13 Old-School Strawberry Dessert Recipes That Never Go Out Of Style

Strawberries offer a vibrant and sweet bite to brighten just about anything they touch. Although there are plenty of modern ways to incorporate the fruit into your sweet treats, we wanted to compile some classic and timeless dessert recipes. These are options that never go out of style, meaning you can make them for grandparents or grandkids, and everyone will find something to like about the dish. 

These use traditional flavors that will work with anything else you want to serve at the dessert table. Whether you want a recipe for a layered cake or fruit compote, we've got a bit of everything to keep you inspired. Although there are loads of strawberry varieties, it's up to you, as well as what's available seasonally and locally, for what you use for these goodies. Strawberries are even sweeter and juicier if you grow them yourself, but we understand that's not feasible for every household. No matter what, the result is a scrumptious confection featuring strawberries. We think you will be berry impressed with these recipes.

You can't go wrong with a strawberry cobbler. This dish is a top option when you don't want to make something that involves a lot of steps or much time. It only takes 15 minutes to prepare, and then the rest of the time is spent baking in the oven. It mixes staples like vanilla, butter, berries, sugar, and flour to create a dish that invokes positive memories of cooking in the kitchen with your family. We suggest serving this straight from the oven with a dollop of ice cream or a nice serving of whipped cream.

Recipe: Strawberry Cobbler

If you have 10 minutes of free time, then you can quickly whip this cheesecake together. You don't have to bake it; simply pop it in the freezer for two hours before it's ready to serve. This no-bake goodie is a fantastic choice when you want to create a homemade dessert but still need time to get ready or prep other items. It blends graham crackers, strawberries, strawberry jam, cream cheese, and some other ingredients to create a dish that will impress your guests. Thaw for 30 minutes and then cut and serve. 

Recipe: No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake

Chocolate-covered strawberries can cost a fortune when you buy them at the store or order for delivery, but they are pretty easy to craft from scratch. You only need dark and white chocolate, along with some fresh room-temperature strawberries. This takes a few steps in preparation — breaking and melting the chocolate, dipping the strawberries, allowing the coating to harden, etc. — but it's more monotonous than it is difficult. The result is a striking, expensive-looking, timeless dessert that you can make all year long. No need to wait for Valentine's Day or date night.

Recipe: Black And White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Poke cakes have been around for decades, and they aren't going away any time soon. If you haven't incorporated them into your baking arsenal, you certainly should. A strawberry version is delicious enough, but this recipe calls for the addition of a bubbly surprise: champagne. The alcoholic beverage gets added in as a wet ingredient along with vanilla to create a fun, moist cake with an irresistible texture. This is the ideal baked good to make when you want a cake that uses traditional, well-loved flavors in a unique way. Cheers!

Recipe: Strawberry Champagne Poke Cake

Bake up a childhood favorite with a strawberry shortcake treat that only takes 45 minutes from start to finish. The decadent biscuits, mascarpone cream, and macerated strawberries result in an elevated dessert that feels sentimental but looks restaurant-grade. The distinct layers of each component provide a strong foundation and flavor, while offering a beautiful dessert. The sliced toasted almond garnish brings a nutty profile and light crunch into the mix for added sophistication. After making this just once, you'll be hit with a wave of nostalgia to entice you to make it time and again.

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake

We love the airiness of a sponge cake, and this strawberry-laden one lets the fruit shine. Here, we follow a pretty standard sponge cake recipe, but the strawberries are sliced and used as part of a creamy filling. They aren't cooked, which keeps them vibrant and the star of the cake. Top with more strawberries and a sweet yet tangy cream cheese frosting and serve fresh. We like the layered cake effect that makes it stand out for parties. You don't need bold flavors when you use simple, stellar ingredients like juicy strawberries and homemade fluffy frosting.

Recipe: Strawberry Sponge Cake

You've likely eaten French toast at some point in your life, if not multiple times. If you're looking for a way to revitalize your Sunday family brunch, then you must make this creamy strawberry bake. Every part of this screams elegance, from the challah loaf to the bold red strawberries to the decadent whipped mascarpone. It doesn't take too long to prepare, but you'll need to allot resting and baking time. In a way, it's still easier than dunking a bunch of bread slices in the egg mixture, frying, and flipping.

Recipe: Strawberries And Cream French Toast Bake

We love frosting as much as anyone, and while those premade tubs are totally convenient, it can be beneficial to have a couple of frosting recipes under your belt. Those premade ones tend to have dyes and artificial flavors, so we have the perfect recipe if you prefer more control of your sugary spread. A homemade strawberry buttercream has real bits of fruit to give it an unparalleled depth that you can't help but eat by the spoonful. The freeze-dried strawberries offer flavor and color without sabotaging the texture with moisture.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Panna cotta is a traditional Italian dessert that has been around for generations. If you want a bite of this creamy dish, then we have an excellent recipe for you. It seems luxurious and difficult, but it only requires a handful of ingredients and under 30 minutes to make. The not-so-secret ingredient is unflavored gelatin powder combined with fresh strawberries to give the treat a pinkish hue and that silky texture. Instead of Jell-O or pudding, give this a go for a personal-sized dessert. Pair with a cup of coffee for an irresistible afternoon treat.

Recipe: Strawberry Panna Cotta

Who doesn't love the ease and scrumptiousness of a loaf cake? It's simple, and you don't have to use spring form pans or any complicated baking ware. This has a delectable batter and chopped strawberries to create a fruit-forward vanilla-y bread that you can't help but grab a second slice of. The icing is, literally, icing on the cake. This is moist (because of the Greek yogurt) and ideal for a quick morning bite. It's straightforward to make, and most of the time is spent waiting for it to bake in the oven.

Recipe: Strawberry Vanilla Bread

Perhaps you picked a bunch of fresh strawberries from a local farm and loaded them into your freezer, unsure of how to use them. Well, we have a splendid idea. You'll need 3 cups of frozen strawberries to create this sweet yet slightly tangy berry sorbet. It is absolutely vibrant, icy, and breezy to make using just strawberries, sugar, and a bit of lemon juice. The ingredients are blended until they reach a texture similar to sand. The wait for it to set in the freezer for a couple of hours is the hardest part.

Recipe: Strawberry Sorbet

Strawberry has been the sole fruit focus of all the recipes thus far, but we wanted to highlight a classic combination in the form of strawberry and banana. While a lot of popsicles are usually fully blended up, this recipe includes sliced pieces of fruit, which adds a textural (and visual) element that you can't get when it's completely blitzed. There's also a creamy component and rich flavor with the addition of canned light coconut milk. Make the pops and let them set in the freezer overnight so you can devour them the following day.

Recipe: Strawberry Banana Popsicles

People have been creating jams, jellies, compotes, and preserves for a very long time. Make a bit of history with a quick old-school compote that consists of strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. We especially love that you can use fresh or frozen berries to make it work best for you and your family. You get to customize the thickness by determining how mashed and how long it cooks. Some like it chunky and thick, while others prefer slightly smaller pieces — it's totally up to you, but the chunks are what make it a compote. 

Recipe: Simple Strawberry Compote