Irresistibly Sweet Classic Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Sweet summer memories dance around this classic strawberry shortcake, where tender biscuits cradle juicy berries and pillowy cream.

Memories of grandma’s kitchen drift through every delectable bite, whispering nostalgia and comfort.

Crisp, buttery layers promise a delightful contrast against luscious fruit and silky cream.

Ripe strawberries burst with natural sweetness, perfectly complementing the crumbly, golden-brown shortcake base.

Each forkful blends textures that sing of simple pleasures and sunshine-filled afternoons.

Homemade magic happens when you combine these humble ingredients into something extraordinary.

Let this recipe become your new favorite summer celebration.

Why Classic Strawberry Shortcake Brings Joy

• Effortless Summer Delight: This classic strawberry shortcake recipe screams simplicity and sunshine, perfect for capturing the essence of a breezy summer afternoon with minimal kitchen skills required.
• Quick Crowd-Pleaser: Whipping up this dessert takes just 45 minutes from start to finish, making it an ideal last-minute treat for unexpected guests or spontaneous gatherings.
• Customizable Comfort: The recipe offers flexible options like adjusting sugar levels, adding extra toppings, or using different berries, allowing home cooks to personalize their shortcake experience and cater to individual tastes.
• Family-Friendly Baking: With kid-friendly steps like cutting biscuits and assembling layers, this dessert becomes a fun cooking activity that brings family members together in the kitchen, creating sweet memories alongside a delicious treat.

What You’ll Use In Classic Strawberry Shortcake

• Strawberries: Sweet and juicy fruit that creates the classic flavor profile, best when ripe and in season.
• Sugar: Helps draw out natural strawberry juices and enhances sweetness.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and base for tender biscuits, choose unbleached for best texture.
• Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness to biscuit base.
• Baking Powder: Essential leavening agent for light and fluffy biscuits.
• Salt: Balances and enhances overall flavor.

• Butter: Cold and unsalted butter creates flaky biscuit texture, best when high-quality.
• Milk: Helps bind ingredients and adds moisture to biscuit dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides warm, subtle background flavor to biscuits.
• Egg: Used for egg wash to create golden, shiny biscuit surface.

• Heavy Cream, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Extract: Classic combination for light and sweet whipped cream topping, best when cream is very cold.

• Coarse Sugar: Adds extra crunch and sparkle to biscuit tops.

Steps To Make Classic Strawberry Shortcake Simple

Step 1: Prepare Juicy Strawberries

Slice fresh strawberries into a mixing bowl. Sprinkle sugar over the berries and gently toss. Let the strawberries rest at room temperature, allowing their natural sweetness and juices to develop.

Step 2: Create Fluffy Biscuit Bases

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt

In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Cut cold butter into the mixture using a pastry cutter or fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in milk and vanilla, stirring until just combined.

Lightly flour a clean surface and gently pat the dough to about 1-inch thickness. Use a biscuit cutter or glass to shape round biscuits. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Brush biscuit tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. Remove and let cool slightly.

Step 3: Whip Up Dreamy Cream

Chill a mixing bowl in the freezer for a few minutes. Pour heavy cream into the chilled bowl. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Whip with a hand mixer until soft, billowy peaks form.

Step 4: Assemble Delightful Shortcakes

Carefully slice each biscuit in half. Layer the bottom half with macerated strawberries and a generous dollop of whipped cream. Crown with the top half of the biscuit. Add an extra flourish of cream and berries if you’re feeling indulgent.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Present these heavenly shortcakes immediately, celebrating the perfect blend of sweet berries, tender biscuits, and cloud-like cream. Each bite promises a burst of summer freshness and pure delight.

Pro Tip: For an extra touch of elegance, garnish with a few fresh mint leaves or a light dusting of powdered sugar.

Smart Tips For Classic Strawberry Shortcake

• Strawberry Softening Trick: Macerate the strawberries with sugar at room temperature to release natural sweetness and create a delicious syrup that enhances the overall flavor of the dessert.
• Biscuit Mixing Mastery: Handle the dough gently and avoid overmixing to ensure tender, flaky biscuits with a light, delicate texture that melts in your mouth.
• Cream Whipping Pro Tip: Use a chilled bowl and cold heavy cream to achieve perfect, stable whipped cream with soft, billowy peaks that hold their shape beautifully.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare biscuits and macerate strawberries in advance, keeping components separate until just before serving to maintain optimal texture and freshness.
• Dietary Adaptation Hack: Swap regular flour with gluten-free flour blend and use dairy-free alternatives like coconut cream to create a delicious version suitable for various dietary needs.

Storage Instructions For Classic Strawberry Shortcake

• Refrigerate leftover shortcake components separately to maintain their best quality.
• Store baked biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, keeping them crisp and fresh.
• Protect macerated strawberries in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, preventing them from becoming too soggy.
• Whipped cream stays perfect when covered and chilled for about 24 hours – just give it a quick whisk before serving to restore its fluffy texture.
• Never assemble the entire shortcake in advance, as the biscuits will become soft and lose their delightful crunch.
• When ready to enjoy later, quickly reassemble the individual components for a dessert that tastes just as amazing as when first prepared.

