Strawberries With Kahlua Cream

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 8 ounces cream cheese (can be slightly reduced fat)
• 2 tablespoons kahlua (or equivalent)
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 2 -4 tablespoons brown sugar (satisfy your sweet tooth (i use 2)
• 6 tablespoons heavy cream
• 8 cups strawberries, hulled
• 4 tablespoons caster sugar
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup pecans, chopped and toasted (or more)
• 8 sprigs fresh mint (optional)

Recipe

• 1 for the kahlua cream, put the ingredients (except the heavy cream) in a food processor. process until combined, scraping down sides as needed. add the cream and process again briefly. refrigerate until needed.
• 2 if strawberries are different sizes, cut the largest ones in half. otherwise leave whole.
• 3 when you are ready to make the berries and pecans, preheat oven to 350 degrees. *if you decide not to roast the berries, you can stir the berry ingredients together and put them in the fridge to marinate for a few hours. and skip steps 5 and 6.
• 4 chop pecans. spread them on a baking tray. toast them in the oven for about 8 minutes. cool.
• 5 put berries in an oven-proof pan (such as glass) on a sheet of baking paper. sprinkle with castor sugar, maple syrup and balsamic vinegar. stir well.
• 6 roast strawberries in oven for 15 minutes, shaking the pan or stirring every 5 minutes.
• 7 dish the berries into bowls and spoon over any pan juices. serve immediately, topped with a good dollop of kahlua cream. garnish with toasted pecans. add mint sprigs (if desired).