5 Strawberry Recipes for a Taste of Summer in the Depths of Winter

夏天可能是一个遥远的分配信息ory, but one of the best parts of the season doesn’t have to fade into oblivion along with backyard BBQs and ice cream trucks. We’re talking aboutstrawberries—that symbol of warm weather, sunshine, and casual cookouts—that can be yours all year long, thanks to the Sunshine State. Dust off that shortcake recipe because佛罗里达草莓are in season between Thanksgiving and Easter when the rest of the country’s strawberry-producing regions are dormant, and they taste like endless summer.

So don’t hold back. Take your plump and fragrant fruit with that signature, glossy-red color and bright-green leaves, and liven up your winter cooking.

As with most berries, strawberries are best eaten within three to four days of buying. But good luck going that long without polishing off the box. They’re not just delicious after all. The low-calorie fruit (only 45 calories in every cup) is rich in nitrate, which can increase the flow of blood and oxygen to muscles by 7%, making exercise easier by preventing muscle fatigue.

Pro tip: Don’t wash your strawberries until you’re ready to eat them. Keeping them free of extra moisture will help them stay bright, firm, and full of nutrients. Also, serve them at room temperature.

Whether it's the health benefits or the delicious flavor, there are plenty of reasons to eat strawberries year-round. They’re that X-factor in a chocolate cake, the base of your morning smoothie, the pop in a fresh salad....The list goes on, so here are five strawberry recipes we love to get you started:

Strawberry Horchata

Horchata, the Mexican drink made from strained rice and almonds, gets a whole new level of depth and color with the addition of strawberries. Strawberry milkshakes have nothing on this subtle but powerful drink that’s both sweet and refreshing.

Get the recipe for Strawberry Horchata here

Oven-Baked Strawberry-Chipotle Wings With Avocado-Blue Cheese Dip

What you’re looking for when you eat wings is exactly what strawberries bring to the table in this wings recipe featuring a sweet-and-spicy strawberry-chipotle sauce. Meanwhile, a dip of creamy avocado and blue cheese balances out the smokiness from the chipotle, while poppy seeds add extra texture. This recipe’s nothing short of a touchdown, a slam dunk, or a home run (depending on what time of year you’re enjoying it).

Get the recipe for Oven-Baked Strawberry-Chipotle Wings With Avocado-Blue Cheese Dip here

Roasted Strawberries

佛罗里达草莓are irresistible fresh out of the box, but if you’re looking to mix things up, roasting them is a warming alternative that allows you to imbue different flavors, like lemon, vanilla, and rose water. We love pouring roasted strawberries over ice cream for a dynamic dessert that’s fit for any occasion.

Get the recipe for Roasted Strawberries here

Balsamic-Strawberry Goat Cheese Dip

This tangy goat cheese dip would be excellent on its own, but add strawberries dressed in balsamic, and you’ve got an elegant, party-ready dish—no matter the season. The honey that’s whipped into the goat cheese pairs well with the sweet strawberries and reduced balsamic, while the vinegary notes from the latter, coupled with the tangy cheese, play off one another, yielding a truly addictive dip that will go fast. (Make extra.)

Get the recipe for Balsamic-Strawberry Goat Cheese Dip here

Jammy Fruit Bars

There’s no wrong time to eat these jam-filled fruit bars (inspired by Icelandic Hjónabandssæla, or “happy marriage cake"), and when you’re using Florida strawberries, anytime eating—be it for breakfast or an afternoon snack—becomes an instant possibility. It’s a good thing, too, because with the dough for these bars doubling as the streusel-like topping, they’re quick and easy to make, which means they’ll become a go-to recipe.

Get the recipe for Jammy Fruit Bars here