50 Ways to Use Fresh Strawberries

Best Strawberry Shortcake

For a dazzling summer dessert, you can’t beat juicy strawberries and fresh whipped cream over homemade shortcake. My father added even more indulgence to this recipe by buttering the shortcake. This is at the top of my list of favorite recipes with fresh strawberries. —Shirley Joan Helfenbein, Lapeer, Michigan

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Strawberry Tart

A simple tart is one of the best recipes with fresh strawberries I know. What makes it special: There’s a crunchy chocolate layer tucked next to the crust. Try making individual tartlets instead of one big dessert. —Dawn Tringali, Hamilton Square, New Jersey

Strawberry Lemon Trifle

This refreshingly fruity dessert is one of our favorites. It looks so beautiful layered in a glass bowl that people will think it took ages to make. The secret is starting with a purchased angel food cake. —Lynn Marie Frucci, Pullman, Washington

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiris

Blend this refreshing frozen strawberry daiquiri to serve on a hot summer day. It’s one of the best recipes with fresh strawberries served in a glass! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Chicken

This salad is hard to beat when it comes to color, flavor and nutrition! It makes for a wonderful side on a summer day. —Diane Marie Sahley, Lakewood, Ohio

Croissant Breakfast Casserole

Turning croissants and marmalade into a classic overnight croissant breakfast casserole makes a wonderful treat for family and guests around the breakfast table. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Strawberry Smoothie

My mother gave me this strawberry smoothie recipe, and it tastes fabulous. I fix it for breakfast or sometimes as a bedtime snack. —Linda Barker, Mohawk, Michigan

Strawberry Cheesecake

The creamy texture and lovely look of this strawberry cheesecake always get compliments. —L.C. Herschap, Luling, Texas

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

This creamy, luscious ice cream will remind you of the signature treat served at church ice cream socials. What dessert could be better? —Esther Johnson, Merrill, Wisconsin—Esther Johnson, Merrill, Wisconsin

Strawberry Panzanella Salad

Always a crowd-pleaser, this strawberry panzanella salad never disappoints. This version is sweet and offers the opportunity to use seasonal fruits in a creative way. For a fun twist, use margarita glasses when serving and rim the glasses with sugar and a strawberry garnish. —Careema Bell, Trenton, New Jersey

Roasted Strawberry Sheet Cake

My Grandma Gigi loved summer berry cakes. Almost any time I’d call her during the warmer months, she’d invite me over to taste her latest masterpiece. This cake is a tribute to her. —Kristin Bowers, Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Swift Strawberry Salad

A simple blend of syrup, orange juice and caramel topping forms the light dressing for the fresh berries and the crunchy cashews found in this sensational salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Fresas con Crema

This refreshing fresas con crema recipe is wonderful when berries are in season. Media crema is a rich, unsweetened cream found in the baking aisle or ethnic food section of the grocery store. It's similar to creme fraiche and sour cream, although sour cream is a bit tangier. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

A bumper crop of berries turned into a real treat when I dipped them in chocolate! I like to make these chocolate covered strawberries before dinner and put them in the fridge, so they're ready when we're finished eating. My family can't get enough of these chocolate strawberries. —Valerie Gee, Depew, New York

Berry Smoothie Bowl

I’ve always loved smoothies but sometimes I want to linger over breakfast instead of sipping it on the go. That’s when I make this Jamba-inspired smoothie bowl. —Josh Carter, Birmingham, Alabama

Strawberry Ladyfinger Icebox Cake

This cake is inventive and yet familiar. Be sure to use a springform pan so you can easily remove it from the cake. If it breaks while you're transferring it to the serving plate, just push the pieces back together, pressing gently. —Stella Ohanian, Porter Ranch, California

Chocolate-Topped Strawberry Cheesecake

Creamy and airy, this gorgeous dessert is the perfect special something for a summer dinner party. I love the mix of smooth strawberry cheesecake and crumbly chocolate crust—and how elegant it looks on the table. —Kathy Berger, Dry Ridge, Kentucky

