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    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Desserts > Cakes

    The Best Strawberry Shortcake

    Published: Mar 18, 2021 · Modified: Oct 21, 2022 by Melissa · 55 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Top photo is of strawberry short cake in a bowl with whipped cream and sliced strawberries, the bottom picture is of shortcake next to a bowl of sliced strawberries and a bowl of whipped cream with the words "Delicious strawberry shortcake" in the middle
    Close up picture of strawberry shortcake with whipped cream in a bowl with the words "easy strawberry shortcake" written at the top
    Strawberry short cake in a bowl with whipped cream and sliced strawberries with the words " easy strawberry shortcake" written at the bottom
    Strawberry short cake in a bowl with whipped cream and sliced strawberries with the words " easy strawberry shortcake" written at the bottom

    Simple, sturdy cake is one of our favorite ways to enjoy Strawberry Shortcake. You just can’t go wrong with a fluffy cake that is layered with strawberries and finished off with whipped cream.

    I look forward to strawberry shortcake every year. It means warm weather is here and strawberries are ripe for the picking. This has been one of my favorite desserts since I was a child and I’m excited to share this classic shortcake recipe with you.

    shortcake cut in halve and then layered with fresh strawberries and whipped cream in a white bowl

    Strawberry Shortcake Cake

    Ingredients:

    • Granulated sugar: this is adding the sweet to your cake, it doesn't have a lot (it's not an overly sweet cake) but just enough
    • Butter: I love using butter in this cake recipe, it adds flavor and is the fat in the recipe
    • Egg: this helps everything to bind together
    • Flour: you'll just need a simple all-purpose flour here, nothing fancy
    • Milk: this is the wet ingredient for your cake and what helps everything come together
    • Fresh strawberries: it wouldn't be strawberry shortcake with out these! This recipe is best with fresh in-season strawberries
    • Freshly whipped cream: the simple joys! Freshly whipped cream is such a treat and goes so well with the cake and strawberries

    How to make Strawberry Shortcake:

    1. Mix up your cake by adding your butter and sugar to a large bowl and mixing well.
    2. Add the egg and beat.
    3. Add the dry ingredients and mix and then beat in the milk. Bake up your cake.
    4. Prep your strawberries and whipped cream while the cake bakes.
    5. After it's cooled a bit serve the cake with strawberries and whipped cream on top.
    Strawberry shortcake two ways - one recipe for a sweet biscuit-like shortcake and one recipe for a cake-like strawberry shortcake, because I aim to please.

    What happens when you put sugar on a strawberry?

    I like to add a tablespoon or two of sugar to my cut strawberries and let them sit while I make the shortcake. This gives the strawberries some time to release their juices and makes a nice syrup to drizzle on top of the shortcakes. So good.

    Making the whipped cream?

    To make whipped cream, I simply add 1-2 cups of heavy whipping cream, ¼ cup powdered sugar, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla to the bowl of my stand mixer or electric mixer and whip the cream until soft peaks form. SO much better than anything pre-made from the store. Very worth the 5 minutes of prep, if you ask me.

    Strawberry shortcake two ways - one recipe for a sweet biscuit-like shortcake and one recipe for a cake-like strawberry shortcake, because I aim to please.

    How do I serve strawberry shortcake?

    To serve strawberry shortcake I slice the cake into 9 pieces. Remove one piece from the pan and split it down the middle. Top half of the cake with strawberries and whipped cream, add the second half of cake, and top with more whipped cream and strawberries. 

    Storage Tips:

    Store any leftover cake covered at room temperature. Separate from any leftover strawberries or whipped cream.

    Strawberry shortcake is such a lovely dessert. It’s light, not too sweet, and easy to prepare. Enjoy a slice (or two) from my kitchen to yours!

    plate with cake on it with strawberries on top and whipped cream

    More strawberry recipes:

    • Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
    • Homemade Strawberry Lemonade
    • 4 Ingredient Strawberry Frozen Yogurt (5 minute recipe!)
    • Strawberry Pie Recipe

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Cake-Like Strawberry Shortcake


    ★★★★★

    5 from 15 reviews

    • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: Serves 9
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    My famous strawberry shortcake recipe made with a simple homemade cake (so not fussy!), sweetened strawberries, and whipped cream. We eat this once a week all spring long.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ¼ cup melted butter
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup milk
    • 1-2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled, sliced, and sweetened to your liking
    • 2-4 cups freshly whipped cream (sweetened if you like)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9-inch square baking dish (or line it with parchment).
    2. In a medium bowl, add the sugar and melted butter and stir to combine well.
    3. Add the egg and vanilla and stir to combine.
    4. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, and beat with an electric mixture or stand mixer to combine.
    5. Add the milk and beat again until the mixture is smooth with no lumps. Place the batter in the prepared pan.
    6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cake is lightly golden and springs back when lightly touched.
    7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool at least 30 minutes before serving.
    8. To serve, slice the cake into 9 pieces. Remove one piece from the pan and split it down the middle. Top half of the cake with strawberries and whipped cream, add the second half of cake, and top with more whipped cream and strawberries.
    9. Serve right away.
    10. Store any leftover cake covered at room temperature, separate from any leftover strawberries or whipped cream.

