Sara Moulton’s Purple, White, Blue Strawberries Full of Cream Cheese Filling

When tasked with making a dessert for a Fourth of July cookout, Sara Moulton is aware of simply what to convey.

“Tart, crunchy berries with creamy, chocolaty filling — it screams ‘summer time, summer time, summer time!’” says the star of PBS’ Sara’s Weeknight Meals.

Moulton, who cohosts the Milk Road Radio podcast, shares a twist on her cannoli-filled berry recipe. As a substitute of ricotta, darkish chocolate and orange peel, she affords elements to suit a purple, white and blue theme.

“I wanted to swap out the ricotta for one thing extra substantial, specifically cream cheese, darkish chocolate for white chocolate to make certain it was white, and lemon zest for orange zest,” she explains. “I really like lemon and blueberries.”

The no-bake filling might be prepped prematurely however Moulton advises to attend on the piping. “The sugar within the filling will pull out moisture from the strawberries and make them soggy,” she says. So assemble the strawberries simply earlier than serving.

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Sara Moulton’s Chocolate and Cream Cheese-Stuffed Strawberries

16 medium strawberries (from 2 quart containers)

4 oz. ⅓-less-fat cream cheese

1 Tbsp. granulated sugar

2 oz. white chocolate, grated

1 tsp. grated lemon zest

1 tsp. lemon zest, plus 2 tsp. contemporary juice (from 1 lemon)

1¼ cups small blueberries (from 1 pint)

1. Minimize every strawberry in half lengthwise, protecting stems intact. Trim a skinny slice from the underside of every half to make every half sit evenly. Utilizing a small measuring spoon or melon baller, scoop out the middle of the reduce aspect of every strawberry. Reserve the strawberry scraps for an additional use (or eat them). Organize strawberry halves on a serving platter.

2. Stir collectively cream cheese and sugar in a medium bowl till easy; stir in white chocolate, lemon zest and lemon juice. Switch cream cheese combination to a plastic ziplock bag or piping bag; reduce off about ½-inch of 1 nook of plastic bag or tip piping bag. Pipe cream cheese combination into heart of strawberries; high every with blueberries.

Makes: 32
Lively time: 20 minutes
Whole time: 20 minutes