25 of Our Best, Brightest (& Laziest) Strawberry Desserts

We thought you might want to take one (or two! or three!) of these little pink-tinted numbers for a spin sometime soon. You know: Bring one to your neighbor; tuck one into your bag, head to the park and eat it under a tree; make one for a leisurely breakfast—yes, cake is breakfast—on Sunday. Were we right?

Thought so. Here are 25 of our best strawberry desserts, all of which don't even take up that much of your time. So you can focus on the important part: the eating.

Cakes (and Shortcakes)

Strawberry Cake for Mother's Day (& Other Days)

A moist, buttery cake with strawberries baked right in, so you don’t miss a drop of their juice. Perfect for any day ending in ‘y’.

Strawberry Balsamic & Olive Oil Breakfast Cake

This cake riffs on two classic combinations: olive oil and balsamic, and balsamic with strawberries. Together, the trio make for a decadent breakfast, or more likely, a sweet and slightly savory dessert.

Nigella Lawson's Very Smart Strawberry Streusel Cake

This cake is very smart, indeed. Smart enough to make one base batter and transform it into two: one dense cake layer and another crumbly streusel layer, all enveloping a bright, strawberry filling.

Pink Champagne Cake

This infamous champagne-laced cake is perfectly paired with thinly-sliced strawberries. Arrange them on top for the perfect photo-finish, or add a layer of berries in the middle for an extra hit of fruity flavor.

Strawberry Shortcake

An impressive, show-stopping cake version of the classic dessert.

The Easiest Strawberry Shortcakes

The simplest and fastest recipe for strawberry shortcakes that uses drop biscuits instead of rolling them out. Perfect for a weeknight or lazy weekend.

Fast Vanilla Oatmeal Biscuits with Strawberries & Brown Sugar Sour Cream

Think of this dessert like strawberry shortcake with the volume turned up. More textured, slightly nutty biscuits and tangy sour cream accompany the sweet berries.

James Beard's Strawberry Shortcakes

A traditional preparation for strawberry shortcake with an untraditional secret ingredient from James Beard: hard boiled egg yolks in the biscuit dough.

Biscuits With Summer Berries and Whipped Cream

Flaky biscuits with fresh berries and simple whipped cream: joy in a bite.

Strawberry Chocolate Shortcakes

The perfect mashup of two of my favorite desserts: strawberry shortcake and chocolate-covered strawberries. Make these for a romantic date night or any occasion. They’re good enough to make up an occasion.

Berry Tasty Tarts

Fresh Strawberry Tart

This simple tart is crowned with peak-season strawberries for maximal effect and minimal effort.

Strawberry Lime Crostata

A rustic crostata filled with intense strawberry flavor and a hint of lime zest for a tart bite.

Strawberry-Mascarpone Tart

Creamy Italian mascarpone cheese elevates this gorgeous tart.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Tart

With just a few store-bought shortcuts you can whip up this dessert any weeknight for a sweet treat. Crispy puff pastry, tangy, creamy filling, and tart, sweet strawberries make for a sophisticated and well-balanced dessert in no time.

Roasted, Toasted Treats

Roasted Strawberry Milkshake with Buttermilk & Mint

Amp up a classic strawberry milkshake by roasting the berries to concentrate their flavor, then mixing in tangy buttermilk and fresh mint.

Roasted Rhubarb & Strawberries

When it’s in season, tart rhubarb pairs beautifully with strawberries, especially when roasted to bring out their natural sugars.

Michelle Polzine's Slow-Roasted Strawberries

Roasting strawberries low and slow with just a little added sugar amplifies and concentrates their sweetness into an almost-syrupy final product. They are delicious spooned on top of ice cream, yogurt, cake; add them to just about anything and everything for a burst of fruity flavor.

Berries and Cream Pavlova

Hints of almond extract and tangy creme fraiche take this pavlova from good to great. Tip: bake the meringues up to two days in advance to divide and conquer, effort-wise, on this dessert.

Frozen Fraises (That's Strawberries, en Français!)

Honey-Lime Strawberries & Lemon-Buttermilk Sherbet

Thinly sliced strawberries doused in a honey-lime syrup pair perfectly with tart buttermilk sherbet that recalls my favorite fro-yo chains of the early aughts.

Strawberry, Rhubarb, and Lime Ice Pops

Sweet and tart ice pops that refresh and delight.

The River Café's Strawberry Sorbet

You’re three ingredients and a few hours of freezing away from the strawberry sorbet that far exceeds the store-bought stuff.

Sensational Strawberry Sorbet

Another sorbet recipe that gets a berry boost from preserves. Perfect for less-than-perfect or out of season strawberries.

Strawberry Vanilla Coconut Ice Cream

A plant-based take on strawberry ice cream that relies on full fat coconut milk for a creamy, rich texture.

Strawberry Coconut Ice Pops

This recipe ticks all the boxes: vegan, five ingredients or less, and absolutely delicious. They are the perfect creamy, refreshing treat.

Strawberry, Pineapple, & Orange Sorbet (Nieve de Oasis)

Another frozen dessert that lets the strawberries shine, accented by citrus fruits and their acidity. Together they create something that tastes like a hot, Mexican summer day in a bite.

What's your go-to strawberry dessert? Let us know in the comments!