Description
Classic strawberry shortcake brings sweet summer memories to life with tender biscuits and ripe berries. Creamy whipped cream crowns this beloved dessert, inviting you to savor each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) strawberries, fresh, hulled and sliced
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup butter, unsalted, cold, cubed
- ⅔ cup milk, whole
- ¼ cup sugar, granulated (for strawberries)
- ¼ cup sugar, granulated (for biscuits)
- 2 tbsps sugar, powdered
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for biscuits)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for whipped cream)
- 1 egg, large, beaten (for brushing tops)
- sugar, coarse (optional, for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Maceration Preparation: Gently toss strawberries with sugar in a mixing bowl, allowing natural juices to develop and intensify flavors for half an hour at room temperature.
- Dough Foundation: Blend dry ingredients in a spacious mixing bowl, then integrate chilled butter using fingertips until mixture resembles rough, crumbly terrain.
- Liquid Integration: Delicately fold milk and vanilla into the crumbly dough, minimizing handling to preserve a tender, flaky texture.
- Shaping and Cutting: Roll dough onto a lightly dusted surface to one-inch thickness, then craft six elegant circular biscuit rounds using a precise cutter.
- Pre-Baking Preparation: Arrange biscuit rounds on parchment-lined baking sheet, artfully brushing surfaces with beaten egg and optional sugar crystals for enhanced golden sheen.
- Thermal Transformation: Slide baking sheet into preheated oven at 425F (220C), allowing biscuits to transform into crisp, amber-edged pastry gems within 12-15 minutes.
- Cream Elevation: Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla in a chilled vessel until soft, billowy peaks emerge, creating a luxurious cloud-like topping.
- Shortcake Assembly: Gently bisect cooled biscuits, layering with macerated strawberries and pillowy whipped cream, then crown with additional berries and cream for a stunning presentation.
Notes
- Boost Strawberry Flavor: Macerate strawberries with a splash of balsamic vinegar or orange liqueur to enhance their natural sweetness and complexity.
- Achieve Tender Biscuits: Handle dough minimally and use cold butter to create flaky, light texture that melts in your mouth.
- Prevent Soggy Bottoms: Allow biscuits to cool completely before assembling to maintain crisp base and prevent unwanted moisture absorption.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute heavy cream with coconut whipped cream and use vegan butter in biscuit dough for a plant-based version of this classic dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 384
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 174 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg