I’m excited for my second contribution to The Holiday Recipe Club. Erin, of http://bigfatbaker.com/blog/Big Fat Baker, selected strawberries, heavy cream and beef as ingredients from which to choose for this challenge. I knew the family would be more than pleased!
After making a triple chocolate mousse cake last week, a simpler recipe for Valentine’s Day was more appealing. Reducing a well aged balsamic with a bit of sugar makes an amazing topping for strawberries…and pairing them with a whipped combination of cream and mascarpone sounded delightfully delicious.
Best eaten on the day made.
Balsamic Strawberries with Whipped Mascarpone Cream…adapted from Bon Appetit
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar (splurge on the best you can afford)
4 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 cup mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
24 ounces strawberries, hulled and halved
Combine vinegar, 2 teaspoons sugar and lemon juice in saucepan. Cook over medium till sugar dissolves, then bring to boil and reduce to about 1/4 cup. Cool completely.
Combine mascarpone, cream, vanilla and 2 tablespoons sugar. Beat till soft peaks form. Refrigerate up to 4 hours.
Combine berries and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Add balsamic syrup and mix gently. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Divide berries between 6 goblets. Top with cream. Garnish with chocolate shavings or mint. Alternatively, divide cream between Chinese soup spoons for appetizer sized desserts. Top with diced berries and mint to garnish if desired.
Serves 6 for dessert.
Print
{ 100 comments… read them below or add one }
Your strawberries look wow.
I love the combination of strawberries and mascarpone cheese…never tried balsamic vinegar…should try this
Girl, you have seriously outdone yourself this time. AND I just happen to have an outrageously good bottle of balsamic vinegar that I brought back from Italy…
mmm!
These strawberies look so.. tempting and loving!
Love is in the air!
This strawberry dessert is so exquisite and the berries are gorgeous. Lovely presentation with the appetizer spoons.
Have a great weekend!
They are so lovely, esp. when paired with mascarpone cream.
Luv luv luv the clicks ……. and wot a kool recipe.
Yummmm. This is a great idea with a tempting presention! I would eat that out of the spoon in one slurp.
Too bad I don’t get strawberries here this time of the year. I would love to try it the way you have made it.
Really exquisite and cool recipe. I love this!
love how you served them restaurant style in those spoons
I don’t eat sweet cheese but I do love me some strawberries which here in my country we have only for a month or less in spring and that’s it.
What a lovely valentine treat. You really cannot go wrong with mascarpone cheese.
Oh Liz, this looks wonderful! I love the way you presented it in the tasting spoons! However, I would have to eat each spoon!! I have never used mascarpone cheese before, but I think I’ll pick some up today!
Beautiful Photo’s!
Loving these strawberry recipes. I got a huge craving for them last night. The mascarpone cream sounds wonderful!
Oh yes! Beautiful! Balsamic vinegar somehow brings out the “strawberriness” out of strawberries. I even put it in my homemade strawberry jams. This is perfect to make for a party but I really wouldn’t mind having a whole bunch to myself
Strawberries are so wonderful for Valentine’s Day! What a great idea with the balsamic syrup. I love those dessert spoons.. I have seen them about and now I am kicking myself for not buying some.:) Beautifully done Lizzy! Have a great day~ Ramona
Mascarpone’s here so expensive tsk ! ;D Okay I’m just cheap hahaha Love the combination and gorgeous presentation !
What an elegant, delicious looking dessert! Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Love your photos. Strawberries and Mascarpone. Be still my heart.
~Ann
looks good
What a beautiful dessert idea! Great choice for the challenge, Lizzy
My family would be happy with this too! Have a great weekend, my friend!
Beautiful.
And P.S.~ I may have drooled a bit.
Strawberries and balsamic vinegar…two of my favorite ingredients. This looks delicious!
I’m literally drooling now!! Strawberrys and balsamic… why have I never thought of that?!
Yum! They look so great and sound so easy. A must-try recipe!
I love this recipe! It’s like a lighter strawberry tiramisù on a spoon! Gorgeous presentation, Liz.
Simple desserts are some of my favorites! And I just love anything on those little spoons – it makes eating so much more fun!
