The Best Way to Celebrate Strawberry Season

There’s nothing quite like biting into a just-picked, sun-soaked strawberry. When the fruit is at its peak, there may be no better sign of the summer to come. Indulge in a little nostalgia and celebrate the season with James Beard’s take on strawberry shortcake, a recipe passed down to him from his mother.

Beard began by preparing a buttery dough, enriching the mixture with his mother’s secret weapon: hard-boiled egg yolks, which ensure a rich flavor and markedly tender crumb. Next, he pulled together the fruit filling with sugar and fresh strawberries and whipped chilled heavy cream until thick and fluffy. To assemble the dessert, Beard spooned macerated strawberries and generous dollops of whipped cream between shortcake halves. Don’t worry about messiness—it’s part of the charm! You can trust this recipe; after all, mother knows best. Get the recipe.

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Phoebe Fry is the media intern at the Beard Foundation. Find her on Instagram.