TheMeasuringCup logoTheMeasuringCup.com

Strawberry Shortcake

Maceration is the most important step — sliced strawberries tossed with a spoonful of sugar and left to sit release their juices into a natural syrup. The shortcake itself is a tender, lightly sweetened biscuit — split while warm, piled with berries, and capped with softly whipped cream.

Strawberry Shortcake — finished dish

Dessert · Summer, Fruit • 30 min

Servings:
6 servings

Ingredients

  • For the strawberries:
  • 1½ pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • For the biscuits:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ¾ cup cold buttermilk
  • 1 large egg, for egg wash
  • For the whipped cream:
  • 1½ cups heavy cream, cold
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps

  1. Toss sliced strawberries with sugar and lemon juice in a bowl. Let macerate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, stirring once or twice.
  2. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter until the mixture looks like coarse meal with some pea-sized pieces.
  4. Pour in cold buttermilk and stir with a fork just until the dough comes together. Turn onto a floured surface and gently pat into a ¾-inch-thick rectangle. Fold in half, pat down again, and repeat once more — this creates flaky layers.
  5. Cut into 6 rounds with a 3-inch biscuit cutter (or a glass). Do not twist the cutter — push straight down. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
  6. Brush tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 12–15 minutes until tall and golden brown. Cool on a rack for 5 minutes.
  7. Whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla to soft peaks. Split warm biscuits in half, spoon on strawberries and their syrup, and top with a generous cloud of whipped cream.