Simple but elegant! Pretty photos, Lizzy. Have a lovely day. Jen
These are absolutely stunning! What a great presentation and great photography. And I bet they taste as good as they look. Yum!
Lizzy, it’s nice to meet you! Thanks for visiting my blog. These strawberries look wonderful. I made them years ago & loved them then. I love your blog name btw!! Hugs!
Your photos are fabulous, too!!
Quick and easy to make! I love the spoon presentation… Beautiful!!
I love the combination of balsamic syrup and strawberries! I’m teaching a strawberry theme class next month and this bloghop will give me some great ideas!! Thanks!!
Oh, and I can’t believe I forgot to say: I’ve loved reading your blog so much the last couple months, I wanted to award you a Liebster Blog Love award – go to my site athttp://thewimpyvegetarian.com/2012/02/the-perfect-his-and-hers-steak-dinner-and-another-liebster-blog-award/ to pick it up!!!
Mmmm, I love balsamic strawberries! The mascarpone cream sounds heavenly with them, and I love the serving idea on the spoons
These look so delicious! The mascarpone cream sounds divine, too! These would be lovely for Valentine’s Day
I love the little spoons. I was amazed the first time I had strawberries and balsamic together. It’s a magic combination. Good pick!
Really beautiful presentation. Balsamic vinegar certainly does miracles. I used to eat apples with the thick reduced vinegar, awesome.
I was just looking at a bundt cake with these strawberries stacked in the center hole! These are tasty by themselves and can be used as a special addition for desserts to make them stand out. Yours do look enticing. Stunning presentation.
Simple and so delicious – a perfect end to a meal!
Mary x
These are so cute in those spoons, I just love strawberries and I really want to make that balsamic sauce. Another great dessert. Have a great weekend.
Simple, yummy and gorgeous presentation,love it :0
Ridwan
These look fantastic, Lizzy. I absolutely love the presentation!
Such a perfect way to end a meal – these look amazing
And your presntation is beautiful my friend
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Simple is sometimes just perfect
I love these strawberries! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Your presentation is gorgeous! I’ve never had balsamic with strawberries I have to try that.
How delicious! These look perfect for Valentine’s Day.
We had the most marvelous balsamic strawberry panna cotta at a wine dinner once. I asked for the recipe, got it and promptly lost it! I bet we would love this with the mascarpone. Wonderful V-Day post!
Gorgeous Lizzy! These strawberries are fancy and also perfect for everyday!
Simple, but very Valentine day style
Oh, Lizzy…these strawberries are so perfect, and incredible, with the whipped mascarpone, and the balsamic strawberries. Believe it or not, I still haven’t opened that bottle of chocolate balsamic, that I won from your for the giveaway! Now’s the right time to do it, with your yummy recipe:DDD
xoxo
Liz you never fail to impress me. These are gorgeous. I must try these out. I love the little spoons, I just picked some up. Super cute.
I was looking at something similar – but I never could have made it as pretty as yours. What a lovely gift! Can you come here and snap some photos? I’m only a few states away.
Yeah! I love strawberries and balsamic vinegar together – such a fabulous combination, and mascarpone too…. om-nom-nom. Great idea for Valentine’s day!
What a treat for Valentine’s day. Beautiful!
Ok here I am licking the spoon wow does this look awesome!
Liz…what a perfect sweet and savory bite! I love balsamic with strawberries. Such a lovely presentation and so perfect for a Valentine’s day treat! : )
What an incredible recipe you put together! Balsamic vinegar always is amazing when combined with strawberries. Your addition of whipped mascarpone cream makes this treat a little piece of heaven!
Elegant and delicious looking! Mention mascarpone and you’ve won me! Great for Valentine’s, especially if you want something simple. Thanks!
Oh my gosh Liz, this looks so fantastic. I love the strawberry, mascarpone and balsamic combination – sexy and perfect for Valentine’s Day! G
Strawberries and balsamic vinegar? I’ve never tried anything like it, but judging from your pictures I’m totally missing out.
I think it’s safe to say you just made my Valentine’s Day a lot more interesting! Thanks!
