Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Featured in Sweet Treats and Baked Goods.

Mix quick biscuit dough, cut in rounds, bake till golden. While they cool, slice fresh strawberries, sprinkle with sugar to make juice. Whip cream till soft peaks form. Split warm biscuits, layer with berries and cream. Makes perfect summer dessert in under an hour.

Fatiha
Updated on Sun, 11 May 2025 20:56:37 GMT
A delicious strawberry shortcake layered with cream, fresh strawberries, and golden biscuit pieces on a plate. Pin it
A delicious strawberry shortcake layered with cream, fresh strawberries, and golden biscuit pieces on a plate. | zestplate.com

Searching for an unbeatable strawberry shortcake? This foolproof recipe brings together sweet berries, fluffy homemade biscuits, and cloud-like whipped cream. You'll forget all about those frozen desserts once you taste this amazing handcrafted summer treat.

Straightforward Guidelines for Great Results

How To Make Classic Strawberry Shortcake begins with quality ingredients and straightforward techniques. The uncomplicated approach lets anyone create something truly memorable without fuss. Whether you've been missing those packaged frozen treats or want something with that distinctive crackly topping, this from-scratch version delivers everything you're craving.

Essential Components Needed

  • Strawberries: Choose plump, vibrant ones for maximum taste
  • Sugar: Creates juicy berries and sweet biscuit base
  • Vanilla: Enhances cream's richness
  • Heavy Cream: Creates that airy topping
  • Flour: Forms the backbone of tender biscuits
  • Baking Powder: Gives your biscuits height
  • Baking Soda: Creates airy texture inside
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness perfectly
  • Butter: Use it cold for perfect flakiness
  • Buttermilk: Ensures incredibly soft texture
  • Course Sugar: Creates that signature crunchy topping

How To Make Strawberry Shortcake

Prepare Strawberries:
Slice them up, sprinkle with sugar and wait for their juice to develop
Warm Oven:
Preheat to 400°F for ideal biscuit baking
Combine Dry Ingredients:
Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt together
Work In Butter:
Mix cold butter chunks into flour until it looks like coarse crumbs
Pour Buttermilk:
Add cold buttermilk and stir just enough to combine
Form Dough:
Flatten into a rectangle and fold to create beautiful layers
Form Biscuits:
Press cutter straight down without turning for best rise
Arrange For Baking:
Place biscuits with sides touching in your baking dish
Finish Biscuits:
Paint with cream and scatter sugar on top
Cook Thoroughly:
Bake until they turn golden brown, roughly 20 minutes
Prepare Topping:
Beat cream with sugar and vanilla until fluffy peaks form
Assemble Dessert:
Stack biscuits with generous amounts of berries and cream

Surpasses Any Commercial Version

This homemade version wins against anything you'll find at the store. While those frozen desserts might save time, creating shortcake from scratch brings true satisfaction. Our updated method uses clever tricks for fluffier biscuits with that wonderful crunchy top everyone loves.

Strawberry Success Secrets

Amazing shortcake always starts with the fruit. When you mix strawberries with sugar, they create their own sweet syrup that works wonders on the biscuits. This tiny but crucial step makes your dessert taste like you captured sunshine in every mouthful.

Biscuit Making Know-How

Creating shortcake biscuits isn't nearly as hard as you might think. Just keep your butter cold and fold the mixture to get those wonderful flaky layers. This approach gives you tall, soft biscuits that soak up all that strawberry goodness while maintaining their crispy sugar-topped crowns.

A close-up of freshly baked biscuits topped with whipped cream and sliced strawberries on a baking sheet. Pin it
A close-up of freshly baked biscuits topped with whipped cream and sliced strawberries on a baking sheet. | zestplate.com

Homemade Topping Brilliance

Real whipped cream transforms this simple dessert into something extraordinary. Unlike frozen alternatives, freshly whipped cream lets you adjust sweetness to your taste. With just cream, sugar, and vanilla, you'll create the ideal finishing touch for your beautiful shortcake.

