Simple ingredients like flour, butter and buttermilk combine for this classic dessert. This is a truly stellar strawberry shortcake recipe.
If you like this recipe, check out my French Strawberry Cake next!
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I’ve never met a strawberry dessert I didn’t like. I’m well know for my strawberry recipes, thanks to my viral recipe for French Strawberry Cake. A classic strawberry shortcake was necessary for my collection. I revamped my favorite scone recipe to use for these individual shortcakes. They have a tender, biscuit-like crumb. The dough is completely hands off, mixed in a stand mixer and formed with a cookie scoop. It’s a terrific recipe for beginning bakers. And a necessity to have in your collection when juicy strawberries are in season.
More strawberry recipes
Ingredients for strawberry shortcakes
- Flour – This recipe uses all-purpose flour. I have not tested it with gluten free flour.
- Sugar – Use granulated white sugar both in the shortcake recipe and to help sweeten the fresh strawberries.
- Baking Powder – Helps the shortcakes to rise in the oven while baking, giving them a tender and biscuit-like crumb.
- Baking Soda – It reacts to the acid in the buttermilk to keep the shortcakes light, airy and fluffy.
- Salt – Helps to balance the sweet flavors and also improves the texture of baked goods.
- Butter – One stick of butter makes 8 individual shortcakes.
- Buttermilk – I’ve only tested this recipe with full-fat buttermilk, rather than lowfat.
- Pure Vanilla Extract – A full tablespoon of vanilla extract helps give these shortcakes fabulous flavor.
- Strawberries – It’s important to macerate the strawberries before serving them atop these vanilla scented shortcakes. That just means to mix them with a little sugar and letting them sit at room temperature to allow their natural juices to release. I always add a little citrus juice as well. Lime juice or orange juice work well with strawberries.
Instructions
Begin by slicing your strawberries so they have time to macerate and release their juices. This can be done a day in advance.
Whisk together the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Add it to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Slice the stick of cold butter into seven or eight pieces. Measure the buttermilk and add the vanilla to it.
With the mixer on low speed, add the butter one piece at a time, waiting about 30 seconds between each addition. Keep mixing until all butter is incorporated and the mixture has a sandy texture to it. Turn the mixer on low speed again and slowly pour in the buttermilk and vanilla mixture. Keep mixing until a cohesive dough forms.
Use a cookie scoop to form eight balls of dough. Place them on a parchment lined small baking sheet or plate. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 – 60 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Transfer the chilled shortcakes to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for 18 – 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking. Allow to cool and then slice the shortcakes in half and top with the strawberries and whipped cream.
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Serving suggestions
Top the strawberry shortcake dessert as shown with whipped cream. Either store bought or make your own by whipping together heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. When I think of strawberry shortcake I think of summer gatherings, picnics and grilling. Here’s a few recipes to make this dessert a complete meal –
Storage directions
Store the components separately. Keep the shortcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. And store any leftover strawberries and whipped cream in the refrigerator. You can also individually wrap the shortcakes in plastic wrap. Then store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to one month.
Strawberry Shortcake
Equipment
- 1 Stand Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 stick unsalted butter cold and cut into 8 pieces
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup full-fat buttermilk
- 16 oz strawberries sliced
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
Instructions
- Slice the strawberries. Stir in two tablespoons of sugar and lime juice. Allow them to rest at room temperature to release their natural juices.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Turn the mixer to low speed and add the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, Allow about 30 seconds between the addition of each piece of butter. Continue mixing until the flour is the texture of coarse sand.
- Mix together the vanilla and buttermilk in a glass measuring cup.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the buttermilk and vanilla in a slow stream, mixing until a cohesive dough forms.
- Use a large cookie scoop to divide the dough into eight round dough balls. Place them on a parchment lined small baking sheet or plate and refrigerate for 30 - 60 minutes.
- Transfer the chilled shortcakes to the prepared baking sheet. Bake the shortcakes for 18 - 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through baking time. Until the shortcakes are lightly browned and just firm to the touch.
- Top the cooled shortcakes with the macerated strawberries and whipped cream
Nutrition
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Amy | Club Narwhal says
Jill, strawberry shortcake is one of my favorite desserts and I could just gobble these up!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Amy! 🙂
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
Jill what a gorgeous dessert! Strawberries are my absolute favorite fruit – this is a great way to enjoy them!
foodtasticmom says
LOL – nothing like seeing a comment a year later 🙂 Thanks for the comment Cate!
Liz Weber Berg says
Perfect, classic shortcakes! They look magnificent!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
You can’t go wrong with a classic dessert!
Danielle Green says
Perfect way to enjoy the sweet strawberries in season!
Megan Lawson says
Strawberries are the best!
Caitlyn Erhardt says
These are always a hit with my son! Simple and so tasty!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Caitlyn.
Jessica Formicola says
We love strawberry shortcake, and this is the best recipe we’ve ever tried! Thanks so much for sharing!
foodtasticmom says
Love hearing this, thank you.
Noelle says
I love making this recipe during this time of year because it reminds me summer and strawberry season is so soon 🙂
foodtasticmom says
Agree. I think we all need more sunshine right now!
Emily Liao says
Made these last night and everyone loved it! The texture was perfectly soft and complements the cream and strawberries well 🙂
kim says
Love this recipe! These are delicious and so easy! Will definitely make again!
foodtasticmom says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Scarlet | Family Focus Blog says
I just love strawberry shortcake. It is such a great way to enjoy fresh strawberries!
foodtasticmom says
One of my favorites.
Kathy Ann says
Is this a 1/4 cup scoop?
foodtasticmom says
The OXO brand large scoop I use is a little less than a 1/4 cup. I filled it with water and measured to check. Hope that helps.