10+ Fresh Strawberry Recipes to Sweeten Your Summer Days

Strawberries—honestly, is there a fruit more summery? You can toss them into just about anything, sweet or healthy, and suddenly your food pops with color and flavor.

Fresh strawberries have this way of making even simple recipes taste brighter.

You can enjoy strawberries in so many ways, all year round. It’s surprisingly easy to sneak fresh strawberries into your meals or desserts and instantly make them feel a bit more special.

Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries
• Sugar (optional)
• Flour (optional)
• Butter (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Wash strawberries gently under cold water.
2. Remove the green stems and slice or chop as you like.
3. Use strawberries directly in your recipe or toss them with sugar if you want some extra sweetness.
4. For baking, just follow your specific recipe for oven temp and timing.

1) Homemade Strawberry Cake with Crisp Sugar Crust

This homemade strawberry cake is simple, loaded with berries, and honestly, it’s hard to mess up. The cake turns out soft, with a sweet sugar crust on top that gives a satisfying crunch.

Fresh strawberries folded into the batter bring a natural sweetness. That sugar crust bakes into a crispy topping, and it’s kind of addictive.

It’s perfect in spring or summer when strawberries are everywhere. I like it as dessert, but it’s just as good with coffee.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tbsp sugar (for crust)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cream butter and sugar until light.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time.
4. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in another bowl.
5. Add dry ingredients and milk alternately to the creamed mixture.
6. Gently fold in chopped strawberries.
7. Pour batter into a greased pan.
8. Sprinkle 2 tbsp sugar over the top.
9. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
10. Let it cool before serving.

2) Fresh Strawberry Crisp with Buttery Oat Topping

Here’s a dessert that’s as easy as it is delicious: strawberry crisp with a buttery oat topping. The topping bakes up golden and crunchy, while the strawberries bubble underneath.

That oat layer brings just the right amount of crunch and buttery flavor. The combo with sweet strawberries is so good.

I like it best warm, maybe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top. You really don’t need much to make this one work.

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Toss strawberries with lemon juice and spread in a baking dish.
3. Mix oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.
4. Cut in butter until crumbly.
5. Sprinkle oat mixture over the strawberries.
6. Bake 30-35 minutes, until topping is golden and fruit is bubbly.
7. Let it cool a bit before digging in.

3) Strawberry Oatmeal Bars with Vanilla Glaze

Strawberry oatmeal bars are one of those treats you can eat any time—breakfast, dessert, or just because. The chewy oatmeal base and fresh strawberries make them feel wholesome but still a little indulgent.

A light vanilla glaze drizzled on top adds a smooth, sweet finish. It’s not overpowering, just enough to make you want another bite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup cold butter
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup strawberry preserves

For the vanilla glaze:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tbsp milk

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix oats, flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Cut in butter until crumbly.
3. Press half the mixture into a baking pan.
4. Spread preserves and strawberries on top.
5. Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture over the fruit.
6. Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Let cool. Mix glaze ingredients and drizzle over bars.
8. Cut into squares and serve.

Try this recipe for easy, fresh strawberry oatmeal bars with a sweet glaze you’ll enjoy! For more details, check this recipe for strawberry oatmeal bars with vanilla glaze.

4) Strawberry Lemon Trifle

Strawberry lemon trifle is an easy, no-bake dessert that looks like you put in way more effort than you did. Just layer angel food cake or vanilla wafers, fresh strawberries, and creamy lemon pudding or mousse.

The flavors balance out—sweet, tart, creamy, and a little bit of cake. It’s light and honestly, pretty refreshing.

Add whipped cream between layers if you want it extra creamy. Sometimes I’ll spoon in a little strawberry sauce too.

Ingredients

• Angel food cake or vanilla wafers
• Fresh strawberries, sliced
• Lemon pudding or lemon mousse
• Whipped cream
• Strawberry preserves or sauce (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Slice the angel food cake or grab your vanilla wafers.
2. Layer cake or wafers in a trifle dish.
3. Add lemon pudding or mousse on top.
4. Spread fresh strawberries over that.
5. Top with whipped cream.
6. Repeat until the dish is full.
7. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

5) Frozen Strawberry Daiquiris

Frozen strawberry daiquiris are the kind of drink you want on a hot day. Blend frozen strawberries with rum and lime juice for a slushy, sweet-tart drink.

Frozen berries make it thick and cold without watering it down. If you like it tangier, just add a bit more lime juice.

Sweeten with simple syrup or sugar to taste. Pour into chilled glasses and you’re set.

Ingredients

• 1 cup white rum
• 2 cups frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup simple syrup or sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Add rum, frozen strawberries, lime juice, and simple syrup to a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and slushy.
3. Taste and adjust lime or syrup if you want.
4. Pour into chilled glasses and serve right away.

