Spectacular Strawberry Dessert Recipe

Spectacular Strawberry Dessert Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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This elegant after-dinner sweet, created by our Test Kitchen, lives up to its name. With pretty strawberries, a creamy filling and flaked coconut on top, it takes a little extra care to put together, but the results are well worth it.

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Spectacular Strawberry Dessert Recipe

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 15 min. + chilling

Yield: 4 Servings

25 15 40

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Dash salt
FILLING:
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Dash salt
3/4 cup 2% milk
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
TOPPING:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons flaked coconut, divided
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Fresh mint and additional sliced strawberries, optional

Directions

In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. With lightly floured hands, press onto a 7-1/2-in. pizza pan; build up edges slightly. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until edges and bottom are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gradually stir 2 tablespoons of hot filling into egg yolk; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer.
Remove from the heat. Gently stir in butter and vanilla. Cool for 30 minutes without stirring. Pour over crust. Top with strawberries.
In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 2 tablespoons coconut until smooth. In another bowl, beat cream on medium speed until soft peaks form; fold into cream cheese mixture. Carefully spread over strawberries. Toast remaining coconut; sprinkle over topping. Garnish with mint and berries if desired. Chill for at least 4 hours. Yield: 4 servings.

Nutritional Analysis: 1 piece (calculated without optional ingredients) equals 573 calories, 40 g fat (25 g saturated fat), 167 mg cholesterol, 354 mg sodium, 49 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 7 g protein.

Originally published as Spectacular Strawberry Dessert in Cooking for 2 Winter 2006, p9