Pair Classic Strawberry Shortcake With These

• Pair with Crisp Champagne: The effervescent bubbles and light acidity of champagne perfectly cut through the rich, sweet shortcake, creating a delightful balance that elevates the dessert's flavors.
• Complement with Earl Grey Tea: The bergamot notes in Earl Grey tea provide a subtle, aromatic contrast to the sweet strawberries and creamy whipped topping, offering a sophisticated drinking experience.
• Match with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Adding a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream alongside the shortcake creates an indulgent flavor explosion, with the cold, smooth texture complementing the warm, flaky biscuit.
• Serve with Lavender Lemonade: A refreshing lavender-infused lemonade brings a light, floral touch that harmonizes beautifully with the strawberry's natural sweetness, creating a summer-inspired pairing.

Try These Takes On Classic Strawberry Shortcake

• Berry Blend Bliss: Combine multiple berries like raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries with strawberries for a vibrant mixed berry shortcake experience.
• Chocolate Chip Charm: Fold mini chocolate chips into the biscuit dough for a rich, sweet undertone that complements the fresh strawberries.
• Lemon Zest Sparkle: Add fresh lemon zest to the biscuit dough and whipped cream for a bright, citrusy flavor that enhances the strawberries' natural sweetness.
• Nutty Crunch Option: Sprinkle toasted almond slivers or chopped pecans between layers for an added textural dimension and subtle nuttiness.

Answers About Classic Strawberry Shortcake

• What makes strawberry shortcake a classic dessert?

Strawberry shortcake is a beloved American dessert that perfectly combines sweet, juicy strawberries with tender, buttery biscuits and fluffy whipped cream. Its simple yet delightful combination of flavors has made it a summer favorite for generations.

• Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?

Fresh strawberries are best for this recipe, as they provide the most vibrant flavor and texture. Frozen strawberries can be too watery and may make your shortcake soggy. If fresh strawberries aren’t available, try to use the freshest possible alternatives.

• How do I know when my biscuits are perfectly baked?

Look for a golden-brown color and a light, flaky texture. The biscuits should rise slightly and have a crisp exterior while remaining soft inside. When you tap the top, they should sound hollow and feel light.

• Why do I need to macerate the strawberries?

Macerating helps draw out the strawberries’ natural juices and intensifies their sweetness. The sugar breaks down the fruit’s cell walls, creating a delicious syrup that adds extra flavor to your shortcake.

Classic Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

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• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Delightful classic strawberry shortcake spotlights summer’s sweetest berries nestled between buttery biscuits and clouds of whipped cream. Sweet strawberries and golden shortcake layers promise pure dessert bliss that will transport you straight to grandmother’s kitchen.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1.5 pounds (680 grams) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
• ⅔ cup whole milk

Sweeteners and Sugars:

• ¼ cup granulated sugar (for strawberries)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar (for biscuits)
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• Optional: coarse sugar for sprinkling

Flavor Enhancers and Binding Agents:

• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for biscuits)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for whipped cream)
• 1 large egg, beaten (for brushing tops)

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Instructions

1. Marinate fresh strawberries with sugar in a mixing bowl, allowing them to rest and release natural syrup for approximately 30 minutes at ambient temperature.
2. Preheat kitchen oven to 425F (220C) and prepare a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Create biscuit dough by combining dry ingredients in a large mixing vessel, then incorporate cold butter using fingertips or pastry tool until texture resembles coarse sandy granules.
4. Gently introduce milk and vanilla extract into the mixture, stirring minimally to maintain tender consistency.
5. Transfer dough onto lightly floured surface and delicately shape into one-inch thickness.
6. Carefully cut six circular biscuit shapes using round cutter or drinking glass.
7. Position biscuit rounds onto prepared baking sheet, then brush exposed surfaces with beaten egg and optionally sprinkle with crystallized sugar.
8. Bake golden pastry rounds for 12-15 minutes until edges turn warm amber color and surface appears crisp.
9. While biscuits cool, whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla in chilled mixing bowl until soft peaks develop.
10. Slice cooled biscuits horizontally and layer with macerated strawberries and luxurious whipped cream.
11. Crown each shortcake with additional cream and fresh berries, then serve immediately to preserve optimal texture and temperature.

Notes

• Macerate strawberries ahead of time to intensify their natural sweetness and create a syrupy juice that enhances the overall dessert flavor.
• Use cold butter and handle biscuit dough minimally to ensure tender, flaky texture that melts in your mouth.
• Opt for fresh, ripe strawberries at peak season for the most vibrant and intense fruit flavor.
• Consider alternative flour options like whole wheat or gluten-free blends to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising the shortcake’s delicate structure.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg