One can toil for hours on more elaborate desserts without coming close to achieving the simple gratification and effortless indulgence of these classic strawberry shortcakes. Using cream instead of butter in the shortcake not only makes for lighter, more tender pastry, it also eliminates the step of cutting the butter into the flour. Consider doubling this shortcake recipe, as it’s great to have leftovers with morning coffee.–Editors of Edible

Strawberry Shortcakes FAQs

How do you macerate strawberries?

Macerating fruit is similar to marinating meat: Fresh or dried fruit is splashed with flavored liquid such as liquor, vinegar, or syrup and left to sit out for a few hours or overnight, which softens the fruit.

Can you make strawberry shortcake ahead of time?

You can macerate the strawberries and bake the biscuits. Let the biscuits cool, wrap tightly and refrigerate along with the berries. We suggest waiting until you’re about to tuck in to whip the cream but if you’re really really pressed, whipped cream can hold on for a few hours before being devoured.

What is the best way to tell that a strawberry is ripe?

If the tip of the berry is completely red, it’s ripe and ready to eat. Strawberries don’t continue to ripen once picked so make a habit of always buying the package with the reddest berries, and you’re nearly guaranteed ripened goodness. Pass on the packages with yellow or barely pink berries – they were picked before their prime.

Can I make these shortcakes with a different type of fruit?

Yes. These spiced peach shortcakes are every bit as delicious as their strawberry counterparts.

A strawberry shortcake on a pink plate with a bowl of strawberries and a bowl of cream beside it.

Classic Strawberry Shortcakes

5 / 6 votes
These strawberry shortcakes are a stunning summer dessert made with macerated strawberries and freshly whipped cream, all tucked inside ethereally light biscuits.
David Leite
CourseDessert
CuisineAmerican
Servings8 servings
Calories564 kcal
Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour

Ingredients 

For the macerated strawberries

  • 3 pints of the ripest, sweetest strawberries you can find (6 cups), hulled and halved if small or quartered if large
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, agave syrup, or granulated sugar, plus more if needed (optional)

For the shortcakes

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons (1 oz) butter, melted

For the whipped cream

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or powdered sugar, or 1/2 tablespoon agave syrup, or to taste 1/4 cup thinly sliced crystallized ginger (optional)

Instructions 

Macerate the strawberries

  • In a large shallow-rimmed dish, mash about 1/4 of the strawberries with a fork or potato masher. In a large bowl, toss together the mashed strawberries, unmashed berries, lemon juice, and maple syrup, if using. Taste and adjust sweetness as needed. Set aside, stirring occasionally.

Make the shortcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F (218° C). Line a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, if using, and salt. Using a wooden spoon or stiff spatula, stir in the cream. Mix until the mixture comes together in a sticky, crumbly mass.
  • Dump the mixture onto a lightly floured work surface. Using floured hands, knead the dough only a few times until the mixture forms a soft dough. (For the lightest shortcakes, do not over-knead.)
  • Divide the dough in half and pat each portion into a 5-inch round. Cut each round into quarters. Place each quarter onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving a few inches between. Brush each quarter with melted butter.
  • Bake until the tops of the shortcakes are golden, 12 to 16 minutes. Gently move the shortcakes to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Whip the cream

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl using an electric hand mixer or by hand using a stiff whisk), beat the cream and maple syrup on medium-high speed until soft peaks form.

Assemble the shortcakes

  • Split each shortcake in half crosswise. Place the bottom half of each shortcake on a plate. Spoon some of the macerated berries and a large dollop of whipped cream on top, then place the remaining half of the shortcake on top. Spoon more berries and their juices on top and embellish it with even more whipped cream on top. Garnish with the crystallized ginger, if using, and serve immediately.
Edible

Adapted From

Edible

Buy On Amazon

Nutrition

Serving: 1 portionCalories: 564 kcalCarbohydrates: 49 gProtein: 6 gFat: 40 gSaturated Fat: 24 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2 gMonounsaturated Fat: 11 gTrans Fat: 1 gCholesterol: 140 mgSodium: 187 mgPotassium: 540 mgFiber: 5 gSugar: 17 gVitamin A: 1536 IUVitamin C: 106 mgCalcium: 166 mgIron: 2 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2010 Claud Mann. Photo © 2010 Annie Marshall. All rights reserved.


Recipe Testers’ Reviews

I was so glad to have this recipe in time for Easter! Classic strawberry shortcake just screams spring, and this comes together as easily and quickly as any other recipe I’ve tried. Simple, fresh, and delicious. The cinnamon in the shortcake is a really cool twist.

This classic strawberry shortcake recipe is the perfect summer dessert. Ripe strawberries with the whipped cream and delicately sweetened shortcakes couldn’t get any more perfect. Look for super sweet, very ripe strawberries because it’s all about the strawberries. I’d definitely recommend using the cinnamon in the biscuits because it really makes the recipe.

If you are looking for an easy and impressive summer dessert, look no further than these classic strawberry shortcakes. I found the biscuits to be easy to prepare, flavorful and the strawberries to be bright and sweet. I sprinkled my biscuits with demerara sugar after brushing them with butter and everyone loved them. 




About David Leite

David Leite has received three James Beard Awards for his writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


Hungry For More?

Caramel Apple Pie

Classic apple pie just went next level with the addition of sweet caramel on top.

5 hrs

Whole Wheat Pie Crust

There are pie crusts, and there’s this crust–nutty, crisp, buttery, and oh-so-perfect for your favorite pie–sweet or savory.

1 hr 5 mins

Sweet Noodle Kugel

If you haven’t tried sweet kugel yet, you’ve been missing out. See why this creamy noodle casserole is a perennial holiday favorite.

1 hr


Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    We love this strawberry shortcake recipe. We had a bunch of very ripe berries, and they were perfect for this. They were so juicy they soaked the shortcake. Love it!

    1. Thanks, Tarouco. It sounds like you had the perfect batch of berries for this. We can’t wait to hear what you make next.