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Easy Macerated Strawberries with Lemon

Macerated strawberries are one of the easiest ways to turn fresh berries into a sweet, juicy topping without turning on the stove. With fresh strawberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and a little optional lemon zest, you can make a simple strawberry sauce that tastes bright, fresh, and full of fruit flavor. The secret is giving the berries time to rest so their natural juices combine with the sugar to create a delicious syrup.

This easy macerated strawberries recipe is perfect when strawberries are in season, but it is also a handy trick for berries that need a little extra sweetness. Start by hulling the strawberries and cutting larger ones in half or quarters. Stir them together with the sugar, lemon juice, and optional lemon zest in a medium glass bowl. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, stirring once before serving. As the berries rest, they soften and release their juices, creating a spoonable topping with no cooking required.

There are so many ways to enjoy these sweet strawberries. Spoon them over vanilla yogurt for breakfast, serve them with pancakes or waffles for brunch, or use them to top pound cake, cheesecake, and vanilla ice cream. They are also wonderful over shortcake or layered into a simple dessert with whipped cream. For an especially pretty presentation, serve the berries in small glass dessert bowls so the ruby-red syrup shows through.

For the best texture, use fresh, ripe strawberries and avoid slicing them too thinly. Taste the berries before serving; depending on their natural sweetness, you may prefer a little more or less sugar the next time you make them. A fine zester is useful for adding lemon zest without including the bitter white pith.

This straightforward recipe makes four servings and takes about 40 minutes from start to finish, with most of that time spent letting the fruit rest. Make a batch when you want an easy fruit topping that adds fresh strawberry flavor to everyday breakfasts and simple desserts.

Try these other sweet recipes: Luscious Lemon Squares, Easy Chocolate Ice Cream or Salted-Caramel Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.

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