade ice cream and swirls it with crushed graham crackers and strawberry jam for a creamy, crunchy, deliciously gooey surprise. Consider our world churned!
CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES
Dipping strawberries in chocolate is a berry enjoyable activity—whether it’s date night or family fun time. Just melt a package of your favorite chocolate chips with a little coconut oil and vanilla extract and dunk away! If you’re feeling especially creative, try drizzling different types of chocolate together, like white chocolate and dark chocolate, and add in some other flavorful toppings, like coconut, sprinkles and graham cracker crumbs for dramatic flair.
STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD
First things first: technically, this dish is more like a bar than a salad. And yet, the name has stuck for this classic, layered dessert, which consists of a salty-sweet pretzel crust, covered with a creamy vanilla center, and topped with a layer of fresh strawberries and bright red strawberry gelatin. After one bite, you’ll forget about the whole “salad” debate and appreciate it for what it is: a dessert to remember.
STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE
You don’t have to wait for strawberry season to make this delicious smoothie—frozen berries taste just fine, especially when combined with bananas, Greek yogurt, orange juice, honey and a hint of cinnamon. Morning, noon or night, this strawberry-powered smoothie will help you power through.
STRAWBERRY VANILLA SMOOTHIE
The secret’s out. A smoothie is really a milkshake you can drink anytime, without judgement. This creamy, Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie brings together strawberries, orange juice, ice cream and McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract for a satisfying breakfast or sweet treat, guilt-free.
Can't Get Enough of Berry Goodness?
Here are more delicious berry recipes to satisfy your cravings.
