Learn how to make easy macerated strawberries recipe with 2 simple ingredients. This is a delicious topping or filling for cupcakes and cakes, especially shortcakes as well as waffles, pancakes, ice cream and more.
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For those of you wondering what in the world a macerated strawberry is, it really is quite simply. It is basically soaking the berries in a sugar bath to bring out the flavor and natural juices. This makes them more soft and a great pairing for various desserts like this Easy Strawberry Shortcake (With Bisquick Mix) or this Strawberry Shortcake Cake (With Cake Mix). For a technique that has such a complicated name, it's surprisingly so easy.
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Key ingredients
- Strawberries- Be sure to buy fresh high quality fruit.
- Sugar- Simple table sugar or granulated sugar works best for this recipe.
Variations
- Give it a balsamic twist- By adding 1-2 tablespoon high quality balsamic vinegar.
- Add some lemon flavor- Either in the form of zest, freshly squeezed juice or extract. You can even make this Moist Lemon Cake and put the berries on top if you enjoy the citrus flavors.
- Add extracts- Such as maple, peppermint, or even almond. The latter would make a great pairing with Easy Almond Cupcakes.
- Use honey- Use 1-2 Tablespoons of honey to replace the sugar. This will bring a different texture, color, and flavor.
- Consider mixing in some liqueur- Grand Marnier, for example, is a great option.
- Add spices- Such as ground cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cloves. This is great for Fall time to pair with
- Add fresh herbs- Like mint, basil, thyme, or lavender. A small amount goes a very long way, so please be careful.
- Use zests- To change and liven up the overall flavor. You can try lemon, lime, or orange.
How to make macerated strawberries?
1. Add ingredients in large bowl- This includes strawberries and sugar.
2. Mix- Until combined and let it rest.
Tips and techniques
- Be sure to wash, pat dry, and remove leaves- Before using berries for best results.
- Add a few drops of red food coloring- At the end to enhance the color. If you are looking for more red and pink treats for holiday fun, check out these Pink Desserts (Valentine's Day Desserts) and ideas for a Valentine's Day Party (Food & Decor).
- Don't over-macerate- Otherwise the berries will get squishy and not hold shape.
- Press a fork into the berries- To a slightly thicker sauce.
- Change up the ratio to your liking- For best results, I like to use 2 tablespoon sugar per 1 pound of sliced berries or fruit. However, you can add more, depending on the tartness of your berries.
How to use these sweetened strawberries?
- Filling- Check out How to Make Filled Cupcakes (Stuffed Cupcakes) and fill your favorite cupcakes, such as Chocolate Strawberry Cupcakes (Valentine's Cupcakes), Easy Biscoff Cupcakes (With Cake Mix), or Lemon Cupcakes. You can also use the berries in layer cakes, like this Bumble Bee Cake (Spring Cake), Moist Triple Chocolate Cake (From Scratch), or this Easy Pink Champagne Cake (With Strawberry).
- Enjoy as a topping- On Snow Ice Cream, Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes (From Scratch), Chocolate Waffles (Cake Mix Waffles), Easy Crepes, Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Easy Yogurt Parfait, New York Cheesecake Recipe (No Water Bath), or just eat by the spoonfuls.
Recipe FAQs
Granulated sugar is the best classic choice. However, you can use brown sugar or coconut sugar and even honey or maple syrup but it will affect the color and even the flavor slightly.
Yes. You can use raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, cherries, nectarines, pineapples, plums and even citrus.
Marinating is done for longer from a few hours to overnight and this term is usually used for meat. Macerating is usually complete within 30-40 minutes for chopped or sliced fruits but you may need up to 2 hours for whole fruits and larger pieces and unripe firm fruits.
No. I don't recommend this because it will make the fruit very soft, mushy and syrupy.
Storage
- Refrigerate- Tastes best within 2 hours but can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Please note they will become softer and more juices will be released the longer they sit in the fridge.
- Freeze- I don't recommend it, because when berries thaw the entire texture changes becoming mushy.
- Room temperature- I don't recommend leaving out for more than 2-3 hours.
- Make ahead- These can be made up to 2-3 days a head of time but are best within the first day.
More strawberry desserts
- Strawberry Icebox Cake (No Bake)
- Strawberries and Cream (No Bake)
- Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes (Mini)
- Easy Strawberry Crunch Cake (Cake Mix)
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Recipe
How to Make Macerate Strawberries
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Ingredients
- 1 pound Strawberries Fresh, Washed, Patted Dry, Hulled, Sliced in half
- 2 tablespoon Granulated sugar Can add more sugar if you prefer this more sweeter or if your berries are too tart
Instructions
- Add strawberries and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix until combined.
- Cover and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes up to 2 hours.
- You will know these are ready to be used when the strawberries have softened but are not "mushy." They should have released their juices and the sugar will be mostly dissolved.
- This is an optional step but at the end, I like to use a fork and press some of the strawberries. This helps to make the sauce slightly thicker. Please remember that overall this is not a thick sauce. It has a thinner consistency.
- Enjoy on top of your desserts.
Notes
- To enhance the color, mix in a few drops of red food coloring at the end. I only do this when I am about to use them to decorate a cake and I need the colors to pop and be vibrant.
- For additional flavor, consider mixing in herbs, spices, extracts, zests, liqueur, balsamic vinegar and even zests of a lemon or orange.
- To make this sweeter, add more sugar. Please know that more sugar would yield more syrup and juices at the end as it dissolves completely.
- Don't over-macerate them because that will make the berries very soft and they won't hold their shape and there will be too much juice.
- Read additional tips and variations.
- Tastes best within 2 hours but can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Please note they will become softer and more juices will be released the longer they sit in the fridge.
Nutrition
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
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