Why it works: Cream and butter are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 8% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 41,516 recipes. Both carry delta-dodecalactone, which smells sweet, creamy. The science ↓
Mascarpone Glazed Strawberries
Ingredients
Directions
Brown the strawberries
Melt butter in a large stainless steel sauté pan over medium heat.
Add strawberries and cook until deeply browned.
Remove strawberries from the pan and keep warm.
Make the glaze
Deglaze the pan with rum and ignite, then stir to dissolve browned bits.
Add the remaining ingredients.
Boil until reduced by one third.
Add strawberries.
Reduce heat to low.
Cook for half an hour.
Remove the pan from heat.
Serve.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 8 of 9 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Mascarpone | 2 tbsp (28g) | 120 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Cream | 1 tbsp (15ml) heavy | 51 |
| Strawberry | 1 cup (152g) | 49 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Rum | 1/2 oz (15ml) | 32 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Coffee | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Cream + buttertop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together41,516 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Coffee + rumtop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together138 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Cheese + buttertop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together7,962 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Cream + sugartop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together43,450 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,3-butanedione (butter, sweet).
-
Rum + buttertop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,007 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-decalactone (sweet, creamy).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Strawberries
- Provide the fruit base and release juices that become part of the glaze.
- Butter
- Adds fat for browning the strawberries and a rich, nutty flavor.
- White granulated sugar
- Browns and caramelizes for sweetness and color, and thickens the glaze as it reduces.
- Mascarpone cheese
- Adds creamy richness and body to the glaze.
- Heavy cream
- Adds moisture and smoothness, softening the glaze's texture.
- Dark rum
- Lifts browned bits from the pan and adds aromatic depth.
The step that matters
Cook the strawberries until deeply browned. Browning through Maillard reactions and caramelization builds the deep, savory-sweet flavor of the glaze. Pale or underbrowned fruit tastes flat and watery once it is in the sauce.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
You might also like
The free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.
Cheese Balls97 recipes
Coffee Ice Cream91 recipes
Cheese Cake55 recipes
Cream Cheese46 recipes