The Best Strawberry Desserts to Enjoy All Season Long

Strawberries-and-Cream Gelato Cake
Photo: Victor Protasio

Juicy, sweet strawberries are a hallmark of warm weather — those wonderful, lazy months of late spring and early summer. And what better way to celebrate them than by turning them into gorgeous desserts? There's always the classic strawberry shortcake (and we have a recipe that scales it up a for a crowd, if you're interested), but you can also turn the bright red fruit into cooling granitas, a sunny take on tiramisu, and a juicy filling for cobblers, too. Read on for even more of our favorite strawberry dessert recipes.

01 of 16

Strawberry-Rhubarb Cornmeal Skillet Cake

Juicy strawberries and tart rhubarb stud the golden brown top of this simple skillet cake. The mix of all-purpose flour and fine cornmeal gives this dessert a pound-cake-like density, while goat cheese and buttermilk keep the crumb nicely tender and moist. A dollop of rosemary-infused whipped cream ties the sweet and savory flavors together.

02 of 16

Strawberry Shortcakes with Meyer Lemon Cream

Strawberry Shortcakes with Meyer Lemon Cream
© James Baigrie

Pastry chef Michelle Polzine makes her riff on strawberry shortcake with sweet, intensely flavored Seascape strawberries and fragrant Meyer lemon cream.

03 of 16

Strawberries-and-Cream Gelato Cake

Strawberries-and-Cream Gelato Cake
Victor Protasio

As stunning as it is delicious, this creamy strawberry-and-sour-cream gelato cake from Jon Snyder is the perfect centerpiece for summer celebrations.

04 of 16

Wine-Poached Strawberries and Apricots

Wine Poached Strawberries and Apricot
Victor Protasio

Semi-dry Riesling, which is refreshing and not too sweet, is the secret to this impressive, balanced dessert. Dried apricots lend a gentle bitterness while the strawberries add sweetness and impart the rosiest color.

05 of 16

Strawberry Slab Pie

Strawberry Slab Pie
© Andrew Purcell

With a perfectly buttery crust and a sweet, jammy filling, this slab pie from Joanne Chang is one of the most delicious desserts you'll eat all summer.

06 of 16

Strawberry Mochi Ice Cream Sandwiches

Coconut Mochi Ice Cream Sandwiches
© John Kernick

Pastry chef Jen Yee makes these pretty sandwiches with a simple Japanese dough that combines sweet glutinous rice flour, sugar, water and strawberry jam.

07 of 16

Strawberry Baked Alaska

Strawberry Baked Alaska
© Con Poulos

Chef Andrea Reusing makes every part of these lovely baked Alaskas from scratch — even the graham crackers for the base. She says it's OK to use store-bought grahams, though, and also says that if making homemade ice cream isn't your thing, you can sub in a good prepared brand.

08 of 16

Strawberry-Mango Paletas

Strawberry-Mango Paletas
© John Kernick

When crafting new paletas for her company La Newyorkina, Fany Gerson's rule of thumb is this: If the colors of her ingredients go together, the flavors will, too. These bright, red-and-orange-hued ice pops are perfect to make in May when juicy strawberries are at their peak.

09 of 16

Strawberry Almond Cheesecake with Matzoh Crust

Strawberry Almond Cheesecake with Matzo Crust
Abby Hocking

This silky cheesecake gets sweetness and tang from a blend of cream cheese and sour cream. Matzo meal and ground almonds replace the usual graham crackers in the crust for a nutty, toasty crunch. Topped with sugary strawberries and toasted almond slivers, this cake makes a beautiful centerpiece at any table.

10 of 16

Strawberry Gelato

Strawberry Gelato
Victor Protasio

To guarantee homemade gelato's luscious consistency and purity of flavor, Jon Snyder suggests thickening gelato with cornstarch rather than eggs. The result has less palate-coating fat than ice cream and lets the fruit shine.

11 of 16

Strawberry Shortcake for a Crowd

Strawberry Shortcake
Jen Causey

"It doesn't get much easier than strawberry shortcake, but this family-style version I created definitely makes it foolproof," Ben Mims writes. "Instead of punching out all those small cakes, the dough is pressed into a pan and baked as one giant cake, which is much quicker and less stress-inducing, especially when you want an effortless dessert for a weeknight that truly takes no time at all."

12 of 16

Strawberry Granita with Sweet Pesto

Strawberry Granita with Sweet Pesto
Victor Protasio

Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson pairs a subtly tangy berry granita with honey-sweetened pesto in this refreshing summer dessert. Choose the sweetest, juiciest berries for the most flavorful granita.

13 of 16

Strawberry-Raspberry Cake

Strawberry Raspberry Cake Recipe
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

This simple cake relies on a well-aerated batter for its light texture; cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy before adding the flour for best results.

14 of 16

Strawberry Tiramisu

Strawberry Tiramisu
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas

In this sunny take on tiramisu, coffee and chocolate are swapped out for bright, zesty orange and ripe strawberries. A touch of balsamic vinegar, orange liqueur, sugar, and jam deepens the flavor of the berries without overpowering it, while orange zest brightens layers of mascarpone cream.

15 of 16

Strawberry-Buttermilk Cobbler

Strawberry-Buttermilk Cobbler Recipe
Eva Kolenko

A mixture of spelt and almond flours, gently combined with cold butter and creamy buttermilk, creates tender, fluffy biscuits that cover this juicy strawberry cobbler filling. Use the sweetest, best-quality berries from the market; their flavor is the foundation of this seasonal dessert.

16 of 16

Strawberry Icebox Cake with Maple-Ginger Cream

Strawberry Icebox Cake
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas

If you love strawberry shortcake, this inspired icebox dessert is for you. Buttery, rich shortbread cookies make an inspired (and easy) base for the cake, layered with plenty of sliced strawberries and a creamy filling with hints of spicy fresh ginger and sweet maple syrup. A topping of strawberries macerated in maple syrup adds a final burst of berry flavor.

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