8 Strawberry Shortcake-Inspired Desserts That Go Way Beyond the Classic

Is there anything better than strawberry season? While you can get the spring fruit any time of year, there is absolutely nothing like a fresh, seasonal berry bursting with flavor. You’ll want to make the most of the short growing season (whether you grow them yourself or simply pick them up at the store), and that includes making strawberry shortcakes and every strawberry dessert recipe you can get your hands on.

And if you love the classic, just wait until you try these strawberry shortcake-inspired desserts! That’s right, you can take those strawberries-and-cream flavors and turn them into all sorts of spring desserts. You can make cookies, homemade cakes, and a sky-high trifle to feed a crowd. Imagine spoiling mom for Mother’s Day or impressing everyone at the church potluck with your sweet skills.

When the weather gets hot, turn to frozen desserts to cool you down. You can make ice cream sandwiches and even a homemade version of the strawberry shortcake ice cream bars you craved as a kid. And if you don’t have fresh berries, there are ways to use frozen or freeze-dried berries and even store-bought ice cream to give you all the strawberry shortcake flavor you crave. It’ll be the berry best season yet! (And don’t forget, you can have them for breakfast, too.)