Best Biscuit Strawberry Shortcake (20 min)
Every year my husband anxiously awaits my easy biscuit strawberry shortcake that his mother made in the ’50s. I make them in 20 minutes with local strawberries at their peak, fresh whipped cream and biscuits (with a shortcut – shh).
It’s the ultimate summer dessert, perfect for a Canada Day or July 4th celebration. For July 4th, I add blue with blueberries 🙂 And for Valentine’s Day!
What to expect
If you haven’t used up your summer fresh strawberries for strawberry jam, give these easy old-fashioned strawberry shortcakes a go. According to my husband, it’s the best strawberry shortcake recipe in the world 🙂
It’s a super quick dessert with simple ingredients found at your local grocery story. You will not be disappointed. It’s a perfect dessert for summer months (or not).
I use a little shortcut with Bisquik (as my husband’s mom did back in the day), but it’s not hard to make biscuits from scratch if you prefer.
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
Strawberries: Fresh in-season juicy strawberries are best. If you can’t get fresh berries, use frozen berries found in the frozen section of your grocery store. Heat with a bit of sugar and lemon to make a sauce.
Bisquick: It comes in a box and is found in most grocery stores in the baking section. If you can’t find it, either make the biscuits from scratch with this strawberry shortcake biscuit recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Or use a substitute for Bisquick with the easy recipe from AllRecipes.
Strawberry substitutes
- Instead of strawberries, use other fresh fruit in season, like blueberries, blackberries or raspberries. Or a mix of berries.
Variations
- Vary the sweetness to your taste by adjusting the sugar and lemon.
- Try adding a bit of lemon or orange zest or cardamon to the biscuits
- Or add a bit or zest to the whipped cream
- To reduce calories:
- Serve half a biscuit only. Keep in mind, though, this is not a low calorie dessert! For example, whipped cream calories alone are 50 calories for one tablespoon.
- My mother would suggest replacing the whipped cream with low fat vanilla yogurt. Hmm. I say go for the good stuff.
Serving suggestions
- Instead of assembling the shortcakes for your family or guests, set out the strawberries, whipped cream and biscuits (sliced in half) and let them help themselves.
Step by step instructions
Tip
To make the biscuits lighter in texture, cut in cold butter with the Bisquick (as per the recipe_. You can, of course, skip this step if you want and just follow the recipe on the box.
Shortcuts
- We’re already using Bisquick as a shortcut, but instead of making biscuits, you can buy scones, biscuits, vanilla cake, sponge cake or mini angel food cake. Split them in half, then pile on the berries and whipped cream. Dessert in ready about 8 minutes!
- You can also substitute fresh whipped cream with cool whip or the canned whipped cream, but in my opinion, there is no contest. Fresh whipped cream is sensational and only takes a couple of minutes to make.
Recipe FAQs
Enriched flour, vegetable oil, leavening (e.g. baking powder), salt and sugar.
The best way is to assemble the shortcakes just before serving and not let them sit around too long. Another option is to use less of the juices created by combining the strawberries with sugar (use a slotted spoon to scoop them out). Sugar helps strawberries release their juices.
You can. Biscuits are more traditional, but both will work. Although they are both made with similar ingredients, biscuits are flakier, more tender, crumbly, and less dry.
Other easy dessert ideas (8-30 minutes)
- microwave brownie recipe in 8 minutes
- cinnamon puff pastry rolls (mini)
- puff pastry apple tart (30 minutes)
- no-bake berry crumble (10 min)
- berry cake
- berry sauce on pound cake (shortcut)
- peach crumble with oats
- apple and blueberry crumble
Please leave a 5 star rating ***** with a comment in the recipe card below if you like the recipe, Thanks so much!
Best Biscuit Strawberry Shortcake (20 min)
Equipment
- immersion blender, food processor or electric hand mixer (for fresh whipped cream)
Ingredients
Biscuits
- 2 cups Bisquick, Note 1
- 3 tablespoon cold butter, cut in small cubes
- 1/2 cup (118ml) milk
Strawberry filling
- 4 cups whole strawberries, washed and stems removed (about 1 lb/450g)
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar (or more, to taste of if berries aren't too sweet)
- squeeze of lemon (1-2 tsp)
Whipped cream
- 1 cup (250 ml) heavy whipping cream 35%
- 3 tablespoon sugar (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F/218C.
- MAKE THE SHORTCAKE BISCUITS: If you prefer a shortcut, just follow the recipe on the Bisquick box. Otherwise, in a medium or large bowl, add the Bisquick and butter. Mix the butter and bisquick with your fingers until well blended. Add enough milk until a soft dough forms. Handling the dough very lightly (don't over mix), divide into 8 portions and drop onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I gently pat them into discs about 1/2 inch/1.27cm thick. Bake in preheated oven for about 8-10 minutes until lightly golden on top. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Note 2 – for homemade biscuits.
- PREPARE STRAWBERRIES: While the biscuits are baking, cut the strawberries in halves or quarters. Place sliced strawberries in a bowl, add sugar and lemon and squish with your fingers a bit to release the juices. Taste and add more sugar or lemon to desired sweetness.
- MAKE WHIPPED CREAM: Using an immersion blender, food processor, stand mixer or a electric hand mixer, pour the COLD heavy cream into a bowl, Add sugar and vanilla. Beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Peaks should be fairly stiff and just very slightly droopy. Don't over beat (it will turn into butter!). Makes 2 cups.
- ASSEMBLE SHORTCAKES: Cut the sweet biscuits in half horizontally (like a hamburger bun) and place bottom half on individual plates or bowls. Spoon some juicy strawberries and a bit of whipped cream on top of biscuit half. Place other half of biscuit on top. Add more whipped cream, then more strawberries. Serve immediately. Alternatively, set everything out and let people make their own.
Recipe Notes
- Bisquick is a prepackaged biscuit or pancake mix you buy in the store. It includes flour, leavening (like baking powder), fat, salt and sugar.
- To make your own biscuits: Here’s a recipe to your own homemade biscuits from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
- Variations:
- Vary the sweetness to your taste by adjusting the sugar and lemon.
- Try adding a bit of lemon or orange zest or cardamon to the biscuits
- Or add a bit or zest to the whipped cream
- To reduce calories:
- Serve half a biscuit only. Keep in mind, though, this is not a low calorie dessert! For example, whipped cream calories alone are 50 calories for one tablespoon.
- My mother would suggest replacing the whipped cream with low fat vanilla yogurt. Hmm. I say go for the good stuff.
- Shortcuts:
- Buy scones, biscuits, sponge cake or mini angel food cake. Split them in half, then pile on the berries and whipped cream. Dessert in ready about 8 minutes!
- You can also substitute fresh whipped cream with cool whip or the canned whipped cream, but in my opinion, there is no contest. Fresh whipped cream is sensational and only takes a couple of minutes to make.
- To make ahead: Store biscuits, once cooled, in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to 2 days. Warm the biscuits in the oven at 350F/176C for a few minutes if desired (or in the microwave for 30 seconds), assemble the shortcakes and serve. The whipped cream can be made up to 2 hours ahead and kept in the fridge.
Nutrition
This easy strawberry shortcake recipe has been updated with new information, recipe tweaks and picture edits.
