Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars Fresh and Tasty Treat

ByJasmine July 19, 2025December 17, 2025

$You need 1 pound of fresh strawberries. Start by hulled and slicing them. Fresh strawberries add a sweet and fruity burst to our ice cream bars. Their bright red color makes the bars look appealing. The natural juice from the strawberries enhances the flavor. Mixing them with sugar and lemon juice brings out their sweetness. Let them sit for about 15 minutes to soak up that flavor. For the creamy base, use 1 ½ cups of heavy cream and 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk. The heavy cream gives our bars a rich, smooth texture. Whipping it creates air, making the bars light and fluffy. The sweetened condensed milk adds sweetness and creaminess. Together, they form the perfect blend for our ice cream bars. If you want to jazz up your bars, consider optional toppings. Melt ½ cup of white chocolate chips for a drizzle. This adds a sweet finish and a touch of elegance. You could also consider crushed nuts or extra crushed shortbread cookies for added crunch. These toppings make your strawberry shortcake ice cream bars even more fun and tasty. {{ingredient_image_1}} Start by taking 1 pound of fresh strawberries. Remove the green tops and slice them. Place the sliced strawberries in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Stir gently to mix everything. Let the strawberries sit for about 15 minutes. This step helps the strawberries release their juices and become sweeter. After 15 minutes, use a fork to mash half of the strawberries. Leave some chunks for texture. Set this mixture aside for later. In a large mixing bowl, pour in 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream. Use a hand mixer or whisk to whip the cream. Beat it until soft peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip, or it will become butter. You want it to be light and fluffy. Once you reach the right texture, gently fold in 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix until just combined. This will add creaminess and flavor to your ice cream. Now, let's put everything together. Take a rectangular baking dish, about 9x9 inches. Spread half of the crushed shortbread cookies evenly across the bottom. Pour half of the strawberry ice cream mixture over the cookies. Use a spatula to spread it evenly. Next, sprinkle the remaining crushed cookies on top. Pour the rest of the ice cream mixture over that layer. Smooth the top with a spatula. Cover and place the dish in the freezer for at least 5 hours, or until firm. If you like, melt 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips and drizzle it on top once the bars have set. Let the chocolate harden. When fully frozen, slice into bars and enjoy this cool, creamy treat! To get the best texture in your ice cream bars, whip the cream well. Aim for soft peaks. Soft peaks give a light and fluffy feel. Be careful not to overwhip; it can turn grainy. When you mix in the strawberries, fold gently. This keeps the cream airy and nice. You can mix it up by using other fruits too. Blueberries, raspberries, or peaches work great. Just slice them like you do with strawberries. You may need to adjust the sugar. Some fruits are sweeter than others. Always taste your mixture before freezing. When serving, cut the bars into even pieces. A warm knife helps with cutting through the ice cream. Serve them plain or drizzle with chocolate. You can add sprinkles or nuts for extra fun. Pair them with fresh fruit or whipped cream for a treat! Pro Tips Fresh Strawberries: Using fresh, ripe strawberries will enhance the flavor of your ice cream bars. Look for strawberries that are bright red and firm for the best results. Chill Your Mixing Bowl: For an even fluffier whipped cream, chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes before whipping the cream. Layering: For a more visually appealing presentation, alternate layers of crushed cookies and strawberry mixture. This creates a nice marbled effect when sliced. Storage: Keep the ice cream bars stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two weeks to maintain their freshness and texture. {{image_2}} You can change the cookie base for your strawberry shortcake ice cream bars. Try using graham crackers for a richer flavor. Oreos add a sweet, chocolatey twist. If you want something crunchy, use crushed pretzels. Each choice gives a new taste and texture. This keeps your dessert exciting and fresh. Feel free to mix up the flavors in your bars! Instead of strawberries, use ripe peaches or juicy blueberries. You can also add a splash of almond or coconut extract for a fun twist. For a tropical vibe, mix in some crushed pineapple. These swaps create a unique treat every time. If you want a lighter version, swap the heavy cream for Greek yogurt. This keeps your bars creamy while cutting calories. Use honey or maple syrup instead of granulated sugar for a natural sweet taste. You can also try a dairy-free condensed milk made from coconut. These options let you enjoy a tasty treat with fewer calories. To keep your Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars fresh, freeze them right after making. Use a clean, airtight container. You can also wrap the bars in plastic wrap before placing them in the container. This extra layer helps prevent freezer burn. Make sure to label the container with the date. This way, you know how long they have been in the freezer. If you have leftovers, place them in a container with a tight lid. Try to eat leftover bars within a month for the best taste. If you plan to store them longer, cut them into individual bars. This method makes it easier to grab one when you want a sweet treat. When you're ready to enjoy a bar, take it out of the freezer. Let it sit at room temperature for about 5 to 10 minutes. This waiting time helps soften the ice cream a bit. You can also run warm water over the outside of the container for quicker thawing. Enjoy your delicious treat! Yes, you can use frozen strawberries. Just thaw them first. Drain excess water to keep the bars from getting too soggy. Frozen strawberries may not be as fresh, but they still taste great. They add a nice sweetness and color to your bars. These bars can last up to two months in the freezer. Make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or keep them in an airtight container. This helps prevent freezer burn and keeps them fresh. Enjoy them within this time for the best taste. To cut ice cream bars easily, run a sharp knife under hot water. Wipe it dry, then slice through the bars. This helps to create clean edges and prevents the ice cream from sticking. For best results, cut them while still slightly frozen. This guide helped you make delicious ice cream bars using fresh strawberries, cream, and fun toppings. You learned about key steps like mixing flavors and whipping cream. We also covered tips for texture and storage. These bars can vary in flavors and bases, so get creative! Remember, you can use frozen strawberries if needed. With these insights, your homemade treats will impress everyone. Enjoy your tasty creations and share them with friends!$

