Strawberries Romanoff-Healthier

Strawberries Romanoff is an easy and light dessert featuring sweet summer berries with a creamy luscious topping. By replacing the sour cream with plain non-fat Greek yogurt, it is healthier. This recipe is the perfect ending for a weeknight meal, a casual get together or an elegant meal.

Strawberries Romanoff is one of my go-to desserts in the summer.  There is nothing better than fresh Oregon strawberries.   They are delicious eaten on their own, but I love making this simple topping because it is easy and takes the berries to the next level. 

The first time I ate Strawberries Romanoff was on a date with my boyfriend (now husband) over 35+ years ago.  We met in high school and of course, could not afford to go to fancy restaurants.  However, we would save up our money for special occasions and treat ourselves to a nice dinner.  On one of those dates, we had Strawberries Romanoff.  It was one of the best desserts I had ever eaten. I love it!  Years later, I had a craving for it and created this healthier version. 

Traditionally the topping is made with sour cream and whipped cream.  However, I wanted to make it healthier by lowering the fat therefore I replaced the sour cream with non-fat Greek yogurt.   I also wanted less sugar so I decreased the amount of sugar in this recipe.  The result is a creamy topping that pairs beautifully with strawberries. 

Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries-The best berries to use are freshly grown strawberries from a farmers market or local farm stand. If they are not available, purchase strawberries from your grocery. Since these berries often lack flavor, sprinkle cut berries with 1 teaspoon of sugar (per cup of strawberries) and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. This will help bring out the flavor in the berries.
• Plain non-fat Greek yogurt-Any brand non-fat plain Greek yogurt will work in this recipe. I would not recommend using flavored Greek yogurt because it has added sugar in it.
• Heavy Cream-Use heavy or whipping cream for the topping. Do not use pre whipped cream that comes in a can because it will not hold up. I suppose you could use a thawed frozen non-dairy topping, but they contain a lot of artificial ingredients and sugar. Therefore I would not recommend using them.
• Brown sugar-Light brown sugar works the best. Dark brown sugar would be fine but it will have a stronger flavor.
• Vanilla-Use pure vanilla, not imitation.
• Brandy or Grand Mariner –(optional)-For adults only. Leave it out if you are serving the dessert to children.

How to make Strawberries Romanoff

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Combine the yogurt and brown sugar. Add vanilla, brandy, or grand mariner.

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Place the heavy cream in the bowl of a stand mixer. Alternatively, you can use an electric hand mixer or whip the cream by hand using a wire whisk.

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Beat the cream until it is slightly thickened. Add granulated sugar to the whipped cream and beat until firm peaks form. The amount of time this takes varies quite a bit between various creams, somewhere between 3-6 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye on it so that it does not over whipped and turn into butter.

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Add the yogurt mixture to the whipped cream. Gently fold the yogurt mixture into the whipped cream until it is completely combined

Spoon topping on the strawberries. If you wish, garnish with mint leaves. Enjoy!!

Serving options

• Strawberries Romanoff looks best served in a glass container such as a glass bowl, wine glass, small juice glass, or small canning jars.
• The strawberries can be combined with the topping.
• Make a parfait by layering the strawberries and topping.
• Serve Strawberries Romanoff with Fast Roast Chicken or Austrian Beef Goulash

Tips for success

1.  For best results, place the bowl and wire whisk in the refrigerator and chill for 15 minutes.  This will help the whip the cream faster and the results will be a lighter cream. 
2. Closely watch the cream when it is in the mixer.  It can easily turn into butter if it is overwhipped.  
3. The dessert can be made early in the day or a few hours before it is served.  Be sure to chill the topping and the cut strawberries if you prepare it ahead of time. When you are ready to serve the dessert, distribute the strawberries in serving dishes and then top with chilled cream. 

Leftovers

The topping is best eaten the day it is made. It can be prepared early in the day and kept under refrigeration. Store leftover strawberries and cream separately in a covered container in the refrigerator. It should be eaten the next day.

I hope you try this recipe! Give it a rating and please comment below. I love hearing from you!

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Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavored to be as accurate as possible.