Easy Strawberry Shortcake

Looking for a quick and easy dessert? Try this delicious recipe for easy strawberry shortcake! With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can enjoy the classic combination of crumbly cake, sweet strawberries, and whipped cream in no time. Perfect for a summer treat or anytime you're in the mood for something sweet and satisfying.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This classic dessert combines fresh berries and rich creamy whipped cream with a crumbly cake. You're going to love this recipe because:

• Homemade strawberry shortcake will bring back memories of your childhood summers, and is the ultimate comfort dessert.
• This strawberry shortcake recipe is easy to make.
• The combination of berries, whipped cream, and cake compliment each other making it a very appetizing dessert.
• Everyone loves it! This is a favorite dessert every spring and summer.

If you love strawberry desserts, you are going to love our strawberry pie and strawberry cake!

What Is A Strawberry Shortcake?

Shortcake cake is normally made with flour, sugar, baking powder or soda, salt, butter, milk, and sometimes eggs. The dry ingredients are blended, and then butter is cut in until the mixture resembles cornmeal. The liquid ingredients are then mixed in just until moistened, resulting in a shortened dough.

This recipe is an easier variation of the classic shortcake.  We are skipping the butter and the egg - but we will still end up with a flakey, dense biscuit that is perfect for loading up with berries and cream.

About The Ingredients

This recipe has a short ingredients list, and a short cook time - making it the perfect dessert for entertaining. All ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. Here are a few items to note:

• strawberries - when selecting fresh strawberries Look for bright red color: Choose strawberries that are bright red all over, with no white or green spots. The deeper the red color, the riper and sweeter the strawberry will be. Avoid strawberries that are mushy or have soft spots. They should also have nice fresh green tops.
• confectioners sugar (powdered sugar) - we will be using this in both the macerated strawberries and the whipping cream.
• heavy whipping cream - heavy cream is a key ingredient as it is used in both the dough at the whipped topping.
• pantry items - you'll need some additional items from your pantry like all purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, vanilla and salt.

See recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and amounts.

How Do I Make Strawberry Shortcakes?

Prep: preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and gather your ingredients.

Step 1. For the strawberry shortcake cake, Combine flour, ¼ cup of the sugar, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.  

Step 2. Mix well. Make sure all ingredients are blended. No one wants a mouthful of baking soda after baking.

Step 3. Gradually add the cream in, tossing with a fork until clumps form.

Step 4. Gather dough together, but do not knead.  If dough is too crumbly - add a bit more cream until is sticks together.  

Step 5. Form into a 6 inch log. Cut into 1 inch discs and place on a greased baking sheet.

Step 6. Bake at 400 degrees for 14-20 minutes until golden. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 7. Hull strawberries, and quarter. Place in a large bowl.

Step 8. Puree ¼ of the strawberries with confectioners sugar.

Step 9. Add back to sliced berries. This process is called macerating the strawberries. Toss and cover. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Pro Tip: Macerating strawberries is the process of soaking them in sugar to release their juices. The sugar draws out the moisture in the strawberries, creating a syrupy sauce. It also softens the fruit and adds sweetness. Macerated strawberries can be used as a topping for desserts, in cocktails, or as a filling for cakes and pastries.

Step 10. The crowning jewel of this homemade strawberry shortcake is homemade whipped cream.  Of course you can purchase store bought whipped cream, but homemade is so much better.  And!  It is made in minutes. Simple pour heavy whipping cream into a large mixing bowl. Add in powdered sugar and vanilla. Whip using the whisk attachment of your stand mixer until firm peaks form.

Step 11. When pound cake have cooled, cut them in half.

Step 12. To assemble layer cake half, strawberries, whipped cream, and second half of cake. Serve immediately.

Variations

Add in other fruits - Consider adding other fruits, such as blueberries or raspberries, to the dessert for added flavor and color.

Change the whipped cream flavor - try adding almond or coconut extract to the whipped cream instead of vanilla extract for a delicious twist.

Pro Tips:

• There are a few things to note with this recipe. For starters, it is a very crumbly dough. If your dough is falling apart so much so that it will not mold, then add 1 teaspoon more whipping cream. The addition of a little moisture will make it stick. I live in a very dry climate and this was necessary for me. If you live in a humid area, this might not be the case. First follow the recipe, the adapt slightly as needed.
• When I say make a 6-inch log, I mean six inches! Grab out that ruler to see where you are at. Six inches in length will give you just the right length to cut six rounds. Once these bake they will be just the right size to cut in half--any thinner and they might crumble to pieces.
• Choose ripe and sweet strawberries for the best flavor.
• Make sure to slice the strawberries evenly so they are easy to layer.

Strawberry Shortcake FAQs

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