Strawberries Romanoff is a dressed-up version of strawberries with whipped cream – it tastes so much fancier than it actually is!
The Romanoff sauce is made with a sweet and slightly tangy combination of whipped heavy cream, sour cream, and a bit of sugar. It takes less than ten minutes to assemble this irresistible dessert, making it a favorite all summer long.
Romanoff Sauce
Romanoff cream sauce is just about the most delicious thing I’ve made lately. My friend Lynne was here a few weeks ago when I made this to photograph it and we may have eaten the full recipe on our own. I probably shouldn’t admit these things, but yeah, we did that.
Leftover strawberries Romanoff for breakfast? Yes, please. Romanoff cream is the perfect complement to the summer’s sweet strawberries.
Fresh strawberries and cream is a combination of which I simply can’t get enough. In this case, the whipped cream adds a creamy, velvety texture that complements the strawberries perfectly. Strawberry Romanoff gets rave reviews every time we make it.
Strawberry Romanoff
While the combination of strawberries and cream isn’t a unique one, this particular dish has a place in history – regardless of which story you choose to believe.
If you scour the internet, you will come across several variations of Strawberries Romanoff, accompanied by diverse claims about its origin. One popular belief credits Marie Antoine Careme, who was the chef to the Russian ruler Nicholas I from the Romanoff family, as the mastermind behind this classic recipe.
Conversely, some attribute the creation of a similar recipe, known as Strawberries Americaine Style, to Chef Escoffier from the Carlton Hotel in London. His dish was served over ice cream and was later renamed Strawberries Romanoff by a self-proclaimed “Prince Michael Romanoff,” who opened a restaurant in Hollywood and pretended to be a member of the royal family.
The recipe I’m sharing has been very gently adapted from La Madeleine’s recipe. Their very famous Strawberry Romanoff gives a nod to both of those earlier versions. Since I don’t live in Houston and haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy theirs in person, I’m pretty happy to be able to make it at home.
Strawberries Romanoff
Traditionally, the sliced berries are either soaked in vodka, or briefly marinated in brandy or orange liqueur. The sweet cream mixture is often made with a splash of alcohol as well.
I’ve made this a few times both with and without alcohol and if I’m being honest? I think we like this every bit as much without any alcohol at all.
I’ve made the liqueur in the recipe below optional and swapped the liqueur in the cream for vanilla extract. Strawberries Romanoff works very well without alcohol, but if you have it on hand and enjoy adding it, go for it.
Since we typically eat dessert with the kids, it’s often easiest to just skip the alcohol. Otherwise, I split the berries into a couple of different bowls and we’re good to go with both versions.
La Madeleine Strawberries Romanoff
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:
- fresh strawberries
- cognac, brandy, or orange liqueur OPTIONAL
- sour cream
- light brown sugar
- vanilla extract
- heavy cream
- powdered sugar
To assemble the dessert, place the strawberries in a medium-sized bowl. Drizzle with orange liqueur, if desired, and toss to combine. Allow the strawberries to rest while preparing the sweet cream mixture.
In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, light brown sugar, and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
Add the powdered sugar to the whipped cream and beat until thick. Pour the sour cream mixture into the whipped cream and stir gently to combine.
Spoon the strawberries into individual serving dishes or glasses. Divide the sweet cream mixture over the strawberries. Serve immediately and watch everyone grin!
Strawberries and Cream
Homemade vanilla ice cream topped with strawberries has been a long-time favorite for me. Stirring the sliced berries into bowls of cold melting ice cream is something I remember doing every summer of my childhood.
Strawberry crisp ice cream really shines with its blend of creamy ice cream, sweet berries, and an abundance of chewy brown sugar oat crust pieces.
Layers of cream cheese, berries, and buttery pretzels add up to the strawberry pretzel salad recipe that is loved by adults and kids alike. The pretzel crust adds a salty-sweet layer to this dessert that makes it irresistible.
Top a warm dish of strawberry cobbler with cold, creamy ice cream for the perfect combination of hot and cold, sweet and refreshing, summer dessert happiness.
Light and flaky, slightly rich and sweet from the cream and the berries, my family went nuts over these strawberries and cream biscuits the first time I made them. They’ve been made countless times in the years since.
A sweet steaming bowl of strawberries and cream oatmeal is the epitome of breakfast comfort food. I made this oatmeal for breakfast a while back and while I was writing that post to share with you, I craved it all over again. I immediately had to stop and make a bowl of that strawberries and cream oatmeal for lunch. Truth.
I have quite a thing for strawberries and cream. And Strawberries Romanoff, it’s the ultimate version of that combination.
Strawberries Romanoff
Ingredients
- 32 ounces fresh strawberries washed, trimmed, and sliced, about 4-5 cups
- 2 tablespoons orange liqueur, brandy, or cognac OPTIONAL
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- Place the strawberries in a medium-sized bowl. Drizzle with orange liqueur and toss to combine. Allow the strawberries to rest while preparing the sweet cream mixture.
- In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, light brown sugar, and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, beat the heavy cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add the powdered sugar to the whipped cream and beat until thick. Pour the sour cream mixture into the whipped cream and stir gently to combine.
- Spoon the strawberries into individual serving dishes or glasses. Divide the sweet cream mixture over the strawberries. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
This recipe has been gently adapted from La Madeleine’s recipe for their famous Strawberries Romanoff.
Leslie Davis says
Can you use other berries with it?
Mary Younkin says
Hi, Leslie. I don’t see why not. Heartier/fleshier fruits like peaches would probably be delicious in this recipe as well.