Valentines Strawberry Shortcake Cups (Printer-friendly)
Individual layered desserts featuring tender vanilla shortcake, macerated fresh strawberries, and billowy whipped cream in portable cups.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Shortcake
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
07 - 2/3 cup buttermilk
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Strawberries
09 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
10 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
→ Whipped Cream
12 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
13 - 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
14 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
03 - Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining.
04 - Stir in buttermilk and vanilla just until combined; do not overmix. The dough will be slightly sticky.
05 - Drop 6 equal mounds onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
06 - Combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a bowl. Toss to coat and let sit for at least 10 minutes to macerate, allowing the berries to release their juices.
07 - Using a hand mixer, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form. Do not overbeat.
08 - Break each shortcake into bite-sized chunks. Layer in serving cups: shortcake pieces, a generous spoonful of strawberries and their juices, then whipped cream. Repeat layers as desired, ending with whipped cream and a strawberry garnish.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything tastes better in adorable individual portions, especially when you dont have to share
- The assembly is so forgiving you can literally pretend youre an artist layering flavors
02 -
- Cold butter is non-negotiable—if it starts warming up while you work, pop the whole bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes
- The strawberry mixture might look too juicy at first but that liquid is liquid gold, do not drain it
03 -
- Room temperature strawberries macerate faster than cold ones—take them out of the fridge while you make the shortcakes
- Adding a pinch of salt to the whipped cream might seem weird but it makes all the other flavors sing louder