This strawberry shortcake recipe is your ticket to a delicious, award-winning dessert that features a rich, buttery flavor and a tender, flaky, golden-brown crust. With only six basic ingredients, you can easily recreate this classic treat in your own kitchen.
For the flakiest and fluffiest shortcakes, you can chill the shortening before adding it to the other ingredients. Cold fat like shortening creates pockets of steam during baking which will give your shortcakes a texture that really stands out from the rest.
If you’re a fan of the sweet, fruity flavor of strawberry shortcake, you’ll love these other strawberry-based recipes. Try your hand at making strawberry waffles. Or, if you’re in the mood for something sweet, give strawberry angel food cake or strawberry bread a try.
This recipe is my mom’s shortcake recipe that I grew up enjoying every single year as the strawberries became ripe. My dad plants a strawberry patch and as children even to his day, we’ve enjoyed the fruits of the bounty with this delicious shortcake recipe. It reminds me of sunshine and beautiful summer days!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Family Favorite: This strawberry shortcake recipe is a classic comfort food that my family absolutely loves. It’s a go-to dessert for gatherings and celebrations.
- Simple Ingredients: Over the years, I’ve learned that the best recipes usually have the fewest ingredients. And you only need 6 pantry staples for this recipe!
- Flavor-Packed: Despite its simple ingredients, this recipe delivers a buttery, flavorful shortcake that perfectly complements the sweetness of the strawberries.
- Time-Tested: This is a tried and true recipe that has been a hit in my family for years and years. With its perfect texture and flavor, no wonder it’s an award-winning recipe.
- Comfort Food: There’s something incredibly comforting about a warm slice of shortcake topped with fresh strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream.
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Key Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: This is the base of the recipe, providing structure to the shortcake.
- Baking powder: It helps the shortcake rise, giving it a light and fluffy texture.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor of the shortcake, making all the flavors come out even more.
- Granulated sugar: This sweetens the shortcake to just the right level which works perfectly with the strawberry and whipped cream as a topping.
- Shortening: It adds fat to the recipe, which is essential for a tender, flaky texture in the baked shortcake.
- Milk: This liquid ingredient binds everything together and also adds moisture to the shortcake.
Equipment
- Pastry Blender- This tool is essential for cutting the shortening into the dry ingredients, guaranteeing a flaky texture in the final shortcake. It’s also known as a biscuit cutter or pastry cutter.
- 9-inch Pan – You’ll need this to pat the shortcake mixture into and bake it until golden brown.
- Wire Rack – After baking, you’ll need this to cool the shortcake before serving.
How to Make Strawberry Shortcake
Preparation
Begin by preheating your oven to 450˚ F. This will ensure that it’s at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake your shortcake.
Step 1 – Mix the Dry Ingredients
Combine your dry ingredients in a bowl. These include flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar.
Step 2 – Cut in the Shortening and Add Milk
Cut in the shortening using a pastry blender. Once that’s done, add the milk and stir until everything is mixed together.
Step 3 – Add to Greased 9 Inch Pan
Next, you’ll need to shape your shortcake. Pat the mixture into a greased 9-inch pan. Make sure it’s evenly distributed for a consistent bake.
Step 4 – Bake the Shortcake
Place your pan in the preheated oven and bake at 450˚ F for 12 – 15 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the shortcake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 4 – Cool and Serve
After baking, remove the shortcake from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack. This will prevent it from becoming soggy and will also help it maintain its shape. Once cooled, it’s ready to be served. You can top it with fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a classic strawberry shortcake dessert.
Expert Tip
To guarantee a light and fluffy shortcake, handle the dough as little as possible. Overworking the dough can result in a tough texture, so mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Recipe Variations
- Lemon Zest: Add a zesty twist to the classic shortcake by mixing in the zest of a lemon with the dry ingredients. The bright, citrusy flavor will complement the sweet berries beautifully.
- Toppings: While the classic recipe calls for strawberries, try topping your shortcake with a mix of berries. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries all add a unique flavor and vibrant color to the dessert.
- Nuts: For a delicious crunch, add chopped nuts like almonds or pecans to the dough. This variation adds a nutty flavor that pairs well with the sweet berries.
What to Serve With
- For a refreshing summer treat, serve this classic strawberry shortcake recipe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cool, creamy texture of the ice cream pairs perfectly with the warm, buttery shortcake and fresh berries.
- Looking for a fun brunch idea? Slice the shortcake in half and layer it with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. I also love adding lots of strawberry syrup on top.
- For a quick and easy dessert, enjoy it the way my mom likes to! Simply pour milk over the homemade shortcake and serve it with strawberries.
Recipe FAQ
I like to cut the strawberries in half or quarters depending on the size of the strawberry. Then add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar. Give it a little stir and let it sit on the counter. The longer the better! This is a great afternoon step to prepare for dinner. The longer they sit the more syrup the strawberries will produce. This step is known as macerating.
If you don’t have shortening on hand, you can use an equal amount of butter. However, keep in mind that this may alter the texture of the shortcake slightly, making it a bit more rich and buttery.
Yes, you can use a dairy-free alternative like almond milk or coconut milk. Just make sure it’s unsweetened to keep the flavor of the shortcake balanced.
The shortcake is done when it’s golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This usually takes about 12-15 minutes in a preheated 450˚ F oven.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerate: Leftover strawberry shortcake can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerating the shortcake in an airtight container can keep it fresh for up to a week.
- Freeze: If you’d like to enjoy this classic dessert at a later time, you can freeze the shortcake. Wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Thawing Instructions: When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen shortcake, simply let it thaw at room temperature for a few hours.
- Reheating Instructions: To reheat, place the thawed shortcake on a wire rack and warm in a preheated 350˚ F oven for about 10 minutes. This will help restore its fresh, just-baked flavor and texture.
More Strawberry Desserts You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This classic strawberry shortcake recipe yields enough for 8 servings, each filled with the flavor of fresh berries and buttery shortcake.
- How to Scale: If you’re planning a larger gathering and need to double the recipe, you can use a larger pan, like a 13-inch one, and follow the instructions as directed. Just keep an eye on the baking time, as it may vary slightly with a larger pan.
Strawberry Shortcake
Ingredients
- 2 Cups all purpose flour
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 Cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 Cup butter
- 3/4 Cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450˚ F.
- Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in the butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender. Add milk and stir until mixed. Pat into greased 9-inch pan.
- Bake 450˚ F for 12 – 15 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Comments & Reviews
Debra says
I love this cake and fresh strawberries. I love it with milk and whipped cream Thank you for sharing this strawberry shortcake cake It is going to be my family tradition as well
Maggie says
This was truly delicious. I am not a huge strawberry shortcake fan, but we made this for my husband for Father’s Day. We all agreed that this was the best that we have ever eaten. The cake alone is almost addictive but combined with the other ingredients, it was truly delightful. our family unequivocally gives this the top rating
Lynette says
Yay! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it! It’s such a great recipe. 🙂
Nicoletta sugarlovespices says
Yummy! Love it! Never made a shortcake, but this is going to change soon. I simply adore strawberries, I’m in Italy right now and I’ve already had my fair share 🙂 . Beautiful cake!
Lynette says
You’re so lucky! They’re not quite in season yet here in Ohio.
Debbye says
OMG, this looks so good I want to reach in and take a bite!