How do I make a crowd-pleasing stratified strawberry shortcake?

Win hearts and taste buds with our delightful stratified strawberry shortcake recipe. Perfect for any occasion!

You'll need

Items needed to answer the question, How do I make a crowd-pleasing stratified strawberry shortcake. Items include: Butter Sugar Eggs Vanilla Extract All-Purpose Flour Baking Powder Salt Milk Fresh Strawberries Whipped Cream

Butter 1 cup of softened butter
Sugar 2 cups of sugar
Eggs 4 eggs
Vanilla Extract 1 teaspoon
All-Purpose Flour 3 cups
Baking Powder 1 tablespoon
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Milk 1 cup
Fresh Strawberries 4 cups of sliced fresh strawberries
Whipped Cream As needed for layering and garnish

Take note
Be careful not to overmix the batter, as it can make the cake dense. Also, watch out for sneaky strawberry thieves - they may try to steal some slices while you're not looking!

1

Prepare the Shortcake Layers

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans. In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup of softened butter and 2 cups of sugar until light and fluffy. Add 4 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with 1 cup of milk. Mix just until combined. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans.

2

Bake the Shortcake Layers

Place the cake pans in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the layers to cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Transfer the layers to a wire rack to cool completely.

3

Prepare the Strawberry Filling

In a medium bowl, gently toss 4 cups of sliced fresh strawberries with 1/4 cup of sugar. Let the strawberries sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sugar will help macerate the strawberries, releasing their juices and creating a delicious syrup.

4

Assemble the Shortcake

Place one of the cooled shortcake layers on a serving plate. Spread a generous layer of whipped cream over the top. Spoon a third of the macerated strawberries and their syrup over the whipped cream. Repeat with the second layer of cake, whipped cream, and strawberries. Top with the final layer of cake. Garnish the top with additional whipped cream and fresh strawberries, if desired.

5

Chill and Serve

Cover the assembled strawberry shortcake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the cake to become tender. Slice and serve to your eager guests, and enjoy the delightful layers of cake, cream, and juicy strawberries!