Easy Macerated Strawberries

This is my go to macerated strawberries recipe. This base works well with any fruit and makes a great topping on vanilla ice cream or slice of cake.

   

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Macerating fruit may sound like a difficult technique but it's super easy make. It only takes some fruit, a little liquid and sugar.

What You'll Need For This Recipe:

• Strawberries
• Grand Marnier or Orange Juice
• Sugar
• Orange Zest

What is Macerating and Why You Should?

Macerating is simply soaking fruit usually in a small about of liquid and sugar. Sometimes other flavors added like herbs, spices, extracts and zests. As the fruit sits, it infuses the flavors added in but also the fruit itself will produce its own juices that create a beautiful syrup.  

It takes about 30 minutes to an hour to see the juices form and you can use it at this point, but that isn't enough time for the fruit to infuse all those flavors you worked so hard to put in. I like to let them soak for about 12 hours or overnight. This way you get the best flavors from the juice and the fruit.

This recipe is for strawberries, however many other fruits will work great too. Try blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, apples or oranges. I love Grand Marnier but wines and other liquors, balsamic vinegar or fruit juices are good additions. Just avoid water. Use something with some flavor. 

How to use Macerated Fruit?

Drizzle some of the juices and fruit on top of some ice cream or yogurt for a parfait. Use it as a topping on a slice of dense buttery pound cake or make my fried strawberry shortcakes.

Tips On How To Make This Recipe

• Use fresh firm strawberries. This ensures they will not turn mushy.
• Make a liquor free version by using orange juice. 
• Many different types of fruit will work great with this recipe. Try replacing or adding in blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, peaches or cherries.