There’s just something about strawberries that makes my heart happy. Maybe it’s their juicy sweetness, or maybe it’s the nostalgia of warm, sun-soaked days picking them straight from the vine. In 2023, I planted my own strawberry patch, and last spring, I finally got to enjoy my very first harvest.
That first bite? Pure bliss. And that bliss became the inspiration behind our new Strawberry Patch Candle—a scent that captures the magic of those freshly picked berries.
If you’re a strawberry lover like me, you’ll be excited to enjoy them in three delicious ways: sip, savory, and sweet!
Sip: Strawberry lemonade
Nothing says spring quite like a tall glass of fresh strawberry lemonade. This recipe combines ripe strawberries, tart lemons, and just the right amount of sweetness for the ultimate refreshing sip. Pour yourself a glass, light your Strawberry Patch Candle, and let the crisp, fruity scent fill the air while you kick back and relax.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 pound fresh strawberries , stems removed
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 1/2-5 cups water, divided
- 1 1/2 cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
Use a blender or food processor to puree the strawberries. Strain them through a fine mesh sieve, if desired, to remove seeds.
In a small saucepan, over medium heat, stir together sugar and 2 cups water.
Bring to a boil, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Strain the lemon juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quarter pitcher. Add simple syrup and pureed strawberries and stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold.
When ready to serve, add 2 1/2 cups of cold water and stir. Taste, and add more water if it's too sweet.
Serve with ice.
Savory: Strawberry pecan goat cheese salad
INGREDIENTS
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¾ cup pecan halves
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 5 ounces spring mix or baby greens
- 1 cup fresh sliced strawberries
- 3 ounces goat cheese crumbles
- 1 small red onion halved and sliced thin
- 1/3 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sweet: Strawberry shortcake cake
INGREDIENTS
Cake
- 1 1/2 cups Flour
- 3 Tbsp. Cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Baking Soda
- 9 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, Softened
- 1 1/2 cups Sugar
- 3 whole Large Eggs
- 1/2 cup Sour Cream, Room Temperature
- 1 tsp. Vanilla
Icing
- 1/2 lb. Cream Cheese, Room Temperature
- 2 sticks Unsalted Butter
- 1 1/2 lb. Powdered Sugar, Sifted
- 1 tsp. Vanilla
- 1 lb. Strawberries
Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, and corn starch.
Cream 9 tablespoons butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well each time. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until combined. Add sifted dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just barely combined.
Pour into greased and floured 8-inch cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, or until no longer jiggly like my bottom. Remove from cake pan as soon as you pull it out of the oven, and place on a cooling rack and allow it to cool completely.
Stem strawberries and slice them in half from bottom to top. Place into a bowl and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons sugar. Stir together and let sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, mash the strawberries in two batches. Sprinkle each half with 1 tablespoons sugar and allow to sit for another 30 minutes.
Make icing: combine cream cheese, 2 sticks butter, sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, and dash of salt in a mixing bowl. Mix until very light and fluffy.
Slice cake in half through the middle. Spread strawberries evenly over each half (cut side up), pouring on all the juices. Place cake halves into the freezer for five minutes, just to make icing easier.
Remove from freezer. Use a little less than 1/3 of the icing to spread over the top of the strawberries on the bottom layer. Place the second layer on top. Add half of the remaining icing to the top spreading evenly, then spread the remaining 1/3 cup around the sides.
Leave plain OR garnish with strawberry halves.
IMPORTANT: Cake is best when served slightly cool. The butter content in the icing will cause it to soften at room temperature. For best results, store in the fridge!
So there you have it—three ways to enjoy strawberries, whether you’re sipping, savoring, or satisfying your sweet tooth. And if you want to keep that fresh-picked berry feeling going all season long, don’t forget to grab our Strawberry Patch Candle. It’s like bottling up the joy of spring—no weeding required.
Happy strawberry season, friends!
