This classic strawberry shortcake recipe is made with tender, sweet biscuits, fresh strawberries, and fluffy whipped cream. Use our tips to get perfect results every time!
We have every variation of strawberry shortcake that you can think of: shortcake layer cake, shortcake ice cream, shortcake cupcakes….but for those times you want a classic strawberry shortcake this will be your go-to recipe.
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This recipe is
Made from scratch: The shortcake biscuits and whipped cream are made from scratch, making this recipe so incredibly delicious!
Packed with juicy strawberries: The strawberries are the star of this recipe – use my tips to make them extra red, sweet, and juicy!
Great for special occasions: This dessert is beautiful and it’s great for entertaining. Everyone can build their own shortcake!
A twist on a classic: A few things set this recipe apart from a typical strawberry shortcake. A touch of almond extract, a crunchy sugar topping, and my tip for extra sweet strawberries take this recipe over the top.
Recipe overview: 3 components
Biscuits: These tender, lightly sweetened biscuits serve as the perfect base for this shortcake. I adapted this recipe from my favorite Buttermilk Biscuit recipe, adding more sugar and swapping the buttermilk for cream. I love that this dough comes together in minutes, and it gets dropped/scooped onto the baking sheets.
Strawberries: Rather than just adding plain sliced strawberries onto the biscuit, I toss the strawberries in a little sugar and strawberry jam. This makes them extra sweet and juicy, plus the jam imparts a glossy look and a more intense strawberry flavor.
Whipped cream: Homemade whipped cream is super easy and incredibly delicious. This version is flavored with vanilla extract which complements the strawberries wonderfully. Whip the cream until soft, billowy peaks form; that’s the perfect consistency for spooning over the shortcakes.
Assembly
Carefully slice the top off each shortcake biscuit. I remove the upper third, leaving a sturdy base.
Top the biscuit with layers of strawberries and whipped cream. I like to start with strawberries so that the juices can get absorbed into the biscuit. Place the biscuit “lid” on top or serve it on the side.
Recipe tips
Don’t assemble until you are ready to serve. The components can be prepped in advance (more on this below).
Combine the strawberries with jam and sugar at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the strawberries to start releasing their juices.
When making the biscuits be careful not to over work the dough.
Use an ice cream scoop to portion the biscuit dough.
Shape the biscuit dough so that they’re higher rather than wider. This ensures that the biscuits don’t spread too thin while baking.
If you accidentally over-whip the whipped cream stir in a little more cream.
Feel free to play around with the fruit filling for these shortcakes. You can swap any other fresh fruit for the strawberries. Blueberries, mixed berries, or peaches would all be great. Make sure to swap out the jam for whatever flavor fruit you are choosing, and adjust the sugar accordingly.
How to make ahead
You can prepare the various components several hours in advance on the day you need them. Wait to assemble until right before serving.
Store the shortcakes at room temp for several hours. The strawberries and whipped cream should be kept refrigerated. If the whipped cream loses any volume you can easily whip it with an electric mixer or by hand to get it thickened again.
Tip: The shortcake biscuits are best the day they are baked, but if you have to make them further in advance, bake, cool, and freeze them (tightly covered), then bring them to room temperature and bake in a 400° oven for about 5 minutes. This will help the exterior crisp up.
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Recipe
Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
Ingredients
Strawberries:
- 5-6 cups sliced fresh strawberries
- 2 tablespoons strawberry jam or preserves
- 2-4 tablespoons (25g-50g) granulated sugar, depending on how sweet your strawberries are
Shortcake biscuits:
- 2 cups (250g) all purpose flour, see note
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (85g) chilled unsalted butter , cut into small cubes
- 1 scant cup chilled heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract, optional
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream, for brushing on top
- 2 tablespoons (30g) coarse sugar/raw sugar, for sprinkling on top
Whipped cream:
- 1¼ cups chilled heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup (31g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Strawberries (prepare 1 hour before serving):
- Heat the jam briefly in the microwave (just a few seconds) until it thins out. Combine jam, strawberries, and sugar. Cover and allow to sit for 1 hour until the strawberries are juicy. Adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste.
Shortcake biscuits:
- Preheat oven to 400°F with a rack in the the middle portion of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Sprinkle the cubed butter over the top. Using your fingertips (or a pastry cutter), work the butter into the flour by rubbing it quickly into small pieces. Proceed until the mixture resembles a sandy texture with pebble-sized pieces of butter (the pieces of butter will be irregularly shaped; that's fine).
- Pour one scant cup of heavy cream, one teaspoon vanilla, and ¼ teaspoon almond extract over the flour mixture. Stir gently with a rubber spatula. Before the flour is completely mixed in, switch to mixing by hand, kneading as you go. The dough will be sticky. Be careful not to over-mix; stop as soon as no streaks of flour remain. If the dough is really sticky you can add a small sprinkle of flour, if the dough seems dry you can add a little splash of cream.
- Use an ice cream scoop or measuring cup to scoop ¼ cup portions* of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Form the dough balls into mounds that are higher rather than wider and leave a couple inches of space between each portion of dough. Brush each mound of dough with cream and sprinkle generously with coarse sugar.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown around the edges, and light golden brown on top. If you squeeze them the center should feel soft, but not doughy. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Whipped cream:
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat all ingredients until soft peaks form. I begin the mixer on low, then slowly increase it to high, stopping to scrape the bowl as needed. Refrigerate the whipped cream until you're ready to assemble.
Assembly:
- Using a small sharp knife, gently cut the top of each shortcake. These are delicate, so work carefully. I do not cut them directly in half, I cut off the upper third of the shortcake. Layer the strawberries (with some of their juices) and the whipped cream into the shortcake bottom. You can add several layers or just one layer of each. Place the top on and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Justine
Yesssssss! THIS is how strawberry shortcake should be!
Katherine
This is the perfect Strawberry Shortcake! Complete perfection.
Meagen Brosius
Right now the strawberries are SO good so I needed a great recipe to use them with. This was a big hit with the whole family! So yummy!
Sandi
These biscuits were amazingly light. Perfect dessert!
PG Smith
Amazing! Improvised with buttermilk biscuit mix and it was great!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