Dive into a world of fruity delight with my recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars! Perfect for hot days, these treats blend fresh strawberries, creamy goodness, and a crunchy cookie base. You don’t need to be a pro to make these bars; just follow my simple steps. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this refreshing dessert everyone will love. Let’s get started on crafting this tasty treat!

Why I Love This Recipe

Refreshing Flavor: This Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bar combines the sweetness of strawberries with a creamy base, making it a perfect cool treat for hot days.
Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this recipe is accessible for both novice and experienced home cooks.
Versatile Treat: You can customize these bars with different fruits or add-ins, like chocolate chips, to suit your taste preferences.
Perfect for Sharing: With 12 servings, these bars are great for parties, picnics, or just a fun dessert to enjoy with family and friends.

Ingredients

Fresh strawberries

You need 1 pound of fresh strawberries. Start by hulled and slicing them. Fresh strawberries add a sweet and fruity burst to our ice cream bars. Their bright red color makes the bars look appealing. The natural juice from the strawberries enhances the flavor. Mixing them with sugar and lemon juice brings out their sweetness. Let them sit for about 15 minutes to soak up that flavor.

Heavy cream and condensed milk

For the creamy base, use 1 ½ cups of heavy cream and 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk. The heavy cream gives our bars a rich, smooth texture. Whipping it creates air, making the bars light and fluffy. The sweetened condensed milk adds sweetness and creaminess. Together, they form the perfect blend for our ice cream bars.

Optional toppings

If you want to jazz up your bars, consider optional toppings. Melt ½ cup of white chocolate chips for a drizzle. This adds a sweet finish and a touch of elegance. You could also consider crushed nuts or extra crushed shortbread cookies for added crunch. These toppings make your strawberry shortcake ice cream bars even more fun and tasty.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the strawberry mixture

Start by taking 1 pound of fresh strawberries. Remove the green tops and slice them. Place the sliced strawberries in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Stir gently to mix everything. Let the strawberries sit for about 15 minutes. This step helps the strawberries release their juices and become sweeter. After 15 minutes, use a fork to mash half of the strawberries. Leave some chunks for texture. Set this mixture aside for later.

Whipping the cream

In a large mixing bowl, pour in 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream. Use a hand mixer or whisk to whip the cream. Beat it until soft peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip, or it will become butter. You want it to be light and fluffy. Once you reach the right texture, gently fold in 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix until just combined. This will add creaminess and flavor to your ice cream.