Putting It All Together

Arranging your shortcake creation is where the fun really starts. Set out the warm biscuits, sweetened berries, and fresh cream. Let your family or guests create their own perfect stacks. Some might want extra berries while others prefer more cream - this flexible approach means everyone gets their ideal dessert.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Making cakes early?

Bake three days ahead. Keep room temp wrapped. Or freeze few months. Fresh cream day of. Berries close to eat.

→ Keeping leftovers good?

Keep parts separate. Cakes stay room warm. Cold stuff in fridge. Mix when eating. Fresh is best though.

→ Need frozen berries?

Fresh works better. But frozen okay too. Thaw and drain good. Might be more wet. Still taste sweet.

→ No special cutter?

Cup works just fine. Any round thing good. Keep size same though. Clean edges help. Don't twist when cut.

→ Cream getting soft?

Keep stuff real cold. Bowl in ice box first. Don't beat too much. Watch it close. Could add stabilizer.

→ Getting too dry?

More berry juice helps. Don't overbake cakes. Add more cream. Let berries sit more. Keep assembled short.

→ Taking it places?

Pack parts separate. Build there maybe. Keep cream cold. Take extra berries. Watch the bumps.

→ Need it faster?

Buy ready biscuits. Have berries cut. Quick whip cream. One bowl works. Still tastes good.

→ Making big batch?

Double works fine. Need more pans. Watch oven space. More berries ready. Keep cream cold.

→ Want more flavor?

Add vanilla fresh. Try other berries. Lemon zest helps. Even mint works. Don't go too strong.

→ Cakes not fluffy?

Cold butter helps. Don't work dough much. Fresh baking stuff. Pat down gentle. Watch oven temp.

→ Berries not sweet?

More sugar helps. Let sit longer. Mix berry kinds. Splash vanilla. Even honey works.

Conclusion

Love this? Try berry cream cookies next. Or make pound cake with fruit. Both great for summer.

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Fast summer berry treat.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes
By: Fatiha

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 10-12 servings

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 6–7 cups quartered strawberries.
02 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons (75g) granulated sugar, divided.
03 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
04 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream.
05 2 and 3/4 cups (345g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for hands and work surface.
06 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar.
07 4 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder.
08 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
09 1 teaspoon salt (recommend fine sea salt).
10 3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed.
11 1 cup (240ml) cold buttermilk.
12 2 Tablespoons (30ml) heavy cream or buttermilk.
13 Coarse sugar, for sprinkling.

Instructions

Step 01

Stir the strawberries and 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar together in a large bowl. Cover and set in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Step 02

Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Mix the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl or in a large food processor. Whisk or pulse until combined.

Step 03

Add the cubed butter and cut into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or by pulsing several times in the processor. Pulse until coarse crumbs form.

Step 04

Pour buttermilk on top. Fold everything together with a large spoon or silicone spatula until it begins to come together. Do not overwork the dough.

Step 05

Pour the dough onto a floured work surface and gently bring it together with floured hands. Flatten into a 3/4 inch thick rectangle, then fold sides to center, turn horizontally and repeat.

Step 06

Cut dough into 2.75 or 3-inch circles with a biscuit cutter. Re-roll any scraps and cut more circles until you have around 10-12 biscuits.

Step 07

Arrange in a 10-inch cast iron skillet or close together on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.

Step 08

Brush tops with cream or buttermilk and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake for 18-22 minutes until golden brown. Cool for at least 10 minutes.

Step 09

Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until soft-medium peaks form, about 3 minutes.

Step 10

Slice biscuits in half and layer with strawberries and whipped cream. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. Make Ahead Instructions: Each part of this recipe can be prepared ahead of time.
  2. Make the biscuits up to 3 days in advance and store covered tightly at room temperature or freeze.
  3. Prepare the strawberries and whipped cream up to 1 day in advance. Store both in the refrigerator.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large bowl.
  • Food processor or pastry cutter.
  • Pastry cutter.
  • Silicone spatula.
  • Rolling pin.
  • Biscuit cutter.
  • 10-inch cast iron skillet or baking sheet.
  • Silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
  • Pastry brush.
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy.
  • Gluten.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: ~
  • Total Fat: ~
  • Total Carbohydrate: ~
  • Protein: ~