The flowers, the heart-shaped candy, the mild obsession with all things red… Yup, we see it now! Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. But, here’s the thing: besides giving us the chance to devour chocolate in all shapes and forms, February is also the month to celebrate… strawberries. Yes, strawberries!
Following suit to Valentine’s Day’s heart shaped and red theme, this juicy fruit is celebrated nationwide on February 27th, and boy, are we ready to get our cooking/baking/dessert-making on! So, if you’re ready to make the most out of National Strawberry Day this year, these five delicious dessert recipes are a great place to start.
Strawberry “Cream” Butter Cups
Love Reese’s, but hate to see the calories piling up? Well, in this case, you need to try these homemade butter cups ASAP. Made with a creamy strawberry filling instead of peanut butter, this dessert is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth minus the sugar crash. Plus, they are easy to make which is always a plus!
Ingredients:
(For the Filling)
½ cup coconut butter
3 tbsp freeze dried strawberries
1 tbsp maple syrup
(For the Chocolate Shell)
14 ounces dark chocolate
1 ½ tbsp coconut oil
Directions:
- Add the chocolate and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and melt them for about 30 seconds.
- Stir the mixture well and pour about one teaspoon of the chocolate into a muffin tin.
- Using a spoon, spread the chocolate up the sides of the liners and freeze for about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add all the filling ingredients into a small blender and process until you form a creamy butter.
- Then, remove the tins from the freezer and spoon about ½ teaspoon of the strawberry cream into every muffin tin.
- Cover all cups with the remaining chocolate and freeze again.
- (Optional Step) Decorate the cups by placing a freeze dried strawberry slice on top of them before you put them in the freezer.
2. No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream
Even though nibbling on ice cream in the dead of February sounds a bit oxymoron, this no-churn treat is definitely worth the try. At just 5 ingredients, the dessert tastes like springtime in a bowl, which is great if you consider April is only a few months away. Not to mention it’s a breeze to make which means you’ll have more time devouring it. That’s a win in our book!
Ingredients:
1 cup freeze dried strawberries
½ cup almond milk
4 tbsp plain yogurt
¼ cup lemon juice
1 ½ tbsp honey
Directions:
- Add the lemon juice and honey to a blender and pulse for a few seconds.
- Then, add the strawberries, almond milk, and yogurt and process until the mixture turns creamy.
- Transfer to a loaf pan or container and freeze overnight or until it’s hardened.
Strawberry Greek Yogurt Parfait
Delicious, healthy, colorful… Yes, this strawberry Greek yogurt parfait recipe checks all of our dessert boxes. And the best part? It takes less than 10 minutes to prep which makes it perfect not just for snacking time but also hasty mornings. So, dessert for breakfast? Well, why not?
Ingredients:
1/3 cup freeze dried strawberries
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp water
1 cup granola (regular or gluten free)
Directions:
- Add the strawberries slices and one cup of water to a small bowl and soak for 15-20 minutes until they hydrate. Then, transfer onto a paper towel and remove excess water.
- Place the strawberries, maple syrup, water, and lemon juice into a pan and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let the mixture sit so that it thickens.
- Once it’s cool enough, place a layer of Greek yogurt into a bowl, top with granola and then the strawberry mixture.
Cashew Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding
If we’re being honest, chia seed pudding is one of the easiest ways to start your day with tons of flavor and nutrients. And even though this cashew strawberry combo screams “dessert,” we wouldn’t ditch it from our morning menu just yet.
Ingredients:
3 cups cashew milk
1 cup freeze dried strawberries
1/3 cup chia seeds
¼ cup maple syrup
2/3 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
- Add the cashew milk and the strawberries to a blender and pulse until smooth.
- Stir in the rest of the ingredients, mix until it turns into a puree and serve.
Dark Chocolate Strawberry Bread
If you’re the kind of person who hasn’t eaten breakfast in – like – forever, this fruity bread is all you need. The treat is a cook-once-and-enjoy-all-week kind of deal, so it makes for the perfect weekday morning meal. For an extra flavor kick, serve it with a scoop of jam, and you’ve got yourself the tastiest wake up call imaginable.
Ingredients:
(For the Dough)
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsp coconut sugar
¾ cup lukewarm water
1 cup coconut milk
3 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp yeast
1 tsp salt
(For the Filling)
4 ounces dark chocolate
1/3 cup almond milk
2 tbsp maple syrup
½ cup freeze dried strawberries
Directions:
- Add all the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.
- In a separate bowl, pour the water and the milk and then stir in the dry ingredients.
- Add the coconut oil and mix well until you form a dough.
- Cover with a towel and let the dough rest for about 2 hours. FYI, it will double in size.
- At this point, place the strawberries in a bowl along with one cup of water and let them sit for 15-20 minutes or until they hydrate. Then, remove them from the bowl and remove excess water using a paper towel.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water and then add the almond milk.
- Later, add the maple syrup and keep stirring until the chocolate has melted completely. Once it’s ready, remove from heat and set it aside to cool.
- Preheat the oven to 375oF.
- Grease a loaf pan with unsalted butter and transfer the dough to a floured surface.
- Using your hands, shape the dough into a rectangle, spread the chocolate from side to side and top with the strawberries.
- Then, roll the dough from end to end (you’ll make a small log), transfer into the loaf pan and cook for about 45-50 minutes or until the bread is golden and firm.
So, how will you celebrate National Strawberry Day? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments down below!
