This strawberry shortcake cake recipe is 4 layers of moist vanilla cake with homemade whipped cream and fresh berries. Make the cake from scratch or doctor up a cake mix if youre looking for an easy version. Super light, summery, and the perfect cake to bring to a birthday party, BBQ, or picnic.
Typically, “shortcake” refers to a tender flaky biscuit but I wanted to transform the traditional strawberry shortcake into an actual layer cake while still staying true to those very distinct flavors. I had TWO slices of this cake after the photographs were done because its SO good!
This one layer strawberry shortcake cake combines vanilla cake, fresh juicy strawberries, and homemade whipped cream. It’s a refreshing, light, and totally manageable summertime dessert that’s perfect for a smaller crowd.
Making the Vanilla Cake
- Bring all your ingredients to room temperature, meaning the milk, eggs, and butter should not be even a tiny bit cold. This will ensure that the cake batter mixes together correctly and youll get a better rise and texture in your final cake.
- Preheat your oven to 335ºF and prepare two 8″x2″ round cake pans with cake goop or another preferred kind of pan release and parchment paper.
- I like to pre-measure all my ingredients and have them ready to go so that mixing goes very easily and I dont forget anything. To measure we are using a scale. If you havent used a scale before, dont be intimidated. Its actually easier than using cups and way fewer dishes (yay). You can get a great scale online or in any local store that sells kitchen equipment.
- Divide your milk in half and add your oil to one half and add the eggs and vanilla to the second half. Set them aside.
- Place your cake flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment attached.
- Add in your softened butter and mix at low speed until the flour mixture resembles a coarse sand texture.
- Add your milk/oil mixture and increase the speed to medium. Let your cake batter mix for 2 full minutes. Scrape after 1 minute if you need to. The texture should be light, white, and fluffy after 2 minutes. Dont worry you wont overmix it.
- Reduce the speed to low and slowly add in the milk/egg mixture in a steady stream until its all added in. This takes me about 1 minute. Once the egg mixture is all mixed in, your cake batter is ready to bake!
- Divide your cake batter into your cake pans evenly and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the center bounces back when you lightly touch it.
- Let your cakes cool in the pan for 15 minutes or until the pan is just barely warm to the touch.
- Turn the cake out onto a cooling rack to cool the rest of the way or pop them into the freezer to cool them down faster. For me, it takes about an hour and then they are chilled and ready to go. You can also fully freeze your cakes (wrapped in plastic wrap) and that will help seal in the moisture and keep them moist until youre ready to frost your cakes.
A tender vanilla cake filled with layers of whipped cream frosting and juicy strawberries. The classic flavors of strawberry shortcake in a layer cake.
I’ve had a Strawberry Shortcake Cake on my summer “to-bake” list for years. My goal was to come up with a cake that had all the flavors of strawberry shortcake stacked high in a gorgeous layer cake.
My main criteria were that the recipe needed to be fairly easy, completely from scratch, and it needed to taste AMAZING (duh). I fully expected to have to play around with this recipe multiple times until I got it right, but, somehow this came out perfect – just the way I wanted it – on the first try.
What I love about this cake is its versatility. It’s pretty enough to be served at a dinner party, yet casual enough to be part of a summer BBQ. If you know someone with a summer birthday, this cake would be extra pretty studded with candles and served to your loved ones. However/whenever you choose to make it – just make it! Grab those beautiful summer strawberries before they are gone.
What tastes like a strawberry shortcake, looks like a beautiful layer cake, and is sure to impress anyone and everyone you serve it to?
How To Make A Strawberry Shortcake Layer Cake
FAQ
What is strawberry shortcake cake made of?
Is strawberry shortcake made of angel food cake?
What’s the difference between strawberry shortcake and regular cake?
Which is better for strawberry shortcake Pound Cake or angel food cake?
How do you Make Strawberry Shortcake?
The classic flavors of strawberry shortcake in a rustic and elegant layer cake. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt until combined. Set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (preferred) or a hand mixer, beat sugar, oil, eggs, egg whites, and extracts until combined.
What does a Strawberry Shortcake taste like?
A tender vanilla cake filled with layers of whipped cream frosting and juicy strawberries. The classic flavors of strawberry shortcake in a layer cake. What tastes like a strawberry shortcake, looks like a beautiful layer cake, and is sure to impress anyone and everyone you serve it to? Answer: STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CAKE!
What is a Strawberry Shortcake cake?
This Strawberry Shortcake Cake is an easy twist on the classic with layers of moist vanilla cake, juicy strawberries, and fluffy whipped cream. The perfect way to enjoy fresh summer strawberries! This post is sponsored by Challenge Butter, but all opinions are my own. There’s nothing quite like summer strawberries. They are so juicy and flavorful.
What is whipped cream in Strawberry Shortcake cake?
Whipped cream is signature layer in Strawberry Shortcake Cake, but this whipped cream topping isn’t just whipped cream, it’s CREAM CHEESE whipped cream and it will make you drool. It is essentially the best of both cream cheese and whipped cream.