Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Made famous by Anime Characters developed by American Greetings, the name Strawberry Shortcake is also synonymous to a delicious dessert in the shortcake family of cakes. A Strawberry Shortcake is traditionally a scone or biscuit topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream; the scone can also be substituted with other bread pastries such as sponge or pound cakes. Typical Shortcake is made with flour, sugar, baking powder or soda, salt, butter, milk or cream, and sometimes eggs. The topping used is what differentiates shortcake recipes. Toppings include bananas, pineapples, peaches and raspberries. The most famous shortcake however is the Strawberry Shortcake, where its recipes are so diverse that they include whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate, coconut and lemon.

The key to great strawberry shortcake is to ensure that the biscuit (or whatever base is used) is broken up during preparation to ensure the fruit juices soak in. The perfect biscuit is crispy on the outside but light fluffy and buttery on the inside. Fresh juicy strawberries will definitely enhance the shortcake as opposed to using frozen fruit. Ideally fresh strawberries are bought when they are in season and can be kept fresh for up to three days by removing the damaged ones and refrigerating the good strawberries in layers separated by paper towels inside a plastic container or sealed bag.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup white sugar for marinade
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk
  • 2 cups heavy whipped cream
  • 3 pints fresh strawberries

Directions

  1. Slice strawberries and marinade in 1/2 cup white sugar for one hour to get all the juices.
  2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder, 1/4 cup white sugar and salt in a mixing bowl.
  4. Add the butter and fold into mixture using a pastry blender or knife until it’s crumb-like.
  5. Make a hole in the center and add the egg, vanilla and milk combine well. Do not over mix the dough.
  6. Grease an 8” round cake pan and lightly flour.
  7. Place the mixture in the cake pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Remove from oven and allow cake to cool.
  9. Once cooled slice the cake in half (horizontal). Place half the strawberry mixture on one cake half and cover with the other half.
  10. Place the remaining strawberries on top along with whipped cream.

Making Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits

Old fashioned strawberry shortcakes use a biscuit as the base instead of a cake, follow recipe below to make your biscuits from scratch.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 12 tablespoons cold butter, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions

  1. In a large bowl toss the flour, sugar and salt.
  2. Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour mixture and make a well in the center of the mixture.
  3. Combine the cream and vanilla, pour into the well and blend well until the dough is evenly moist.
  4. Knead dough gently into a loose ball and place onto a lightly floured surface.
  5. Pat dough into an 8” square then place onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  6. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven 424 degrees.
  8. Remove dough from refrigerator and cut into squares.
  9. Place squares onto baking sheet 2” apart.
  10. Bake biscuits for 18 to 20 minutes.

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