Description
A nostalgic, budget-friendly strawberry shortcake recipe using simple pantry staples like store-bought biscuits or homemade dough, fresh macerated strawberries, and whipped cream. Perfect for families and beginners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs fresh strawberries (or 1.36 kg frozen, thawed and drained)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream (cold)
- 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 can (8 large) refrigerated biscuits OR 1.5 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 cup cold butter, 1/2 cup milk for scratch biscuits
Instructions
- Wash, hull, and slice strawberries. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle with 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Toss to coat and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours in fridge) to macerate.
- If using store-bought biscuits: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Cool slightly.
- If making biscuits from scratch: Mix dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt). Cut in cold butter until coarse crumbs form. Stir in milk to form dough. Pat to 1-inch thickness, cut into rounds, and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 12-15 minutes until golden. Cool completely.
- Pour cold heavy cream into a chilled bowl. Add vanilla and confectioners’ sugar. Whip on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Do not over-whip.
- Split warm or cooled biscuits in half horizontally. Place bottom half on a plate, spoon macerated strawberries and juice over it, top with whipped cream and more strawberries, then cover with the top half. Repeat for remaining servings.
Notes
Keep cream, bowl, and whisk cold for best whipping results. Do not skip the maceration step for strawberries to ensure proper syrup formation. Store components separately rather than assembled to prevent sogginess. Frozen berries work well but must be drained thoroughly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 35
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: strawberry shortcake, budget recipe, easy dessert, family recipe, homemade shortcake, summer dessert, quick dessert