30 Summer Strawberry Recipes

Strawberry and Radish Aguachile
Photo: Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Strawberry season is the wonderful time of year when the earth produces the absolute best of this sweet, red, juicy fruit that bears its seeds on the outside. For that reason, by the way, the strawberry is not technically, botanically a berry, but that doesn't really matter. It's still extremely delicious in both sweet and savory dishes. From breakfasts such as strawberry crème fraîche biscuits to lunches like grilled strawberry-avocado toasts with burrata and dinners like milk-braised pork tenderloin with spinach and strawberry salad, you can incorporate this luscious fruit into every meal of the day. And, of course, strawberries are brilliantly employed in desserts like strawberry-honey cake and roasted strawberry ice cream. Make the most of strawberry season by cooking and baking with fresh, summer strawberries throughout the season.

01 of 30

Almond and Strawberry Tart

Almond Strawberry Tart

Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Juicy ripe strawberries make a refreshing topping for this rich, buttery tart from London's The River Café. At the restaurant, the pastry dough is chilled and coarsely grated into the tart pan, then patted into the base and sides. It's a useful technique for anyone who hates to roll out pastry. You can also slice the pastry and press the pieces into the tart pan, or simply roll it out.

02 of 30

Strawberry Ekmek Kataifi

Strawberry Ekmek
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Made from crispy shredded phyllo that's soaked in syrup and traditionally topped with custard, ekmek kataifi is a Greek dessert that perfectly balances crispy and creamy. Instead of the traditional custard, pastry chef Paola Velez's version features a vibrant strawberry pudding and a cloud of honey-flavored whipped cream.

03 of 30

Strawberry-Chile Balsamic Shrub

Strawberry Chili Balsamic Shrub

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Developed by Jillian Vose of Charleston’s buzzy cocktail bar Hazel and Apple, this strawberry- and chile-infused shrub balances sweet, sour, and smoky spice. Vose steeps dried chiles de árbol with blended strawberries in a syrup made with high-quality balsamic vinegar. The vinegar not only adds tang but deepens the color of the shrub, which has a stunning maroon hue.

04 of 30

Sourdough Pancakes with Maple-Molasses Strawberries

Sourdough Pancakes with Maple Molasses Syrup
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee

At Little Goat Diner in Chicago, 2011 F&W Best New Chef Stephanie Izard makes fluffy pancakes using sourdough starter and tops them with oat streusel and fruit. Here, we use molasses-steeped strawberries, making a breakfast that's balanced with sour, sweet, and bitter flavors.

05 of 30

Roasted Strawberry-Vanilla Ice Cream

Roasted Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream
Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Victoria Granof / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

According to chef and ice cream maker Fany Gerson, the key to thick, silky French-style ice cream is making a base so good you could eat it without freezing it. In this recipe, Gerson wanted to celebrate the flavors she grew up eating. "My mom would take strawberries and put a little Mexican crema and sugar on top, and that became dessert," she recalls. "For this ice cream, roasting the strawberries gives a new dimension to the fruit."

06 of 30

Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

three strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

These sweet and tangy cupcakes pair juicy, fresh berries with vibrantly colored and concentrated freeze-dried strawberries for the ultimate summer treat. A simple, not-too-sweet cream cheese frosting keeps these moist and tender cakes well-balanced and beautifully decorated.

07 of 30

Strawberry-Rhubarb Chaat

Strawberry Rhubarb Chaat Recipe
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Chaat is no single dish or recipe; it encompasses a range of snacks with a riot of textures and flavors. Here, tart rhubarb plays off the sweetness of strawberries; boondi (puffed chickpea cereal) delivers that essential crunch.

08 of 30

Boozy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

Boozy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall

Famed pastry chef Claudia Fleming's Boozy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade is sweet, zippy, and irresistibly delicious — exactly the kind of drink you want on a hot summer afternoon. The frozen cocktail is made with lemon vodka, Prosecco, basil, limoncello, strawberries, and lemon sorbet and can double as a dessert.

09 of 30

Strawberry Aguachile

Strawberry and Radish Aguachile
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

For this colorful aguachile, chef Claudette Zepeda cooks strawberries in a double boiler to gently release their sweetness, creating a juice with vibrant color and flavor. When mixed with scallions, cucumber, anise-scented hoja santa, and citrus juices, the juice creates the perfect, punchy base for a strawberry and radish aguachile. 

10 of 30

Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Strawberry–Merlot Sauce

Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Strawberry Merlot Sauce Recipe
Victor Protasio

At Beringer Vineyards, chef Alex Hrabovsky leaned on savory pork drippings and lush Merlot to balance the sweet-tart strawberries in this rich sauce for pork tenderloin. A gentle finish in the oven keeps the pan drippings from over-reducing.

11 of 30

Strawberry Daiquiri

Strawberry Daiquiri
Victor Protasio

The best strawberry daiquiri is bright and full-flavored but never too sweet, balancing juicy berries and tart lime. This recipe from Chuck A. Rivera Rodriguez at JungleBird in San Juan, Puerto Rico, ups the aromatic with a no-cook syrup made from mashed strawberries and fragrant lime peel.

12 of 30

Strawberry-Vanilla-Rhubarb Jam

Strawberry Vanilla Rhubarb Jam
Photo by Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

This easy homemade jam replicates the classic sweet-tart pie filling of rhubarb and strawberries with an extra boost of flavor and aroma from grated orange zest and real vanilla beans. To amp up that vanilla, leave the halved pod in the jam overnight before removing and discarding. Serve the jam on buttery biscuits or drizzle it over sundaes.

13 of 30

Honey-Ricotta Mousse with Strawberries

Honey Ricotta Mousse with Strawberries
Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Kathleen Cook Varner

This velvety-smooth, berry-topped mousse requires very little time to make — it comes together in just 15 minutes and then needs just an hour in the refrigerator to firm up. Ricotta cheese, quickly whipped in a food processor with honey and vanilla, forms the base of the mousse. Folding whipped cream into the ricotta yields a luscious, velvety dessert.

14 of 30

Strawberries and Cream Gelato Cake

Strawberries-and-Cream Gelato Cake
Victor Protasio

As stunning as it is delicious, this creamy strawberry and sour cream gelato cake from Il Laboratorio del Gelato owner Jon Snyder is the ideal centerpiece for summer celebrations.

15 of 30

Strawberry Shortcakes with Meyer Lemon Cream

Strawberry Shortcakes with Meyer Lemon Cream
© James Baigrie

Light and airy biscuits layered with lemon curd-infused whipped cream and macerated strawberries make this a practically perfect summer treat.

16 of 30

Strawberry Slab Pie

Strawberry Slab Pie
© Andrew Purcell

With a perfectly buttery crust and a sweet, jammy filling, this slab pie from chef Joanne Chang is one of the most delicious desserts you’ll eat all summer. You might make it again and again for summers to come and think of us every time you do. You're welcome.

17 of 30

Strawberry Baked Alaska

Strawberry Baked Alaska
© Con Poulos

Chef Andrea Reusing makes each and every part of these lovely strawberry baked Alaskas from scratch — even the graham crackers for the base. She says it’s OK to use store-bought grahams, and to sub in a good store-bought ice cream.

18 of 30

Grilled Strawberry-Avocado Toasts with Burrata

Grilled Strawberry-Avocado Toasts with Burrata

Con Poulos

These hulking avocado toasts with fresh strawberries and creamy burrata are a great early summer lunch or, cut into thick slices, a crowd-pleasing appetizer. But we could truly eat this sumptuous dish any time of the day and in large quantities. Be sure to use a quality balsamic vinegar here.

19 of 30

Strawberry Crème Fraîche Biscuits

Strawberry Creme Fraiche Biscuits

John Kernick

Savor the season with these incredibly fruit-forward biscuits. We lace these buttery, tender delights with fresh strawberries and serve them with sweet and tangy strawberry-swirled crème fraîche. It's some solid strawberry-on-strawberry action.

20 of 30

Strawberry Burrata Salad

Strawberry Burrata Salad

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Debbie Wee

We all love a tomato salad paired with rich, creamy burrata, but the wait for tomatoes to come into season can be frustrating. This spring version features strawberries, whose tart-sweet flavors are amplified by a quick soak in a vinaigrette made with balsamic vinegar, honey, and olive oil. The marinated strawberries pair nicely with the peppery arugula and fresh basil. Toasted pine nuts add a little nutty crunch to the salad.

21 of 30

Grilled Ham and Cheese with Strawberry-Red Wine Jam

Grilled Ham and Cheese with Strawberry-Red-Wine Jam
© Cedric Angeles

The secret to these delectable grilled ham and Gruyère cheese sandwiches is the strawberry jam spiked with Pinot Noir (bonus points for using homemade jam). We would gladly devour these melty sandwiches for lunch any day.

22 of 30

Strawberry Cream Puffs

Strawberry Cream Puffs
© Stephanie Foley

Ed Jiloca was working as a line cook when his boss, 2006 F&W Best New Chef Cathal Armstrong, promoted him to pastry chef at the now-shuttered Restaurant Eve in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Jiloca taught himself by scouring cookbooks and websites. As these luscious cream puffs prove, he's become an expert.

23 of 30

Strawberry-Almond Smoothie

Strawberry-Almond Smoothies
© Ellie Miller

Coconut water, agave, and dried white figs impart a lovely sweetness to this dairy-free strawberry smoothie. 

24 of 30

Warm Strawberry Crumb Cake

Warm Strawberry Crumb Cake
© John Kernick

We top the summer's best, juiciest strawberries with batter and bake them until the fruit is warm and jammy and the cake is airy, with a wonderful, crisp crust.

25 of 30

Baby Lettuces with Feta, Strawberries, and Almonds

Baby Lettuces with Feta, Strawberries and Almonds
© Peden + Munk

This salad is an extraordinary combination of ingredients: feta, strawberries, and almonds. It's perfect for a last-minute dinner on a summer weeknight because you only need 20 minutes to throw it together. It's also great to pack for lunch the next day.

26 of 30

Strawberry-Honey Cake with Sour Whipped Cream

Strawberry-Honey Cake with Sour Whipped Cream
© Eva Kolenko

This floral, honey-inflected strawberry cake from Eli Dahlin, the chef at Dame in Portland, Oregon, is his springy take on a sticky toffee pudding. If there’s a child in your kitchen, let them poke the holes. The more there are, the more the honey syrup will penetrate every last bite.

27 of 30

Strawberry-Pecan Quick Bread

Strawberry-Pecan Quick Bread

© Fredrika Stjärne

The ideal quick bread for an afternoon snack, this recipe only takes 20 active minutes to make. As the loaf bakes in the oven, the texture of chewy dried strawberries softens slightly. Buy your dried strawberries at a specialty food shop or health food store that rotates its stock frequently to make sure that they're plump and moist.

28 of 30

Strawberry-Champagne Granita

Strawberry-Champagne Granita
© Kate N.G. Sommers

Blending fresh strawberries with sparkling wine, chef Andrew Zimmern’s beautiful and refreshing granita is the perfect dessert for a midsummer party.

29 of 30

Strawberry-Almond Scones

Strawberry-Almond Scones
© Con Poulos

When baking these nutty strawberry scones, be sure to use whole wheat pastry flour, which is less dense than whole wheat flour. Mixing in some all-purpose white flour also lightens the texture of the scones, so they're more delicate and tender. Eat them for breakfast or during tea time.

30 of 30

No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream

No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

How do you make an ice cream that is full of strawberry flavor? First, roast the strawberries with the vanilla bean, sugar, lemon zest, and salt until they are tender and jammy. This is a great way to use strawberries that are overripe, old, or about to go bad — roasting them brings out the richness of the sugars and the deepens the flavor in the berries, which goes a long way in ice cream (and as a bonus, the roasting strawberries make your kitchen smell amazing).

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