5 Ways to Sweeten Your Day With Strawberries

Ah, the taste of sweet, ripe strawberries is something to salivate over, especially in the summer when they’re in season. Now is the time to pick up strawberries from your local farmer’s market and use them in all sorts of vegan dishes. These yummy, juicy berries are in season from June until mid-August.

Strawberries have several uses for meals, no matter what time of day it is. From breakfast loaves and mid-morning smoothies to lunch salads and after-dinner desserts, strawberries can help sweeten any meal of the day. Here are five ways to enjoy strawberries:

1. Stuff That Toast

Show someone you love them by waking up extra early and preparing their breakfast for a breakfast in bed starring this delicious strawberry pecan french stuffed toast. This decadent vegan dish calls for a vegan cream cheese substitute, bananas, and almond milk. Another option is to indulge in a raw fruit tartlet that has a crust made of almonds and dates and a filling made of cashews, mango, berries, and kiwi.

2. Drink Pink

Smoothies are a delicious and easy way to get in your daily vitamins from fruit and veggies. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, so get that nutrition in smoothie form with this decadent strawberry shortcake smoothie, a strawberry rhubarb smoothie, or chia strawberry smoothie. Want to get in your greens as well? Try this strawberry kale smoothie.

3. Enjoy a Refreshing Salad

Strawberries make a delicious topping for salads, so throw them on top a bowl of dark, leafy greens. You can pair them with a crunchy topping like nuts, and to top it all off, add some balsamic vinaigrette. Try putting strawberry slices atop this kale salad with apricots and almonds. You can also make an amazing fruit salad with other berries and melon.

4. Bake Sweet Bread

Like blueberry and pineapple, strawberries are delicious when baked into breads. Try this vegan pineapple and strawberry bread for a delicious, fruity combo. Or try this strawberry mango loaf, which has a fun, colorful center of fruit, and this simple strawberry bread recipe. You can eat these breads more like cake and have them for dessert. Or, you could have a piece in the morning as a mid-morning snack.

5. Make Dessert

Perhaps one of the best and most delicious uses for strawberries is using them for dessert! The taste pairs especially well with chocolate (chocolate-covered strawberries, anyone?). Go all out and create this amazing strawberry chocolate vegan cheesecake, raw strawberry banana cream cake, strawberry vanilla lemonade cupcakes strawberry shortcake with almond creme, raw strawberry chocolate coconut pie, or raw strawberry chocolate creme truffles for a special after-dinner treat.

Lead image source: Strawberry Chocolate Vegan Cheesecake