Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword homemade-strawberry-shortcake, strawberry-shortcake-recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 15

Cooling Time 5

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 475kcal

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Macerate Strawberries: Add strawberries to a medium-size mixing bowl with 2 Tbsp sugar. Toss, then set into the fridge to macerate.
Shortcakes: In a medium-size mixing bowl, use a whisk to sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
Use a pastry blender to cut cold butter into the dry ingredients until it has a crumbly texture that resembles cornmeal. Make a well in the center.
In a separate bowl, whisk together half and half, egg and vanilla. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients gradually mixing until fully moistened.
Use two Tbsp to drop dough in mounds onto parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden. Cool for 15 minutes.
Assemble: Slice shortcakes through the middle, top with macerated berries and whipped cream.
Fresh Whipped Cream: In medium size mixing bowl, use an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment to whip together 2 cups heavy cream with 1 tsp vanilla extract. Gradually add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, beating just until soft peaks to stiff peaks form. Don’t overbeat. Chill until assembling the shortcakes.

Use Fresh Strawberries - When selecting strawberries, look for bright red berries with fresh green stems. They should be firm to the touch and free of dark spots or any signs of mold.

Fruit - You could adapt this recipe using blackberries or raspberries or a combination of strawberries and blueberries.

Citrus - You might like to add a splash of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest for an acidic twist.

Whipped Cream - This is one dessert where fresh whipped cream truly shines. That said, if you prefer, you can use Cool Whip or another store-brand whipped topping, it’s more stable and holds up better at room temperature. Just keep in mind that fresh whipped cream is best made the same day you plan to serve the strawberry shortcake for the best texture and flavor.

Cream Cheese - You can add a dollop of softened cream cheese or mascarpone cheese to the whipped cream to help stabilize it.

Sugar - After brushing the tops of the shortcakes with melted butter, try sprinkling them with turbinado sugar (also known as raw sugar) instead of granulated sugar. It adds a beautiful sparkle and a delightful crunch to every bite.

Shortcut - You can make strawberry shortcake using slices of pound cake or angel food cake.