Strawberries are sugar-sweet, affordable, and omnipresent -- even if you can't pick your own, you'll find pints and quarts of them at roadside stands and red seas of them in the produce aisle. These berries are delicious on their own, sprinkled with sugar, or in breakfast recipes, desserts, and even salads.

In Season: Fresh strawberries are available year-round in many regions of the country, with the peak season from April to June.

What to Look For: Buy strawberries that are bright red (with no white or green around the stem), fragrant, and plump, with no soft spots.

How to Store: If using right away, it's best not to refrigerate them. Otherwise, lay the berries flat on a paper-towel-lined plate and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Do not rinse or hull until ready to use.

You are looking at one of the world’s great finger foods. The elements are thick creme fraiche, confectioners' sugar, and the most fragrant, perfectly ripe strawberries you can find. Dip, sprinkle, and eat to your heart's content.

Sliced strawberries top sweet, buttery, biscuitlike shortcakes in this version of the seasonal dessert. A drizzle of orange liqueur gives it a touch of sophistication.

In this crisp, the apricots hold their shape. The strawberries, in contrast, bake down into a thick, delicious sauce.

Strawberries mellow out the sharp edges of rhubarb in this springtime classic.

Similar in texture to an angel food cake but richer, thanks to the addition of egg yolks, this cake is airy and delicate. The filling is simply whipped cream and macerated strawberries.

Make this out-of-the-ordinary dessert with frozen waffles to save time, but make your own creamy pudding. The rich flavor and silky texture are worth the extra effort.

The meringue topping is just right for the tangy, cool lemon filling (and provides a way to use the whites from the separated eggs). You can easily skip it in favor of whipped cream.

A border of rich, toasty pistachios rings a puff pastry crust supporting a bright display of fresh strawberries in this surprisingly easy spring dessert.

Crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, and heaped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, this classic meringue dessert is a lively study in textures.

These moist white cupcakes crowned by a meringue buttercream made with strawberry jam will be the hit of any summer potluck. Top each cupcake with a fresh strawberry just before serving.

Eight egg yolks plus equal parts skim milk and heavy cream make this fresh strawberry ice cream deliciously rich. You will need an ice-cream maker to prepare this recipe.

Pile sweetened fresh strawberries and whipped cream onto buttery cake layers to create this ravishing dessert. Because the whipped cream is stabilized with gelatin, this strawberry cake can be assembled up to a day in advance.

Strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice are all you need to make this easy strawberry refrigerator jam that cooks in just 10 minutes. Spread the jam on toast or biscuits, or use as filling for a layer cake.

Oven-roasting intensifies the flavor of the strawberries in this rich cheesecake. Mascarpone cheese makes the cheesecake extra creamy, and vanilla bean seeds add to its luxurious fragrance.

Sweet strawberries and peppery arugula in a balsamic vinaigrette create perfect harmony in this creative salad. Toasted pecans add a rich crunch.

Swirl mashed strawberries into this cinnamon-kissed quick bread. Spread slices with softened cream cheese and enjoy for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

It's easy to make your own version of this luscious treat: Just dip large strawberries in melted semisweet chocolate and then coat in finely chopped pistachios (or any other nut). These are best made the day you want to serve them, as condensation may form on the chocolate if they stay in the refrigerator for too long.

Kids and grown-ups will clamor for these frozen strawberry pops made from just two ingredients: fresh, ripe berries and confectioners' sugar. If you don't have ice-pop molds, pour the strawberry mixture into plastic or paper cups and insert wooden spoons or sticks before freezing.

The flavors of classic strawberry shortcake take on a new and dainty form in these layered desserts. Assemble individual servings in teacups, beginning with a layer of strawberry gelatin, followed by vanilla panna cotta, and then a circle of pound cake. Invert the teacups to unmold the jellies and serve them with fresh strawberries.

For this fresh, grown-up version of the convenience-store favorite, lemon sorbet, strawberry puree, and sparkling wine are beaten together. To add a touch of elegance, serve the strawberry slush in wineglasses garnished with a fresh strawberry.

This pie is a real showstopper, with glazed strawberries peeking out from underneath a snowy crown of whipped cream. The sweetness of the graham-cracker crust and strawberries is nicely balanced by the bit of tartness from cranberry juice in the glaze.

Cornmeal and ground almonds add richness and a gentle crunch to buttery shortcakes. Bake the shortcakes in muffin tins and serve with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

Sweet strawberries and tart rhubarb make a perfect pair in this quick and easy ice-cream topping. Spoon the strawberry-rhubarb sauce over purchased vanilla ice cream and serve with shortbread cookies.

To make these exquisite miniature eclairs, pipe 2 1/2-inch lengths of choux pastry onto baking sheets. Split the baked pastries in half to fill with vanilla cream and mint-macerated strawberries.

To make this sophisticated dessert, basil leaves are simmered in heavy cream to add a subtle perfume to the whipped cream filling. Bake one large shortcake (or eight smaller ones, if you prefer) and top with sweetened strawberries, small basil leaves, and the basil whipped cream.

A combination of cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate give these chewy cookies their deep, rich flavor. Press thumbprints into the dough before baking, and fill the indentations with sweetened cream cheese and diced fresh strawberries.

In this delectable cake, fresh strawberries mixed with strawberry or rhubarb jam and whipped cream are tucked between four layers of buttermilk cake. Sprinkle the top with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

To make this vodka-based twist on the classic Brazilian caipirinha, muddle strawberries, mint leaves, lime wedges, and freshly grated ginger with sugar in a cocktail shaker. This recipe makes cocktails for two.

Vanilla sponge cake is baked in a jelly roll pan, then spread with a mixture of strawberries and whipped cream before being rolled into a spiral. Laying the cake on a kitchen towel sprinkled with confectioners' sugar makes it easier to roll, even if you're a baking novice.

Rich hazelnut-Armagnac filling in a buttery pastry crust forms the base of this elegant tart. Arrange halved fresh figs and strawberries on top and bake until the fruit is caramelized and sweet.