    Notes

    • It's best to use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer for this cake. I've made it a few times where I stirred it all by hand and I was left with little flour chunks in my batter and cake. Incorporating the milk with an electric mixture helped to ensure there were no flour chunks in my cake.
    • Prep Time: 10 mins
    • Cook Time: 20 mins
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven, Bowl
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: homemade strawberry shortcake recipe, fluffy shortcake biscuits, how to make strawberry shortcake, strawberry shortcake, strawberry shortcake recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

    Close up picture of strawberry shortcake with whipped cream in a bowl with the words "easy strawberry shortcake" written at the top

    And I'm dying to know, what is your go-to Strawberry Shortcake recipe? Biscuit or Cake?! Do tell! If you don't have a favorite yet, I'd for sure try this cake recipe.

    « Classic Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
    Gluten Free Pizza Recipe »
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    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

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    1. Dana Chambers-Souiri

      August 31, 2023 at 11:46 pm

      I have a question. If I use salted butter, do I still need salt that the recipe calls for, or should I reduce it?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        September 02, 2023 at 12:25 pm

        It's up to you. The butter should have about an 1/8 of a teaspoon of salt in it so you could reduce it by that much but I have found that it's never enough salt to make a difference.

    2. Lina

      August 03, 2023 at 6:48 am

      I love this recipe! I have even made it a couple more times with cherries on top and blueberries inside - its become my go-to simple but tasty cake recipe for enjoying seasonal berries 😄

      Reply
      • Melissa

        August 03, 2023 at 2:15 pm

        Ohhh those changes sound so good! Thank you for sharing!

    3. Joey Ann Hoefer

      July 11, 2023 at 3:08 pm

      Hello... I just made your recipe except I wanted to lower the carbs so I swapped out the sugar for Swerve sweetener & the flour for Almond flour... The whipped cream I made with powdered swerve & Heavy whipping cream...I ate some of the crumbs and it is so buttery and tasty...I can't wait for supper so I can enjoy this wonderful summer treat....

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Hannah

      July 09, 2023 at 6:30 pm

      Very good! Cake is super tender. On the calorie count - is it counting the cake, strawberries and whipped cream?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        July 10, 2023 at 11:08 am

        Yes it is!

    5. Ruth Miller

      July 07, 2023 at 10:52 am

      This was delicious. A nice cross between traditional shortcake biscuits and cake. 9X9 is not a common size in Canada so I used an 8X8 lined with parchment paper. Also baked for 5 minutes longer. It turned out perfectly!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Mary

      July 02, 2023 at 5:35 pm

      Hands down the best cake for strawberry shortcake. Absolutely delicious!! I doubled the recipe and put it in a 13x9

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa

        July 05, 2023 at 11:38 am

        So glad you liked it Mary! Thanks for commenting!

    7. Laura

      June 18, 2023 at 4:57 pm

      The cake came out very thin. Not able to slice it in half to make two. Slices. I followed the recipe exactly. Needed about 5 extra minutes in the oven to make it golden…but nothing else was different. What could have gone wrong?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        June 20, 2023 at 4:10 pm

        Did you put it in a 9x9 inch pan or a 9x13 inch pan?

      • Gay

        June 30, 2023 at 7:45 am

        Could your baking powder be old? That’s happened to me.

    8. Gay

      June 15, 2023 at 8:43 pm

      I’ve been hunting for a a recipe that looks similar to what my mother used to make. I thought this might be it but people keep referring to it as biscuits in some comments and that’s not what I want. Is this more cake like? Also I need to make this for 12. If I double should I put in 9X13 pan? Bigger? Should I just use two 9 inch cake pans? Tx!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        June 16, 2023 at 11:19 am

        You can double this and put it in a 9x13 inch pan, it'll just need additional cooking time.

    9. Dk

      June 05, 2023 at 3:53 pm

      Sounds all good but where are the ingredient amounts, I don't c them

      Reply
    10. Gail D

      April 12, 2023 at 10:46 am

      My husband decided yesterday that we needed to take a ride to the local strawberry farm that just opened up for the season. In addition to amazing strawberries, they had pre-packaged sponge cakes so folks could make strawberry shortcake, but he hates those. This recipe was a delightful find and I had all the ingredients (other recipes required heavy cream). This will be a family favorite!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Patsy E Henderson

      March 21, 2023 at 2:39 pm

      Forgot the stars. Thanks again for a great recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Carol W

        June 22, 2023 at 2:16 pm

        Baking dish (glass) or baking pan (metal)?

        Thanks!

      • Melissa

        June 22, 2023 at 2:18 pm

        Both work great, use what you like or have on hand.

    12. Patsy E Henderson

      March 21, 2023 at 2:38 pm

      I had fresh strawberries and needed a homemade recipe for the shortcake and so I tried this. It was great. Just the right size for the 2 of us with leftovers.
      I will make this again.
      Thanks.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        March 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm

        Thanks so much Patsy! So glad ya'll liked it!

    13. D

      March 15, 2023 at 9:37 pm

      I had never made shortcake from scratch before so decided to try this recipe. So glad I did! Delicious, not oversweet and holds up well to the strawberry sauce. This is now my go to recipe.
      Thank you

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    14. Brenda Olson

      October 14, 2022 at 9:10 am

      Thank you for this recipe.

      Please note a small error says ‘step 1. Mix up you cake. . .
      (Your)

      Love your page!!
      Brenda-Lyn Olson

      Reply
    15. Melissa

      September 10, 2022 at 6:09 pm

      An excellent, and very easy recipe! Very tasty too! Just what I was looking for. Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
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