Nothing says summer like old fashioned strawberry shortcake. With a crumbly cake filled with sweet, sun -kissed strawberries and fresh whipped cream, this recipe is a delightful taste of summertime in every morsel.
Strawberry Shortcake
Ingredients:
Cake Ingredients
2 quarts fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream
Topping Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons granulated white sugar
Directions:
1. Combine strawberries and sugar; set aside for about an hour so a good amount of juice forms.
2. In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly.
3. In another bowl, beat egg; add vanilla extract and cream. Add to crumb mixture, stirring only until moist.
4. Pat into a greased 8-in. square or round baking pan. Bake at 450 degrees F for about 15 minutes or until golden.
5. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.
Directions for whipped cream:
1. In a large mixing bowl place the whipping cream, vanilla extract, and sugar and stir to combine.
2. Cover and chill the bowl and beaters in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
3. When chilled, beat the mixture until stiff peaks form. The whipped cream will hold for several hours in the refrigerator.
To Serve:
1. Cut the cake in half and place the bottom half of the cake on a plate.
2. Top with half of the strawberries and whipped cream. Place the top half of the cake on the strawberries.
3. Top with the rest of the whipped cream and strawberries. If there is any juice from the strawberries, drizzle a little over the top of the cake.
Other Great Summer Desserts
Strawberry shortcake is a fantastic dessert to serve at the end of a summer picnic. It's adored by all ages, and is quite refreshing. If you need ideas for other summertime desserts, we've got your back with these suggestions.
Making your own ice cream has never been easier. With the advent of new appliances, you can quickly make ice cream without all of the churning by hand. There are dozens of recipes available around the Internet, so think about your favorite ice cream flavors and get searching!
If you want a dessert that the kids can help you with, try making popsicles. If you have a desire to challenge yourself, try making layered popsicles. Pick two or three flavors that you'd like to include, and get busy! You can find popsicle moulds on Amazon. Many of them come in unique shapes, which is sure to excite the younger in the family!
Need something fancy? Why not try chocolate mousse? While this dessert may not be synonymous with summer, it's a light and airy dessert that will do well on hot nights. Nobody finds themselves craving pie in the summer, so chocolate mousse is a great dessert to offer up as an alternative.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Lschirmbeck | Dreamstime.