Quick answer: strawberry shortcake has three parts: split, slightly sweet biscuits, sliced strawberries macerated with sugar, and softly whipped cream. Toss 1½ lb of sliced strawberries with ¼ cup of sugar, bake cream biscuits, and whip 1½ cups of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and vanilla.
How do you prepare the strawberries?
- 1½ lb (680 g) ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ¼ cup (50 g) sugar, to taste
Toss and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the berries release their juice. Crush a few for a saucier filling.
How do you make cream biscuits (6-8 shortcakes)?
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1¼ to 1½ cups (300-360 ml) cold heavy cream
- Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Whisk the dry ingredients. Stir in the cream just until a soft dough forms; add the last splash only if it is dry.
- Pat out about ¾ inch thick on a floured surface and cut into rounds or squares.
- Brush the tops with a little cream, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 15-18 minutes until golden.
- Cool completely before filling.
Cream biscuits need no butter: the fat in the heavy cream makes them tender.
How do you make the whipped cream for strawberry shortcake?
- 1½ cups (360 ml) cold heavy cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Whip to soft peaks; see soft peaks vs stiff peaks. For other methods see how to make whipped cream, and for a classic French version Chantilly cream.
How do you assemble strawberry shortcake?
- Split each biscuit.
- Spoon berries and juice over the bottom half.
- Add a generous spoonful of cream.
- Set the top on at an angle.
- Add a little more cream and a berry on top.
What are some variations on strawberry shortcake?
- Cake base: sponge, pound cake or angel food cake in place of biscuits.
- Flavored cream: strawberry whipped cream or mascarpone whipped cream (mascarpone cream).
- Other fruit: peaches, mixed berries or roasted rhubarb.
- For a crowd: layer the same parts in a dish as a trifle.
How far ahead can you make strawberry shortcake?
Biscuits are best the day they are baked. Keep whipped cream ready in a whipped cream dispenser, or stabilize it; see stabilized whipped cream.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of whipped cream is best for strawberry shortcake?
Lightly sweetened heavy cream whipped to soft peaks, with a little vanilla. Soft cream soaks into the biscuit better than stiff cream.
Can I make strawberry shortcake ahead?
Bake the biscuits and prepare the berries a few hours ahead, and whip the cream last. Assemble just before serving so the biscuits stay crisp.
Is strawberry shortcake made with biscuits or cake?
The classic American version uses a slightly sweet biscuit. Sponge cake and angel food cake are popular, softer alternatives.
How do you keep whipped cream from melting on shortcake?
Let the biscuits cool completely first, and stabilize the cream if the dessert has to sit out.
