What better way to celebrate this year’s tennis tournament than with the wonderful Alex Head’s – Owner & Founder of Social Pantry – trio of Wimbledon-inspired strawberry treats? Read on as she shows you how…
Forget nail-biting match points, it’s a well known fact that Wimbledon traditions don’t get much better than a good helping of strawberries and cream. There’s something wonderful about the taste of strawberries that evokes memories of British summertime and the sound of pro-athletes grunting it out on the court.
During the tournament, Wimbledon fans get through a staggering 23 tonnes of strawberries and in honour of this delicious custom, I’ve created three seasonal and totally more-ish recipes to celebrate this glorious fruit. Whether you’ve got tickets for Centre Court or if you’re planning your own Wimbledon screening, give my strawberry trio a whirl and you’ll be on to a winner.
Wagon Wheeling Into Wimbledon
Upgrade an old-school lunchbox snack with my crowd-pleasing wagon wheels. Made using a generous layer of strawberry jam and coated in indulgent dark chocolate, these tasty treats make the perfect snack when you’re picnicking on Murray Mound.
You’ll need…
For the biscuit layer:
- 375g crushed digestives biscuits
- 150g butter
For the jam layer:
- 6tbsp strawberry jam
- 2 gelatine sheets
- White marshmallow fluff
For the chocolate glaze:
- 500g dark chocolate
Here’s How…
- Start by blitzing the digestive biscuits into a crumb
- Melt the butter and pour into the digestives
- Mix and place in the bottom of six 6cm round moulds
- Place in the fridge to set
- Place the jam in a saucepan and the gelatine in a bowl covered in water
- Bring the jam to a boil and then add the gelatine once soft. Mix
- Pour 1tbsp of jam on top of the biscuits and leave in the fridge to set
- Place the marshmallow fluff in a piping bag and carefully, on top of the jam, pipe in a circular motion to cover the jam
- Set in the fridge
- Melt the chocolate over a bain-marie and temper to 35 degrees
- Carefully remove the Wagon wheels from their moulds and transfer to a cooling wire rack with greaseproof underneath
- Pour the chocolate over each Wagon wheel and leave to set in the fridge. You may need to cover with a second coat.
- Once set in the fridge, use a hot pallet knife to carefully remove from the wire rack and serve!
Ice, Ice Baby
If you’re planning a Wimbledon party, whip up a batch of my simple but totally delicious berry ice-lollies to keep your guests cool when things heat up on the court. With just three ingredients, this is a fun way to get the kids involved in the kitchen too!
You’ll need…
- 250ml yoghurt
- 2 tbsp honey
- 350g frozen berries
Here’s How…
- Blend the yoghurt and honey together in a smoothie maker/blender
- Add the frozen berries to the mix ensuring they are not clumped together
- Blend for a few seconds to allow the frozen berries to break down
- Transfer the berry mix to a piping bag and pipe into the moulds. Ensure you reach the mixture to the base preventing any air traps
- Place a stick into the middle of the lollies and set in the fridge for 4-6 hours
It must be love: Meringue Kisses
Two classic British traditions rolled into one heavenly dessert. A gorgeous end to a picnic or barbecue, serve these sweet little treats with a generous serving of whipped cream, mint & fresh strawberries or if you’re feeling daring, add black coconut ice-cream for a winning Summer pudding.
You’ll Need…
- 150g egg whites
- 300g sugar
- Strawberry puree
Here’s How…
- Line a baking tray with baking paper and preheat the oven to 120 degrees
- Using an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites to soft peak
- Add a tablespoon of sugar into the egg white at a time
- Once all incorporated, paint three lines in your piping bag with the strawberry puree. Be careful not to smudge
- Transfer half the meringue mixture into the prepared piping bag and pipe meringue kisses onto the tray
- To make a ‘meringue kiss’ touch the piping bag on the baking sheet, squeezing the mix and lift up
- Place in the oven for 40-60 minutes. To check they are cooked, after 40 minutes peel one meringue from the baking sheet. If it removes easily without any mixtureb remaining, they are cooked.
- Leave to cool and serve
We hope you enjoy Alex’s delcious strawberry treats. Find more from her on Instagram @AlexHead_SP & @Social_Pantry
