To begin, select the freshest strawberries available. Bright red, plump berries with no signs of bruising offer the best taste and presentation. Fresh fruit is the highlight of this dessert, so quality matters.
Wash the strawberries thoroughly under cool running water and then dry them completely. Drying them is crucial to prevent the dessert from becoming watery once assembled. Excess moisture can quickly break down the structure of the layers.
Hull the strawberries by removing their green tops. You can use a knife or a hulling tool to do this quickly. Once hulled, slice the strawberries into thin, even pieces. These will stack better and mix well with the cream and crumbs.
Prepare the creamy layer by using store-bought whipped cream or Cool Whip for convenience. You can also whip your own heavy cream if preferred. Flavoring the cream with vanilla or a touch of sugar is an optional but delicious step.
Crush the graham crackers or cookies into small crumbs using a food processor or by hand. If using cookies, shortbread or vanilla wafers work especially well to give the dessert a buttery, sweet crunch.
Start layering your dessert by adding crumbs to the bottom of your dish or glass, followed by whipped cream, then strawberries. This not only makes for an elegant presentation but ensures each spoonful includes a bit of everything.
Finish with a final layer of strawberries and garnish as desired. If you’re serving this for a party, you can prep the elements ahead and assemble right before serving to keep the layers fresh and crisp.
Variations
