Summer berries accentuate a perfect summer dessert

Summer berries offer a burst of sweetness on a hot summer day. For this summer dessert, the sweet berries are paired with delicious ice cream.

A summer dessert is always a great way to end a meal. Summer berries often offer that natural sweetness that is the perfect culmination to a summer feast. From burgers on the grill to a farm fresh salad, berries are often a lovely way to end a meal on a sweet note. More importantly berries be incorporated into a variety of desserts flavors.

One delightful way to enjoy some delicious summer fresh berries is with the iconic summer treat, ice cream. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Chef Jonathan Waxman. At this Atlanta restaurant Brezza Cucina, he partnered with the ice cream brand, Mayfield Creamery on two desserts.

These two signature desserts, Mayfield Summer Berry Fontana and Mayfield Smoky Mountain Fudge Swirl, are perfect sweet end for any summer meal. Both of the desserts use berries, which add a sweet and tart flavor to the decadent Mayfield Creamery ice cream.

Photos from the Mayfield – Brezza Cucina/Jonathan Waxman event, Tuesday, July 31, 2018, in Atlanta. (John Amis/AP Images for Mayfield Creamery)

While I enjoyed both desserts, my favorite was the Mayfield Summer Berry Fontana. Chef Waxman and Mayfield Creamery graciously shared the recipe below.

"Mayfield Summer Berry Fontana – with whipped cream, crushed shortbread cookies, sliced strawberries and milk chocolate drizzleby Jonathan WaxmanIngredients:• 1 cup + 3 ounces heavy cream• 1 cup crushed shortbread cookies (I like Walkers)• 1 pint washed, husked and sliced strawberries• 4 ounces milk chocolate chips• 1 large scoop Mayfield Creamery Summer Berry Swirl ice creamMethod:1. Whip the cream and add 1 teaspoon powdered sugar and a drop of vanilla extract2. Crush the shortbread cookies3. Melt the milk chocolate in a small pan with 3 ounces heavy cream. Heat on low stir until melted.4. In a bowl, add two tablespoons shortbread cookies, 1/4 cup sliced strawberries, 1 large scoop Mayfield Creamery Summer Berry Swirl ice cream. Then drizzle 1 TB milk chocolate sauce and a dollop of whip cream and serve."

One of the reasons that I loved this particular summer dessert is the combination of textures. Shortbread cookies offer a delightful, subtle crunch to the luscious ice cream and chocolate. Also, these particular shortbread cookies aren’t overly sweet, so that it doesn’t compete the ice cream and chocolate.

The sliced strawberries add a sweet, yet bright flavor to the summer dessert. The dessert is reminiscent of a classic strawberry shortcake, but with a modern spin. Plus, the dessert is quite easy to make. Even the kids can join in the dessert party.

This recipe is relatively easy for any home cook to complete. Also, it lends itself to a few customization options. For example, I like to add some ground nuts on top of the whipped cream. And, sometimes I have varied the chocolate chips, using half milk chocolate and half dark chocolate to add depth to that flavor. This dessert recipe is fun to customize and adapt in subtle ways.

What’s your favorite summer berries dessert? A huge thank you Chef Jonathan Waxman and Mayfield Creamery for this summer dessert recipe. Our spoon is ready. Is yours?