- S’mores are always a welcome treat in my kitchen and The Brook Cook recently whipped up some S’mores Bars with Marshmallow Meringue that look just about irresistible. The bars start with a thick graham cracker crust, which is baked and topped with a fudgy, dark chocolate brownie layer. Once these layers have cooled, then a fluffy marshmallow meringue is whipped up and spread on top of that decadent brownie. Don’t forget to put the bars under the broiler or use a blowtorch to brown the top of the marshmallow to ensure that you get that toasted note that s’mores are so well known for before slicing and serving.
- A big slice of watermelon is a great way to treat yourself on a hot summer day. The Salted Watermelon Ice from Fed and Fit is even more refreshing. This granita-like frozen treat is lightly sweetened and kissed with salt, allowing the natural flavor of the watermelon to really shine. It is crucial that you use a great watermelon to get the best results in a simple recipe like this one (or you might have to add a touch of additional sugar), so try to pick one up at the farmer’s market or a store where you can sample the fruit before you buy.
- In these Peanut Butter Cookie Brittle Cups with Roasted Strawberries and Whipped Coconut Cream, Probably This transformed ordinary peanut butter cookies into a much more elegant dessert. The recipe starts with homemade gluten-free peanut butter cookies that are baked until crispy, then crumbled into rough chunks. The pieces are then candied with honey and brown sugar in a skillet, then layered with whipped coconut cream and roasted strawberries. The result is a very grown up twist on peanut butter and jelly in a fun, yet elegant, format.
- Strawberries are always excellent when they are fresh, but they can be delicious when they are cooked and their natural sugars are allowed to intensify. In Search of Yumminess baked up a Maple Strawberry Galette that shows off just how delicious strawberries can be in a baked dessert. This easy-to-make tart starts with a puff pastry base, into which a strawberry filling is piled. The filling is sweetened with maple syrup and sugar, and it is flavored with a bit of lemon zest and vanilla extract. Serve slices of this galette immediately with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
- Another strawberry dessert comes from F & B Department. This No-Bake Bourbon Strawberry White Chocolate Cream Pie transforms ordinary strawberries into a very decadent dessert – and all without heating up your oven on a hot summer day. The pie begins with a no-bake graham cracker crust, which is chipped before a white chocolate and cream cheese filling is poured in. The filling has a bit of tang from the cream cheese and a vanilla sweetness from the white chocolate, but also includes a touch of vanilla and a generous splash of bourbon. Bourbon and sugar-macerated strawberries are layered on top, then glazed with thickened strawberry juice. The finishing touch is a topping of bourbon whipped cream – which is also a nice addition to other strawberry desserts that you might be making this summer!