Dreamy Creamy Strawberry Trifle ~ A Valentine Treat
Feb 9, 2011 at 19:55
I wasn't sure what special treat I was going to put together for Hubby this year to celebrate Valentine's Day. All week I've been poring over my dessert cookbooks trying to figure it out. This year I wanted something different, something dreamy. I just couldn't find the right dessert though. My cookie cookbooks weren't cutting it this time around. I passed on my cake cookbooks because I knew I didn't have a lot of time this week, so cakes were out. What to do? Finally I flipped through my Desserts 4 Today Cookbook and the ideal dreamy, creamy dessert popped out at me - a strawberry trifle. It was just what I was looking for.
I grabbed my grocery list and my car keys, then ran out the door to pick up the ingredients. This week I had one shot at getting out to get my grocery shopping done. I knew just where I was going to go. My local Smart and Final store*. Why? It was a busy day and I didn't have a lot of time to run around looking for everything I needed. It used to be that our Smart and Final store was the "buy in bulk only" store, but not anymore. Now my local Smart and Final store carries both bulk and traditional grocery store sizes. It's the perfect combination for me and Hubby, being empty-nesters. They also have a fresh produce section, which is where I found my fresh strawberries. Boy, was I thankful they had them. Told you I needed a one-stop-shop this week, and I made the right choice!
Not only did I find fresh strawberries, but I also found Organic Whole frozen strawberries. This made me smile. I didn't go into the store looking for "organic" foods, but was very happy to know they were there. I got to thinking about my friends who don't have any fresh strawberries in their region yet. How could they make this dessert? That's when I thought of using frozen strawberries. They worked just fine when it came to blending them into the cream. The frozen strawberries worked, too, for the layers, but they weren't very pretty on the top layer. So if you make this dessert with only frozen strawberries don't plan on including them on the top layer. Instead, use only your cookies to decorate the top layer. It will still make a pretty presentation. I sliced the frozen strawberries while they were still hard, then I let them thaw so they would incorporate into the cream easily. It worked just fine.
Hubby has been happy with his dreamy creamy Valentine dessert. I made it early so that I could share the recipe with you, too. Hubby didn't mind....he's been happily enjoying his special dessert and intends to keep enjoying it over the weekend.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
For a printer-friendly, text-only version of the recipe, click here.
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
Original recipe by Abby Dodge from Desserts 4 Today Cookbook
Serving size 4 - 6
What you'll need:
1 Lb - Strawberries, rinsed, dried, and hulled divided
1 Cup - Heavy cream
1/4 to 1/2 Cup - Confectioners Sugar (sweeten to your taste)
40 to 50 - Crisp Vanilla Wafer cookies (standard size cookie)
My Simple Changes:
I doubled this recipe. It doubles easily.
The standard size Vanilla Wafers were replaced with bite-size white chocolate chip cookies.
If you use a thin bite size cookie I recommend putting the dessert together at the last minute. If the cookies sit in the cream for too long, they get soggy. You can prepare the strawberry cream and sliced strawberries in advance, store in the fridge, then when you are ready put the dessert together. Serve and enjoy!
What you'll do:
1. Have ready a small 6-cup glass or trifle bowl (my trifle bowl is bigger than 6-cups, so I doubled the recipe), make room in the fridge.
2. Pile half of the strawberries into a food processor or blender. Process until smooth, about 1 minute (you'll have about 1 cup). Thinly slice the remaining strawberries and divide into 3 piles.
3. Pour the heavy cream and 1/4 cup of the confectioners' sugar into a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until firm peaks form when the beaters are lifted (don't forget to stop the mixer before lifting!). Pour the strawberry purée into the whipped cream. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold until well blended. Taste and add more confectioner's sugar, if desired.
4. Spoon about 1 cup of the strawberry cream into the glass bowl. Arrange a single layer of cookies, slightly overlapping (I used bite size cookies, so my cookies did not overlap), on top of the cream.
5. Scatter one pile of sliced strawberries on top of the cookies.
6. Repeat layering with the remaining cream, cookies, and strawberries, ending with a layer of cream and decoratively arrranging the remaining sliced berries.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or for up to 1 day. But remember, if you use a thin cookie, store the cream and sliced strawberries in separate containers in the fridge, and put this dessert together at the last minute. Just before serving, arrange a few of the remaining cookies and the strawberries on top of the cream. Serve chilled.
*Disclaimer: Something new has come into my life and I'm excited to be telling you all about it. I'm now a writing member of Collective Bias, a social media company that connects bloggers with brands. So from time to time I'll be sharing my thoughts with you about specific brands that I am asked to review, which can also include specific stores. In the interest of full disclosure, if I share my review of a product with you or tell you about a particular store, it's because I've actually tried it, and like it. I was willing to tell you about shopping this week at my local Smart and Final in this post because Hubby and I actually shop at our local S&F store. Yes, I'm compensated for my review, but my viewpoint and opinions are my own.
Reader Comments (10)
Hello Fellow SF Smartie! I love S&F too and your dessert is simply, well, simple and delicious! Thank you for sharing it and passing along the secret of Smart & Final.
looks great I LOVE Smart and Final!
Hi Sara! Welcome to Dishin' In The Kitchen. Always nice to have another SF Smartie visiting. Glad you like the dessert. Let's hope Smart and Final isn't a well kept secret for long. More shoppers need to know about all of their shopping options out there. Happy to pass along a good experience to everyone.
Hi Diane, welcome back. ;-) If you like Smart and Final, too, then I'm in good company!
I just love this recipe because it's so easy and quick to make! I can't wait to serve it at a party. Great job, Michelle! Thanks for all your hard work!
This post gives me a reason to go buy a trifle bowl! This dessert looks so beautiful that I wouldn't serve it until I absolutely had too. I love Smart & Final too!
Yum, I love presentation and this is fabulous!! Great job.
Hi Amy, Yes this recipe really is easy. Your idea of serving it up at a party is a great way to share this scrumptious dessert. Your guests will ooh and aah over it :-) Have fun!
Hey there Kim, thanks for stopping by. I adore trifle bowls. It probably sounds funny, but really I do. This one sitting pretty on it's pedestal has a sleek modern look to it that doesn't distract from a pretty dessert. Hope you get one soon, then you can show off this recipe or any other. Cheers!
Hey "Deal Fanatic", Welcome! I adore you blog. Thanks for dropping by. Glad you liked the post. It was fun to share the recipe with everyone, my new trifle bowl, and of course Smart and Final! Have a great day, sweetie.