Shortcake biscuits are the heart of this classic dessert recipe especially when berries are in season. Light and flaky, piled high with sweet blueberries, strawberries and lofty whipped cream. A summery red, white and blue dessert recipe!
When considering a patriotic dessert for July 4th or any summer meal frankly, Strawberry Shortcake is a classic.
Fresh sweet strawberries paired with light, flaky cake, and a dollop of freshly whipped cream; it just tastes like summer!
These individual buttermilk Shortcake Biscuits are easy to make and delicious!
Adding sweetened berries makes it a celebration of summer.
This red white and blue dessert recipe is perfect for summer and Fourth of July!
Want more red, white and blue inspiration? Check out my Fourth of July recipes and my Fourth of July Pinterest board!
These sweet cake biscuits bake flaky on the outside, soft on the inside!
The buttermilk adds a a subtle tang that is nostalgic of old school baked good.
It helps keeps the shortcake biscuits moist too.
What is Shortcake?
The ‘shortcake’ is a scone-like sweet biscuit using shortening or butter making it flakier than its traditional sister sponge cake.
This berry dessert is a simple, homey recipe made with shortcake biscuits, sliced fresh berries and sweet whipped cream.
Why is it called Shortcake?
The term ‘shortcake’ is a 16th century English word meaning something made crisp by the addition of butter or lard.
Origins of Strawberry Shortcake
The now classic summer dessert was first noted in the mid 1800’s in the U.S..
This coincided with transcontinental railroad making strawberries available more readily by shipping them on ice from coast to coast.
Recipe Ingredients
The ingredients in this recipe are mainstream baking ingredients. Nothing exotic and all easy to find!
- All-Purpose Flour (regular or favorite gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend)
- Granulated Sugar
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Kosher Salt
- Unsalted Butter
- Buttermilk
- Egg Yolk
- Vanilla Extract
- Fresh Strawberries
- Fresh Blueberries
- Heavy Whipping Cream
An Easy Recipe to Change up
Swap the quantity of fresh blueberries for the same amount of (more) strawberries. Or visa versa for a solo berry dessert.
Proceed with the recipe as written.
Make Regular or Gluten-Free Shortcake
This recipe can be made with either regular All Purpose Flour or a gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend.
It will turn out perfectly with either one!
Suggested Supplies for Making the Shortcake
All the supplies needs are standard to kitchen use. The only supply that you may not have is the cookie cutter which is easy to find.
- 3-inch diameter round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter
- Food Processor with pastry blade
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper or Silpat (optional for the baking sheet)
- Cooling rack
- Serrated knife for easy slicing of the biscuits
- Mixer with whisk attachment (or handheld mixer)
How to Make Shortcake from Scratch – Step by Step
For the full detailed printable recipe please refer to the recipe card at the end of the post.
This high-level instruction outlines the main steps for making shortcake.
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
STEP 2: Prepare a rimmed (not black) baking sheet (butter or line with parchment paper or a silpat).
STEP 3: Using a Food Processor fitted with a pastry blade, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and soda, and salt. Pulse to combine.
STEP 4: Add butter and pulse until the mixture is coarse crumb like in texture.
STEP 5: Separately combine the buttermilk, vanilla and egg yolk. Pour into the Food Processor and pulse to fully combine making a dough.
STEP 6: Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Flatten dough to ¾-inch thickness.
STEP 7: Cut out 3-inch circles with a cookie cutter and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Combine remaining dough and repeat.
STEP 8: Brush the tops of the shortcake with buttermilk and bake for 10-15 minutes.
STEP 9: Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack to cool fully (note: this is critical for a gluten-free version).
STEP 10: When fully cooled, slice horizontally with a serrated knife.
The instructions for macerating (sweetening with sugar) the berries, making the whipping cream and assembling the full dessert can be found in the recipe card.
Can Shortcake Be Made in Advance?
The actual shortcake biscuits can.
The dessert itself should not be assembled until just before serving to keep the cake biscuits from getting soggy.
To make ahead:
Follow the recipe for the biscuits and cool completely.
Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days before assembling the dessert.
How Long Does Shortcake Keep in the Refrigerator?
This is a dessert that should be assembled and eaten pretty immediately.
