Flaky biscuits, juicy strawberries, and fresh whipped cream. This easy and delicious strawberry shortcake recipe is perfect for warm summer nights!

In my house, Father’s Day is a big deal. Every year, my entire family comes together to spend the day hiking our favorite scenic trails or relaxing on the nearby lake and soaking up the summer sun. Then, during the evening, we have a big family dinner in the grassy backyard. Some years we turn on the grill and roast vegetables while other years we make refreshing summer salads. But, no matter how we spend our afternoon or what delicious meal we cook, my family always ends the day with the same traditional dessert: strawberry shortcake. 

Since I was a kid, my father’s favorite dessert has always been (and likely always will be) strawberry shortcake. And not just any strawberry shortcake. He likes a crumbly buttermilk biscuit topped with fresh strawberries and cold vanilla whipped cream. Therefore, over the years, I have discovered the perfect recipe to ensure a successful dessert. The hearty buttermilk biscuits pair perfectly with the fresh fruit and silky cream. And the best part is... it is super easy to make! I do not need to prepare hours ahead of time or run to the store to get any fancy ingredients. I often have everything that I need already in my kitchen. So, if you are looking for the perfect dessert for a summer night, there is no excuse not to try these. Ditch the overly sweetened biscuit mix and the preservative-filled can of cream. Let’s get baking!

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE INGREDIENTS:

Flour

These biscuits require 2 cups of all purpose flour. 

Sugar

This recipe does not require too much sugar. I like to use around 1 tablespoon of sugar in the batter so that the biscuits do not come out too sweet. You can also sprinkle some sugar on top of your biscuits once they are formed (but before they bake) to add some crunch.

In addition, I add about 2 tablespoons of sugar to my chopped strawberries to further sweeten the dessert. 

Lastly, I like to add about 3 tablespoons of sugar to my homemade whipped cream (to make enough for 9 biscuits). You can add a little bit more or a little bit less sugar in each component depending on how sweet you want your dessert to be.

Baking powder

This may sound like a lot, but you will need 2 teaspoons of baking powder to make these biscuits rise.  

Salt

Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the batter bring out the flavor. 

Buttermilk

I don't know about you, but I love the taste of buttermilk. For these biscuits, you will need ¾ of a cup.

Butter

This recipe requires 6 tablespoons of cold, unsalted butter. The trick here is that the butter has to come straight out of the fridge. Unlike other recipes, there is no need to take the butter out before hand and wait for it to warm. 

Vanilla

I like to add a splash of vanilla to everything I bake. I just love the taste! Then, you will also need 3 teaspoons of vanilla extract for your whipped cream.

Strawberries

It may come as a shock to hear, but for this strawberry shortcake recipe you will need lots of strawberries. I like to quarter my strawberries but you can dice them up more finely if you want to. Make this dessert your own! 

Heavy cream

Trust me, it is not hard to make homemade whipped cream. It really is exactly what it sounds like: just whip some cream. About 1 ½ a cups of heavy cream will make the perfect amount for these 9 biscuits. You can, of course, make more or less depending on how many biscuits you will be eating.

HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE:

Let’s start with the buttermilk biscuits. First, you need to prepare your dry ingredients. Combine them all together (the flour, sugar, baking powder, and the salt). 

Next, cut in the cold butter. Cut your cold butter into little pieces and work the cubes into your dry mixture. I like to just use my hands to form the dough. The dough should become crumbly.

Then, add your buttermilk and vanilla extract to the mixture. I like to make a well in the dry ingredients and then pour the milk into it. Lightly stir to combine everything.

Next, place your dough on a lightly floured surface and work to combine all of the crumbs. Fold the dough three or four times to incorporate everything. Then, form a rectangle and cut the biscuits using a biscuit cutter.

I made 9 medium sized biscuits using a 2.5-inch cutter. You can brush buttermilk and sprinkle sugar onto each biscuit if you want to. Then, lay the balls on your lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes at 450 F. That’s it for the biscuits! Super simple.

Then, prepare your strawberries. Cut your berries into quarters (or smaller if you want) and put them in a bowl. Sprinkle them with sugar and toss to combine. I like to do this a few hours ahead of time so that the sugar can seep into the berries and make them extra juicy!

Finally, when you are nearing time to eat your dessert, prepare the cream. Pour your heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla into an electric mixer. Then, just start whipping. Beat on medium-high for a couple of minutes (mine takes about three minutes). The cream should become thick and pillow-y. 

Tips:

All that is left to do is assemble! Cut your homemade biscuits in half and fill them with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and a spoonful (or two) of juicy berries. Eat up! 

Check out some of our other delicious dessert recipes:

The Best No-Bake Banana Pudding Recipe

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Red, White, and Blue Poke Cake Recipe

Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

Five Ingredient Homemade Tiramisu

Yield: 12-16 pops

Easy Halloween Banana Ghost Snack (Frozen)

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Don't be afraid of our Easy Halloween Banana Ghost Snack. This frozen yogurt-dipped banana recipe makes a healthy Halloween fun and easy.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Freeze Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 6-8 medium or large bananas
• 1 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 bar white baking chocolate
• 3 tablespoons dark chocolate or mini chocolate chips
• pack of popsicle sticks

Instructions

Preparation

1. Place the vanilla yogurt in a bowl and stir until smooth.
2. Grate the white chocolate bar into a separate bowl or tray.
3. Peel, then use a knife to cut a banana in half to create two ghost bases. Carefully insert a popsicle stick into the cut end of the banana half. 
4. Dip each banana into the yogurt, turning it to coat the entire banana.
5. For a thin yogurt layer (as pictured), immediately roll in grated white chocolate. For a thicker yogurt layer, skip the chocolate layer for now.
6. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, or stand on a wire rack that allows for a smoother ghost shape. 
7. Repeat for the remaining bananas, taking care to peel the bananas and cut the bananas one banana at a time, to prevent browning.
8. Place the prepared baking sheet in the freezer and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
9. At this point, if you want a thicker yogurt layer, dip the bananas in the yogurt one more time, roll in grated white chocolate, and refreeze.

Decoration

1. Melt the dark chocolate in a small microwave safe bowl in the microwave, stopping to stir it often so that it doesn’t scorch.
2. Pour the melted chocolate into a small sandwich bag and cut the pointy tip off one corner.
3. Using the bag like a piping bag, drizzle some chocolate onto each ghost. A couple dots and a circle make for easy eyes and mouth.
4. Return to the freezer and freeze until solid or until chocolate hardens.

Serving

1. Leave the healthy Halloween banana popsicles out at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
2. Serve whole, with or without the popsicle sticks. Enjoy!

Notes

Don't forget to peel, cut, and dip each banana, one at a time, to prevent browning.

Just ripe or even slightly underripe bananas are best for this recipe.

These are fun and easy to lay directly on a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat mat. If you plan to freeze them upright, then make sure your freezer has the space.

These aren't just fun to make for adults, but fun for kids too!