17 Sensational Strawberry Desserts

By Janet Taylor McCracken
Updated March 23, 2020
Marcus Nilsson
Celebrate 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. We love you, winter-friendly tropical fruit, but now it's time to enjoy desserts made from sliced, whole, and pureed strawberries!
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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 a birthday party to a weeknight treat.

There's more than one way to dish up that classic, the strawberry shortcake. Maybe you want to start with the 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 your jam, we've got some real winners for you. Start with Martha's Strawberry Ice Cream. It sounds classic, 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, no worries. Strawberry Pistachio Semifreddo is frozen in a loaf pan—no churning required—plus, it's elegant enough for a dinner party and oh so delicious. And 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, this 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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Citrus Cornmeal Cake with Wine Roasted Strawberries

The Ingalls
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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

Julia Gartland
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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

Lennart Weibull
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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

Marcus Nilsson
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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

Marcus Nilsson
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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

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

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

Frederic Lagrange
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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

Marcus Nilsson
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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

Aaron Dyer
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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

Naho Kubota
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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

Mike Krautter
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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

Bryan Gardner
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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

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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

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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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