For a great frozen strawberry daiquiri recipe, see this Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri.

6) Strawberry Cheesecake

Strawberry cheesecake is a classic. Creamy filling, sweet graham cracker crust, and a pile of fresh strawberries or sauce on top—it’s always a hit.

You don’t need a water bath for this one, which makes it way less fussy. Roasting the strawberries first brings out their sweetness.

Swirl strawberry sauce into the cheesecake for a pretty look, or just spoon a homemade compote on top. It’s great for sharing, if you’re feeling generous.

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 24 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup strawberry sauce or compote

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter; press into a springform pan.
3. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
4. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Stir in strawberries.
5. Pour batter into crust and smooth the top.
6. Bake 50-60 minutes, until set.
7. Cool, then chill in the fridge at least 4 hours.
8. Serve with strawberry sauce.

7) Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream

Homemade strawberry ice cream is one of those things that just feels like summer. It’s creamy, with bright strawberry flavor, and you don’t even need an ice cream maker if you go the no-churn route.

Mash fresh strawberries with sugar and a little lemon juice to bring out the flavor. Mix that with cream and milk, and you’ve got your base.

Freeze it in a container, stirring every so often to keep it creamy. It’s perfect for hot days, and you can tweak the sweetness however you want.

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh strawberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup whole milk

Cooking Instructions

1. Mash strawberries with sugar and lemon juice.
2. Stir in heavy cream and milk.
3. Pour into a freezer-safe container.
4. Freeze for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
5. Let sit a few minutes before scooping.

8) Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Strawberry Pretzel Salad is that sweet-and-salty dessert everyone seems to love at potlucks. You get a crunchy pretzel crust, a creamy middle, and a layer of fresh strawberries on top.

The flavors just work—simple, but honestly pretty addictive.

Start by mixing crushed pretzels with melted butter, then press that into a pan. Bake it for a bit so it firms up.

Next, beat cream cheese with sugar until it’s smooth, and spread it over the cooled crust. That creamy layer is really what makes the whole thing pop.

Then, stir strawberry jello with hot water and fold in sliced strawberries. Pour that over the top and let it all chill.

It’s best served cold, so make it ahead if you can. If you want more details, Food.com has a solid recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups crushed pretzels
• ¼ cup melted butter
• 3 tablespoons white sugar (for crust)
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup white sugar (for filling)
• 1 (8-ounce) package strawberry jello
• 1 quart fresh sliced strawberries

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix pretzels, butter, and sugar, then press into a pan. Bake 10 minutes, cool.
3. Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar until smooth. Spread over crust.
4. Mix jello with hot water; fold in strawberries, then pour on top.
5. Chill at least 4 hours until set.

9) Strawberry Pavlova

Strawberry Pavlova is one of those desserts that looks fancy but isn’t that hard to make. The meringue shell gets crispy outside and stays soft inside.

Pile on plenty of whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Sometimes I add a splash of vanilla or lemon to the cream for a little twist.

The strawberries add a juicy, bright flavor that cuts through the sweetness.

Baking the meringue takes patience—you have to go low and slow. But when you see the finished Pavlova, it’s worth the wait.

Ingredients

• 4 large egg whites
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and halved

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C).
2. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
3. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff and glossy.
4. Fold in vanilla and vinegar or lemon juice gently.
5. Spread meringue on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, then turn off oven and let meringue cool inside.
7. Whip heavy cream until soft peaks form.
8. Spread cream over cooled meringue and top with strawberries.

10) Strawberry and Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

This recipe is a delicious excuse to eat strawberries for breakfast. You stuff thick bread slices with sweetened cream cheese and chopped strawberries.

Then, dip the bread in a vanilla custard and fry it until golden. The outside turns crispy, and the inside stays creamy.

That cream cheese layer? It’s rich and just a little tangy. The strawberries keep things bright and fresh.

Brioche works best, but any soft bread will do. Honestly, this is brunch food at its best.

Ingredients

• 8 thick slices of brioche bread
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Butter, for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Grab a bowl and toss in the cream cheese and strawberries.

2. Give them a good mix until they’re combined, but don’t stress if it’s not perfect.

3. Take two slices of bread and spread that mixture between them.

4. Congrats, you’ve got sandwiches now.

5. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon.

6. Dip each sandwich in this custard, making sure both sides get soaked.

7. Heat up some butter in a pan over medium.

8. Cook the sandwiches for about 3-4 minutes per side.

9. You’re looking for a nice golden color—don’t walk away, they can brown fast.

10. Serve them warm.

11. If you’re feeling fancy, toss on some extra strawberries.

Craving more details? Check out this strawberry cream cheese stuffed french toast recipe.