Description
A delightful Christmas strawberry shortcake recipe featuring layers of tender cake, sweet macerated strawberries, and fluffy whipped cream. Perfect for holiday celebrations, this showstopper dessert combines classic flavors with simple techniques to impress your guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberries
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced
- 1/4 cup sugar
Cake
- 2 cups cake flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cake layers.
- Macerate Strawberries. Combine the sliced strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar and let them sit for 30 minutes to release their juices and become sweet and juicy.
- Cream Butter and Sugar. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with the granulated sugar until the mixture is creamy and light in color, creating a smooth base for the cake batter.
- Add Eggs and Milk. Mix in the eggs and milk thoroughly to the creamed butter and sugar to combine all wet ingredients evenly.
- Incorporate Flour. Gradually add the cake flour to the wet mixture and blend until the batter is smooth with no lumps, ensuring a tender texture for the cake.
- Prepare Cake Pans. Grease your cake pans to prevent sticking, then pour the batter evenly into the pans.
- Bake the Cake. Place the pans into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove and allow the cakes to cool completely.
- Whip Cream. In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form, making a light and fluffy topping.
- Layer the Shortcake. On a serving plate, place one cake layer, spread a layer of whipped cream, and top with macerated strawberries. Repeat this layering process with the remaining cake layer, cream, and strawberries.
- Finish Decoration. Top the assembled shortcake with the remaining strawberries and a final dollop of whipped cream for a festive and inviting presentation.
Notes
- Make sure the cake layers are completely cooled before assembling to prevent the whipped cream from melting.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor.
- Chill your mixing bowl and beaters before whipping cream for faster and better volume.
- You can substitute cake flour with all-purpose flour, but the texture might be slightly denser.
- For a lighter alternative, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but keep in mind it will be less fluffy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas dessert, strawberry shortcake, holiday cake, whipped cream, macerated strawberries, festive dessert
