Entertaining this weekend? How about a "build-it-yourself strawberry shortcake table" for dessert? We've done this for years, and our guests love it! (We've refreshed this post from our archives for everyone who is wondering what to serve after the fireworks on July 4th.)
It's easy on the host and fun for the guests. Here's the step-by-step on how we do it:
- Buy the best berries you can find, preferably fresh from a local farm or farmers market.
- Here's a link to Boston area farmers markets.
- Here's a link to farms where you can pick your own strawberries.
- Reserve the most perfect berries for dipping in chocolate and eating out-of-hand. Put a shaker of sugar near the plain berries for those who would like to sprinkle a bit on their choices.
- Slice and sugar the rest and allow them to form a natural sauce overnight in the refrigerator.
- Collect a variety of bases – dessert cups, short cake, biscuits, ladyfingers, cookies, and angel food cake are a few I've used for this.
- For July 4th, add a big dish of blueberries for red, white, and blue creations.
- Add a fondue pot of dipping chocolate, and you'll have guests swooning.
- Arrange a selection of toppings. I've set out whipped cream, yogurt, ice cream, creme fraiche, and fudge sauce.
- For something tall on the table, add wine buckets filled with bottles of sparkling wine that guests can pour over a few berries in a champagne glass.
- Set up a tray of "special enhancements" (rums, liqueurs, and dessert wines) to drizzle on the cakes or sip with the shortcake. Most popular around here was limoncello.
- Add big napkins to protect clothes; spoons, dishes, or wine glasses to hold your guest's creations; and let everyone have fun with the fruit.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino
Perfect to keep in your market cooler or tote bag.