Though leftovers can be saved for a bite the next morning, the shortcake biscuits will become soggy.
Also the sliced strawberries and whipped cream quickly become unappealing.
Fourth of July Serving Accessories
Setting a fun table for Fourth of July is so easy with adding a bit of red, white and blue to whatever you are serving.
I love these old school wooden striped forks and spoons. They remind me of an old fashioned celebration.
Red Gingham napkins add a fun touch too.
More Red White and Blue recipes
- Red White and Blue Cake
- Firecracker Punch: A Fruity Fizzy Punch with a Bang!
- Easy Salad Recipe in Red, White and Blue
- Star Spangled Layered Finger Jello
- Patriotic Fruit Salads
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Recipe
Blueberry & Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cup all purpose or gluten-free flour (I used King Arthur’s Gluten Free Flour) plus extra for patting down the dough
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated Sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons Baking Powder
- ¾ teaspoons Baking Soda
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 6 tablespoons cold , Unsalted Butter, cut into pieces
- 2/3 cup Buttermilk (plus a bit extra for glazing)
- 1 large Egg Yolk
- 1 ½ plus ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 cups Strawberries , hulled and sliced
- 2 cups Blueberries
- 1/3 cup Baker’s (fine grain) Sugar
- 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 3- inch diameter cookie cutter or biscuit cutter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter a metal (not black) baking sheet or use a silpat.
- In a large bowl place berries and 1/3 cup Baker’s Sugar. Mix with a spoon to fully coat and set aside to allow berries to macerate (their juices with mix with the sugar creating a sauce).
- In a food processor bowl using the pastry blade combine the flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Pulse to fully combine.
- Add the chopped butter; pulse to combine until crumb-like consistency.
- Combine the 2/3 cup buttermilk, vanilla and egg yolk. Pour into the food processor while it is mixing; pulse until the liquid and solid mixtures have completely incorporated. If the dough is too dry to hold together, add additional buttermilk by the tablespoonfuls until the dough stays together.
- Place the dough onto a floured surface (if making the shortcake gluten-free be sure to use gluten-free flour). Gently flatten to the dough until it is 3/4 inch thick. Cut out rounds using a 3-inch round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter. Slide a spatula underneath the round of dough and gently transfer it to the prepared baking sheet.
- Combine remaining dough and repeat until no other shortcake can be cut from the dough scraps. Brush the top of each shortcake with buttermilk and place in the oven.
- Bake until shortcake is lightly golden brown; between 10-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool fully (this is especially important for gluten-free shortcake to ensure the shortcake will stay intact). Once fully cooked, slice in half with a serrated knife horizontally.
To prepare the Whipped Cream:
- In a chilled mixing bowl combine the heavy cream, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla. Mix on high speed until soft peaks are reached but the cream is still a bit relaxed (do not beat until the whipping cream is completely stiff).
To assemble the shortcakes:
- Place the lower half of a shortcake on a serving plate. Add an ample spoon of the berries and liquid, whipped cream and place the top of the shortcake on top. Add a few berries on the top of the shortcake. Repeat with remaining shortcakes and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published: June 28, 2013
Elizabeth says
I’m glad I found this recipe just in time for Memorial Day weekend! I’ve always used store bought biscuits for shortcake, but these homemade biscuits were easy to make and taste so much better.
Susan says
These are so delicious. I wanted to have them for Memorial Day and made a test batch this morning. The biscuits have just the right amount of sweetness and are very easy to make. The fruit is also delicious. It’s a great summer dessert. Looking forward to serving it at our gathering. The test batch was gobbled up!
Betty says
We got a basket of fresh berries from our Farmer’s Market and I found your recipe for these shortcakes. It’s the first time I’ve actually made shortcake biscuits and they were so good! A perfect summer dessert. We’ll be making it often this year.
Kelley says
These were so good and easy to make! It made such a colorful dessert!
Ashley F says
I think this is such a fun and easy dessert to make! Just perfect!
Sommer says
This is the ultimate dessert! I wish I could have this every night!
Alli says
These were so good and super easy, my kids gobbled them up!
Suzy says
Absolutely loved the gluten free version! These came out perfect!