Strawberries are coming in season, one of my favorite food times of the year. Here in northern Virginia we have to wait a few more weeks, but warmer areas of the country are already basking in the glow of the beautiful fresh red fruits. My boys are always excited when we come home with strawberries, and they eagerly watch and try to sneak a few nibbles as I wash and trim the fresh berries for salads, ice cream, granita, pies, tarts, or just eating out of hand.
This recipe for strawberries and cream comes from The Military Wives Cookbook, by Carolyn Quick Tillery. It’s an easy dessert that’s elegant enough to serve to guests. We loved the flavor and think the macaroons lend even more taste and texture. I’ve modified things a bit from the original to suite my taste, reducing the sugar, drizzling some of the Cointreau mixture over the berries, then pouring some of the ice cream mixture on top in the serving dish rather than tossing them all together. I like to see the redness of the berries when I eat them and thought they would look pretty displayed that way. The recipe makes a substantial amount, and though it says 2 servings, I would spread it out over 4 pretty dishes for a light dessert.
To serve this dessert to children, just use fresh strawberries with the cream mixture and cookies (no Cointreau for the kids). You can make your own macaroons or purchase them from your favorite bakeshop or grocery store.
[Updated May 2012.]
[Disclosure: I received a copy of the cookbook to review. Opinions are my own.]
Strawberries and Cream with Macaroons
Equipment
- medium mixing bowl
- stand mixer with whisk attachment (or hand mixer and mixing bowl)
- 4 dessert bowls
Ingredients
- 8 ounces strawberries (hulled and washed)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup Cointreau
- 8 ounces vanilla ice cream (softened at room temperature)
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 gluten-free coconut macaroon cookies (crumbled, 1 cookie per serving dish + whole cookies for garnish)
Preparation
- Pat the clean strawberries dry and place in the mixing bowl. Sprinkle sugar and Cointreau over the strawberries. Toss lightly, then refrigerate for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- In the bowl of the stand mixer, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in the vanilla and almond extracts.
- SERVE: Divide the macaroon crumbs between the serving dishes, then place strawberries on top of each pile of crumbs. Drizzle some of the Cointreau mixture over the berries. Fold the softened ice cream and heavy cream together, then spoon some of the ice cream mixtures on top. Garnish with a cookie and serve immediately.
Andrea,
Do you ever do strawberry you-pick? If so, any recommendations for those of us also in Northern VA?
Yes, there are some good place to PYO strawberries here in Northern VA. Here's a few that I know of:
Belvedere Plantation, Fredericksburg
Crooked Run Orchard, Purcellville (Loudoun County)
Great Country Farms, Bluemont (Loudoun County)
Wegmeyer Farms, Hamilton (Loudoun County)
You can find more at PickYourOwn.org.
We are just starting to get California strawberries in the markets here. I hate to say it, but I like them better than our FL ones.
Love what you did with them here. This is a perfect, light and elegant dessert, with or without the Cointreau!
Strawberries and cream plus cointreau and macaroons. What a great way to dress up strawberries and it sounds delicious!
I just love this something different to ones normal strawberries and cream, I just love it and I see that you have added this dish to your mothers day list of recipes. I like Lynda's comment what a way to "dress" up strawberries. 🙂
I cant wait to go berry-picking. strawberries are in season but some of the farms have advised me to come a bit later. preferably in june. same with blue and blackkberries.
I will practice macaroons in the meantime 😉
Delish Andrea. We , sadly, are past our strawberry season here. We are still getting gorgeous raspberries, but I have been spoilt, being able to pick them at home, now I can barely bring myself to pay the exorbitant price for them in the shops. Are you growing your own?
African Vanielje: We planted a some strawberries last year that didn't do so well, so we build up the ground and replanted this spring in hopes of a good harvest next year. We're really looking forward to those strawberries, as long as the rabbits and birds don't eat them. I think we'll have to cage them somehow.
so yummy....and delicious...
Just a quick question. Is Cointreau (for soaking) can be substituted with any non-alcholic stuff? If so, please do give suggestions.I am novice to cooking
Thanks