American · Desserts

Strawberry shortcake

Name: Strawberry shortcake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 1 h 1 min
Yield: 8 shortcakes
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 pounds ripe fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced; 1/3 cup (67 grams) granulated sugar, divided; 1 teaspoon lemon juice; 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt; 6 tablespoons (85 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed; 3/4 cup (180 grams) cold buttermilk, plus more for brushing; 2 tablespoons coarse sugar; 1 1/2 cups (360 grams) cold heavy cream; 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Sugar-crusted buttermilk biscuits layered with juicy strawberries and softly whipped vanilla cream.

About 1 hr 5 minTotal

About 45 minActive

$Cost

ModerateDifficulty

Makes 8 shortcakes

Equipment

A similarly sized 13 × 18-inch rimmed pan works; smaller pans make a thicker pizza.
Best starting point
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet · 43100
View at Amazon
Another workable path: A similarly sized 13 × 18-inch rimmed pan works; smaller pans make a thicker pizza.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We compared exact half-sheet geometry, uncoated material, reinforced construction, heat limit, care, stable model identity, and the exact Amazon destination. Manufacturer specifications establish model 43100 and its UPC, while America's Test Kitchen reports comparative cooking and handling results. Kwilt has not baked with this pan.
Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet · 43100: Its 13-by-18-inch footprint gives this soft dough the intended thickness, and the uncoated aluminum supports browning on the oiled bottom. Trade-off: Hand washing is recommended, and acidic tomato left on uncoated aluminum can discolor or pit the surface over time.
Another workable path: Use another rimmed half sheet only if its outside dimensions are close to 13 by 18 inches. A smaller pan makes a thicker pizza and needs its own bake adjustment.
Sources
Nordic Ware product details
America's Test Kitchen result
Nordic Ware model and UPC registry
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 8 shortcakes

2 pounds ripe fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/3 cup (67 grams) granulated sugar, divided
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
6 tablespoons (85 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
3/4 cup (180 grams) cold buttermilk, plus more for brushing
2 tablespoons coarse sugar
1 1/2 cups (360 grams) cold heavy cream
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Toss strawberries with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and lemon juice, lightly crushing a few slices. Rest 20 to 30 minutes until glossy and juicy. Heat oven to 425°F and .
Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, and remaining granulated sugar. Cut in cold butter to pea-size pieces, then fold in buttermilk just until shaggy. Pat 1 inch thick, fold in half once, and cut eight rounds without twisting the cutter.
Set biscuits close together, brush tops with buttermilk, and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake 13 to 17 minutes until well risen and deeply golden. Cool 10 minutes.
Whip cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla to soft-medium peaks. Split warm or cool biscuits and layer bottoms with berries and juice, whipped cream, and tops. Assemble only at service so biscuits retain crisp edges.

United StatesAmerican baking and dessert traditions

From the table

About this recipe

American strawberry shortcake traditionally pairs lightly sweet biscuit-style shortcakes with ripe macerated berries and whipped cream, preserving the contrast between crumbly bread, fruit juice, and cool dairy.

American strawberry shortcake traditionally means a lightly sweet biscuit, not necessarily sponge cake. Its pleasure is seasonal contrast: crumbly warm shortcake, cool cream, and ripe berries whose own juice becomes the sauce. A single fold builds height without pastry fuss, and the restrained sugar lets strawberry flavor lead. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Center the 140-review biscuit format and the best comparative signals, keeping seasonal fruit, modest sugar, and immediate assembly instead of substituting cake or elaborate infused cream.

Sources

Dinner does not stop at the recipe