22 Sensational Strawberry Desserts

strawberry napoleons
Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Celebrate the arrival of spring with these gorgeous strawberry desserts, from traditional shortcakes to ombré cakes, or in the form of strawberry ice cream, semifreddo, and strawberry-rhubarb crisp.

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strawberry biscuit sheet cake
Alpha Smoot

When strawberries arrive at the market, it's time to celebrate. Head to the kitchen and make one of these beautiful and delicious strawberry desserts. They're suitable for any occasion, from an intimate birthday celebration to a weeknight treat.

There's more than one way to dish up the classic dessert that is strawberry shortcake. Maybe you want to start with a traditional Strawberry Shortcake, or perhaps you prefer something like the glorious, large format Strawberry Biscuit Sheet Cake that's shown here? It's just right for any occasion, and we like that it transports well. Another fun take is the Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes, rich vanilla cupcakes have a filling of chopped strawberries and are topped with whipped cream.

If frozen treats are more your style, you'll be pleased to know we have some real winners for you. You can't top Martha's Strawberry Ice Cream. It may sound basic, but there's a surprise: Some of the strawberries are soaked in vodka or tequila before being churned into the ice cream. If you don't have an ice cream machine, try making our Strawberry Pistachio Semifreddo, which is frozen in a loaf pan—no churning required. It's elegant enough for special occasion meals but delicious enough that you'll want to enjoy it any night of the week. If you prefer to go dairy-free, try the Strawberry Aperol Sorbet.

There are some beautiful baked goods with strawberries, too. For a simple crisp, try this crisp which adds rhubarb to the mix . It would be perfect with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream. Serve any leftovers for breakfast with a spoonful of plain yogurt instead. Are you a cake baker? Ombré Strawberry Cake is a stunner. And for any national holiday, our Star Tart is just the thing for dessert.

Before you get baking, be sure to pay attention to the berries at the market before you buy. Start by taking a look. The strawberries should be plump and shiny. And don't forget to give them a sniff. If they don't smell deeply of strawberries, pass them by. When you find good strawberries, bring them home and and make a few of these delicious strawberry dessert recipes.

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Strawberry-Swirl Bundt Cake

strawberry-swirl bundt cake recipe
Marcus Nilsson

A bundt cake is a classic for a reason. This recipe is a riff on traditional strawberry shortcake and is made with freeze-dried strawberries.

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Apricot-and-Strawberry Galette

apricot and strawberry galette
Kate Mathis

This delicious strawberry-filled dessert gets a welcome tang from apricots. The crust is a classic pâte brisée while the inside is full of frangipane and fruit.

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Two-Berry Tart

red fruit tart martha bakes raspberries strawberries
Mike Krautter

Double the berry, double the delicious. Juicy strawberries and raspberries are combined with vanilla pastry cream, which sits atop a buttery, flaky crust for a delicious dessert.

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Strawberry-Cream-Pie Cake

Strawberry-Cream-Pie Cake
Johnny Miller

A labor of love, this strawberry-cream-pie cake is a showstopping dessert. It features pâte brisée and loads of strawberries and cream, as its name suggests.

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Strawberry Cobbler

Strawberry Cobbler
Mike Krautter

Few things are as delicious as a fresh strawberry cobbler during the summertime. No one will guess that this dessert only requires 20 minutes of prep.

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Citrus Cornmeal Cake with Wine Roasted Strawberries

citrus cornmeal cake
The Ingalls

Rather than make individual shortcakes, try this tempting cake which gets added texture from the addition of cornmeal, and flavor from both orange and tangerine zest. And the strawberries? Their flavor is intensified by roasting.

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Filled Fourth of July Strawberries

filled strawberries on cake platter
Julia Gartland

Individual strawberries are stuffed with sweetened cream cheese and topped with blueberries. Look for large strawberries for the most impactful presentation.

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Strawberry Crepes Flambé

plated strawberry flambe crepes with coffee and cream
Lennart Weibull

When strawberries are in season, it's time to skip the oranges in this classic French dessert and go with everyones favorite berry. Rum fills in for the traditional brandy—be sure to step back when you light it on fire!

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Martha's Strawberry Ice Cream

strawberry ice cream
Marcus Nilsson

In Martha's decadent strawberry ice cream recipe, half of the strawberries are puréed into the ice cream base while the other half get macerated in vodka or silver tequila. The soaked strawberries are added to the ice cream when it's just about churning for a sweet surprise.

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Strawberry Gelée with Rose Granita

strawberry gelee with rose granita
Marcus Nilsson

Once you make your own gelatin made with fresh strawberries, you will never go back to the stuff in a box. Topped with a granita that's also made with strawberries (and rosé) and with sliced fresh strawberries, this is dessert is a triple strawberry hit.

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Strawberry Shortcake

strawberry shortcake
Stefan Anderson

Sometimes nothing beats a classic. Here, perfect biscuits are filled with lemon-scented strawberries and whipped cream.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

strawberry-crumble-0611mbd106092-030.jpg
Frederic Lagrange

Strawberries and rhubarb are a match made in heaven. Top with the crispy oat topping, pop in the oven, and dessert is on the table in about an hour.

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Strawberry Napoleons

strawberry napoleons
Marcus Nilsson

Purchased puff pastry saves the day—and lots of time—in this impressive dessert. If you can find it, use a puff pastry made with butter for extra-flavorful results.

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Star Tart

fourth-of-july-fruit-star-tart-320-d112984.jpg
Aaron Dyer

If you've been looking for the perfect dessert for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July, look no further. Have fun making your own personal star pattern on top of the tart.

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Strawberry Oat Bars

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When it's too hot to turn on the oven (or you need a dessert in just about 15 minutes), try these no-bake bars. They would also be great for breakfast.

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Strawberry Aperol Sorbet

strawberry-aperol-sorbet-md110161.jpg
Naho Kubota

With its slightly bitter edge, the Italian aperitif Aperol balances the sweet strawberries in this frosty dessert. Serve on its own, or scoop into a flute or coupe glass and top with Champagne.

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Ombré Strawberry Cake

strawberry cake sliced with rose
Mike Krautter

This is a cake decorator's dream cake and a strawberry lovers delight. It's made of several layers—all colored with deepening shades of pink, and decorated with Swiss Meringue frosting.

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Almond Custard Tart with Strawberries

almond strawberry tart
Bryan Gardner

Strawberries finish this dairy-free dessert that has a creamy custard filling and a crust that gets a little added crunch from old-fashioned oats. Be sure to check the label on the almond milk to make sure it's unsweetened.

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Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

These vanilla cupcakes have a fun surprise inside. Scoop out a bit of the center of each baked cupcake, fill with jam-coated chopped strawberries, and top with whipped cream.

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Strawberry Pistachio Semifreddo

msl-sweet-of-the-month-semifreddo-v1-021-md109977.jpg

If you love frozen treats but don't have an ice cream machine, this elegant dessert is for you. The ingredients are the same, but all you need to do is let these layers of strawberry and pistachio whipped cream freeze for about 12 hours; no special equipment needed.

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

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What could be easier or more delightful than this three-ingredient dessert? Ripe strawberries, semisweet chocolate, and chopped pistachios make a tempting treat in just over 30 minutes (most of that time is waiting for the chocolate to set!).

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