Berried Treasure Angel Food Cake

My husband grills anything and everything—even dessert! With his gentle nudging, I came up with this simple recipe that takes just a few minutes to prepare, yet always impresses dinner guests. —Anita Archibald, Richmond Hill, Ontario

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Feta

The combination of peppery arugula, sweet strawberries and robust feta cheese may sound unusual, but one bite wins over taste buds.—Carala Horne, Meridian, Mississippi

Creamy Strawberry Crepes

Take summer-ripe strawberries plus a creamy filling and tuck them into these delicate strawberry crepes for an elegant brunch entree. —Kathy Kochiss, Huntington, Connecticut

Strawberry Cheesecake Bites

These treats are a perfect mouthful of strawberry, sweet cream cheese filling and just a drizzle of chocolate. Easy to fill
and fix ahead, they add tempting variety to brunch or party offerings—and make a delicious homemade gift. —Linda Baldt, Croydon, Pennsylvania

Winnie's Mini Rhubarb & Strawberry Pies

Every spring, we had strawberries and rhubarb on our farm outside Seattle. These fruity hand pies remind me of those times and of Grandma Winnie’s baking. —Shawn Carleton, San Diego, California

Strawberry Pretzel Pie

This cool no-bake strawberry pie is the perfect cure for your sweet tooth, especially in summer. Made with pantry staples, it is as easy as pie to make and has become one of my most requested warm-weather treats. —Shauna Havey, Roy, Utah

Almond Strawberry Salad

It’s easy to love this pretty salad topped with strawberries and sliced almonds. With just a few ingredients, it’s loaded with flavor. —Renae Rossow, Union, Kentucky

Berry, Lemon and Doughnut Hole Trifle

After my son called and said he was bringing home his college roommates, I was able to whip up this quick yet impressive dessert in only a few minutes. It's been a family favorite ever since. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Upside-Down Strawberry Shortcake

For a tasty twist, this special shortcake has a berry layer on the bottom. The tempting strawberry upside-down cake is a sweet that our family has savored for years. —Debra Falkiner, St. Charles, Missouri

Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

When I got my ice cream maker, a friend shared her dreamy freezy cheesecake recipe. For guests, I scoop this into tart shells. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Easy Fresh Strawberry Pie

For my mother’s birthday, I made this strawberry pie recipe instead of a cake. Since it was mid-May in Oklahoma, the berries were absolutely perfect. It was a memorable occasion for the whole family. —Josh Carter, Birmingham, Alabama

Strawberry Bread

My husband and I are strawberry lovers, so each spring we pick about 30 quarts. This strawberry bread recipe makes two delicious loaves. One we eat right away; the other we freeze and pull out when family comes to visit.

Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

My family is always happy to see this fruit and veggie salad on the table. If strawberries aren’t available, substitute mandarin oranges and dried cranberries. —Irene Keller, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Vanilla Cream Fruit Tart

It's well worth the effort to whip up this creamy fruit tart bursting with juicy berries. A friend gave me the recipe, and it always receives rave reviews at gatherings. —Susan Terzakis, Andover, Massachusetts

Strawberry Rhubarb Dump Cake

It always seems like my rhubarb goes bad in a hurry, so I was looking for a simple way to combine two of my favorite flavors in an incredibly easy dessert. I added extra spices to enhance the flavor of this strawberry-rhubarb dump cake for a sweet treat my whole family loved! —Jessica Bridge, Grand Junction, Colorado

Fritters with Lemon Mousse and Strawberries

Deep-fried fritters are wonderful on their own, but they become over-the-top amazing with a creamy lemon mousse and sweet strawberries. Raspberries and blueberries yield equally good results. —Shannon Bell, Woodstock, Georgia

Strawberries 'n' Cream Scones

This strawberry scones recipe is rich with cream and packed with berry goodness. If you are like me, you won't be able to eat just one! —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Fruit and Cheese Kabobs