Wow, what a lovely presentation, Lizzy! It’s brilliant to combine the 2 ingredients & would certainly love to try this dessert
Strawberries are always so perfect for V-day. And this dessert looks so elegant
Very creative in using balsamic vinegar for this dessert and with strawberries, the taste can spring out a lovely hit on our taste buds.
This is such a elegant and perfect dish…
I have to try this, balsamic vinegar sound so interesting…
Beautiful Liz.
great blog!!! following you now…
visit my blog too…
http://voguelyvan.blogspot.com/
kissses!!!
I love strawberries and balsamic vinegar. I love strawberries and mascarpone! I have never tried all of them together, but it totally makes sense! Thank you for sharing this awesome reacipe, Lizzy! Great post
These photos are all fantastic! everything looks so great and I am trying to decide which to try first, and by first I mean today!
What a wonderful dessert. Simple, yet incredibly delicious and packed with flavor. The perfect dessert IMO anytime!
Beautiful dessert, quick and elegant! perfect for Valentine’s dinner!
aaahhh amazing Lizzy and I love strawberries too:)
this is a mix of moutwatering and fresh dessert!
Tq for sharing this liz… love how u arrange them!
You are right – balsamic and strawberries are an exquisite match, and you definitely should splurge in the best!
Love mascarpone cheese in sweet dishes. Never tried with balsamic vinegar. Your clicks are good as much as your recipe.
gorgeous pictures! This looks like such a delicious light dessert, I loveee whipped cream desserts. Love how you used the heavy cream and berries with this recipe, yum!
Oh Lizzy, this is just beautiful. My strawberry patch is flourishing at the moment, so your recipe is perfect timing!
What a beautiful dessert Liz. They would be perfect for Valentine’s Day. Well really just about every day there are strawberries in the house. Have a great holiday
Looks absolutely gorgeous! I love fresh fruit with mascarpone cheese. You have presented it so beautifully.
I am allergic to strawberries but these are just stunning Lizzy! Your presentation is gorgeous…a perfect valentines treat
What a beautiful dessert! That would be just perfect served on Valentine’s Day.
delicious!
This sounds really delicious! And I love the presentation…so pretty and perfect for Valentine’s Day
Could these possibly be photographed any more beautifully? I think not! Gorgeous.
Hi Liz! This looks simple, elegant and delicious! What beautiful photos, too! Happy (early) Valentines Day!
such a simple and delicious recipe, your pictures are lovely with a beautiful presentation!
Beautiful presentation, Lizzy! You know I love strawberries & cream!
Have a very Happy Valentine’s Day! xoxo
Strawberries and balsamic vinegar are SO perfect together and I can only imagine how much better this combo is with the marscarpone!
I’ve never had strawberries this way. I’m especially intrigued with the balsamic and strawberry combination, and eating with mascarpone cream sounds very delicious!
this recept contains a lot of the best italian ingredients
you have used it in a very good way 
complimenti!
kiss from italy
vale
Yeah if I make these, no one gets any. Sorry, I’m a glutton for desserts like this.
Yummy! what a beautiful, elegant dessert. And I love the little tasting spoons.
Balsamic and strawberries is a great mix. But add mascarpone, very nice.
oh, yum, love balsamic, love marscapone, love strawberries. need to try this!
This is a great use of your ingredients! What a refreshing and tasty treat. I’d have to eat at least 3 spoons and 2 glasses of it, though. I am such a pig!
this is delicious looking beautiful presentation
If I had to make something romantic and delicate for tomorrow, this is what I’d make. Lovely, Lizzy!
This is the PERFECT Vday treat… love this recipe!
Gorgeous and elegant!!I recently got aged balsamic vinegar and have strawberries sitting in my fridge.Just need some mascarpone to try this treat!
Oh Liz, you out did yourself this time. I am so glad you are with me in this new club. Thanks for sharing all your wonderful recipes with us.
Beautiful presentation, Liz! Just beautiful! This sounds like the perfect Valentine’s Day treat. I’ve bookmarked this to make one day!
Oh. My. Goodness!!! I think that’s the perfect dessert. Ripe strawberries from the yard are around the corner and so is making this recipe.