Assembling the ice cream bars

Now, let’s put everything together. Take a rectangular baking dish, about 9×9 inches. Spread half of the crushed shortbread cookies evenly across the bottom. Pour half of the strawberry ice cream mixture over the cookies. Use a spatula to spread it evenly. Next, sprinkle the remaining crushed cookies on top. Pour the rest of the ice cream mixture over that layer. Smooth the top with a spatula. Cover and place the dish in the freezer for at least 5 hours, or until firm. If you like, melt 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips and drizzle it on top once the bars have set. Let the chocolate harden. When fully frozen, slice into bars and enjoy this cool, creamy treat!

Tips & Tricks

Achieving the best texture

To get the best texture in your ice cream bars, whip the cream well. Aim for soft peaks. Soft peaks give a light and fluffy feel. Be careful not to overwhip; it can turn grainy. When you mix in the strawberries, fold gently. This keeps the cream airy and nice.

Variations with different fruits

You can mix it up by using other fruits too. Blueberries, raspberries, or peaches work great. Just slice them like you do with strawberries. You may need to adjust the sugar. Some fruits are sweeter than others. Always taste your mixture before freezing.

Serving suggestions

When serving, cut the bars into even pieces. A warm knife helps with cutting through the ice cream. Serve them plain or drizzle with chocolate. You can add sprinkles or nuts for extra fun. Pair them with fresh fruit or whipped cream for a treat!

Pro Tips

Fresh Strawberries: Using fresh, ripe strawberries will enhance the flavor of your ice cream bars. Look for strawberries that are bright red and firm for the best results.
Chill Your Mixing Bowl: For an even fluffier whipped cream, chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes before whipping the cream.
Layering: For a more visually appealing presentation, alternate layers of crushed cookies and strawberry mixture. This creates a nice marbled effect when sliced.
Storage: Keep the ice cream bars stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two weeks to maintain their freshness and texture.

Variations

Different cookie bases

You can change the cookie base for your strawberry shortcake ice cream bars. Try using graham crackers for a richer flavor. Oreos add a sweet, chocolatey twist. If you want something crunchy, use crushed pretzels. Each choice gives a new taste and texture. This keeps your dessert exciting and fresh.

Alternative flavor combinations

Feel free to mix up the flavors in your bars! Instead of strawberries, use ripe peaches or juicy blueberries. You can also add a splash of almond or coconut extract for a fun twist. For a tropical vibe, mix in some crushed pineapple. These swaps create a unique treat every time.

Healthy swaps for ingredients

If you want a lighter version, swap the heavy cream for Greek yogurt. This keeps your bars creamy while cutting calories. Use honey or maple syrup instead of granulated sugar for a natural sweet taste. You can also try a dairy-free condensed milk made from coconut. These options let you enjoy a tasty treat with fewer calories.

Storage Info

Best practices for freezing

To keep your Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Bars fresh, freeze them right after making. Use a clean, airtight container. You can also wrap the bars in plastic wrap before placing them in the container. This extra layer helps prevent freezer burn. Make sure to label the container with the date. This way, you know how long they have been in the freezer.

How to store leftovers

If you have leftovers, place them in a container with a tight lid. Try to eat leftover bars within a month for the best taste. If you plan to store them longer, cut them into individual bars. This method makes it easier to grab one when you want a sweet treat.

Thawing tips before serving

When you’re ready to enjoy a bar, take it out of the freezer. Let it sit at room temperature for about 5 to 10 minutes. This waiting time helps soften the ice cream a bit. You can also run warm water over the outside of the container for quicker thawing. Enjoy your delicious treat!

FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries?

Yes, you can use frozen strawberries. Just thaw them first. Drain excess water to keep the bars from getting too soggy. Frozen strawberries may not be as fresh, but they still taste great. They add a nice sweetness and color to your bars.

How long do these bars last in the freezer?

These bars can last up to two months in the freezer. Make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or keep them in an airtight container. This helps prevent freezer burn and keeps them fresh. Enjoy them within this time for the best taste.

What’s the best way to cut ice cream bars?

To cut ice cream bars easily, run a sharp knife under hot water. Wipe it dry, then slice through the bars. This helps to create clean edges and prevents the ice cream from sticking. For best results, cut them while still slightly frozen.

This guide helped you make delicious ice cream bars using fresh strawberries, cream, and fun toppings. You learned about key steps like mixing flavors and whipping cream. We also covered tips for texture and storage. These bars can vary in flavors and bases, so get creative! Remember, you can use frozen strawberries if needed. With these insights, your homemade treats will impress everyone. Enjoy your tasty creations and share them with friend