We came up with this fresh and fruity summer snack idea. It’s easy to make ahead and carry to the ballpark, beach or playground, and the cinnamon-spiced yogurt dip adds a fun touch kids love. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Strawberries Romanoff

Your clan will surely save room for dessert when they see a pretty dish of strawberries Romanoff. It also makes a nice anytime snack. —Denise Blackman, Port Cartier, Quebec

Nut-Topped Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins

A sweet, crispy topping highlights these tender muffins that are filled with two favorite spring foods, rhubarb and strawberries. They're perfect for a brunch or a grab-and-go breakfast. —Audrey Stallsmith, Hadley, Pennsylvania

Kale Slaw Spring Salad

My parents and in-laws are retired and like to spend winters in Florida. This tangy spring salad welcomes the snowbirds back for our Easter celebration! —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan

Strawberry Rhubarb Cream

A friend gave me this recipe a long time ago. It’s rich and creamy yet refreshing. I make this often in early summer when rhubarb is readily available. —Norma DesRoches, Warwick, Rhode Island

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

Cheesecake lovers will savor every bite of this light and pretty pie, even if they don't have to watch their diets. Our whole family enjoys it. —Kim Van Rheenen, Mendota, Illinois

Rainbow Fruit Salad

When my children were young, I would often dress up fresh fruit in this easy salad. Decades later, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren still love digging in to the fruity layers. The salad goes well with barbecued meats or cold sandwiches. —Jonnie Adams Sisler, Stevensville, Montana

Strawberry Tarragon Chicken Salad

After thinking about creating this salad for some time, one spring I used my homegrown strawberries and fresh tarragon to do a little experimenting. It didn't take me very long to come up with a winner! My husband enjoyed my creation as much as I did, and now we can't wait for strawberry season to come around each year. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Coconut Milk Strawberry-Banana Pops

These four-ingredient freezer pops are a delicious way to use up a pint of fresh strawberries. You’ll love the hint of tropical flavor, thanks to the coconut milk. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Strawberry Buttermilk Skillet Shortcake

This scratch-made strawberry buttermilk cake is a family favorite. The recipe is over 100 years old, and I remember my grandma making it. We still carry on the family tradition by making this old-fashioned recipe each summer. —Claudia Lamascolo, Melbourne, Florida

Strawberry-Thyme Jam

I created this recipe using two ingredients that I love: strawberry and thyme. This recipe is ideal slathered on homemade farm biscuits.—Sharon Demers, Dolores, Colorado

Strawberry and Peach Lime Custard Bars

After I baked, my dad would always find his way to the kitchen and ask if he could try what I made. I enjoyed asking him to taste test different creations, like these bars. He was always ready with a compliment. Other fruits can be arranged over the custard, depending on what’s in season. —Carlin Tou, Chandler, Arizona

Berry Pistachio Pie

My grandmother used to make this pie when I was a small child. A Brooklyn woman gave her the recipe, but my grandmother could never remember the woman’s name or the name of the pie, comically dubbing it Lady from Brooklyn’s Pie. Feel free to use any flavored gelatin, or try walnuts or pecans instead of pistachios. I use a store-bought graham cracker crust, but you can also use a chocolate graham cracker crust. —Judy DeGrottole, New York, New York

Creamy Strawberry French Toast Bake

On Sunday mornings I like to take it easy, but I also want my family to have a nice breakfast. This recipe allows me to sleep in but still feel as if I'm a fabulous mom. Win! —Alynn Hansen, Mona, Utah

Cheesecake-Stuffed Strawberries

These luscious cheesecake-stuffed strawberries are the perfect bite-sized dessert. —Stephen Munro, Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia

Meringue Cups

These crunchy meringue shells with a lemon curd filling will make guests stop to “ooh” and “ahh” at your dessert table. Topped with fresh fruit, they’re especially pretty when served with a spring meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen