A Trio Of Wimbledon-Inspired Strawberry Treats

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…

1. Start by blitzing the digestive biscuits into a crumb
2. Melt the butter and pour into the digestives
3. Mix and place in the bottom of six 6cm round moulds
4. Place in the fridge to set
5. Place the jam in a saucepan and the gelatine in a bowl covered in water
6. Bring the jam to a boil and then add the gelatine once soft. Mix
7. Pour 1tbsp of jam on top of the biscuits and leave in the fridge to set
8. Place the marshmallow fluff in a piping bag and carefully, on top of the jam, pipe in a circular motion to cover the jam
9. Set in the fridge
10. Melt the chocolate over a bain-marie and temper to 35 degrees
11. Carefully remove the Wagon wheels from their moulds and transfer to a cooling wire rack with greaseproof underneath
12. Pour the chocolate over each Wagon wheel and leave to set in the fridge. You may need to cover with a second coat.
13. 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…

1. Blend the yoghurt and honey together in a smoothie maker/blender
2. Add the frozen berries to the mix ensuring they are not clumped together
3. Blend for a few seconds to allow the frozen berries to break down
4. 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
5. 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…

1. Line a baking tray with baking paper and preheat the oven to 120 degrees
2. Using an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites to soft peak
3. Add a tablespoon of sugar into the egg white at a time
4. Once all incorporated, paint three lines in your piping bag with the strawberry puree. Be careful not to smudge
5. Transfer half the meringue mixture into the prepared piping bag and pipe meringue kisses onto the tray
6. To make a ‘meringue kiss’ touch the piping bag on the baking sheet, squeezing the mix and lift up
7. 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.
8. Leave to cool and serve

We hope you enjoy Alex’s delcious strawberry treats. Find more from her on Instagram @AlexHead_SP & @Social_Pantry

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