Old Fashioned Southern Strawberry Shortcakes

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Old-Fashioned Southern Strawberry Shortcakes, made from scratch with sweetened cornmeal shortcake biscuits, are what dessert dreams are made of, and for a good reason.

With fresh red, juicy strawberries, billowy clouds of whipped cream, and crunchy old-fashioned shortcake biscuits, this strawberry shortcake recipe is a quick and easy dessert, and it is as beautiful as it is delicious!

Southern strawberry shortcake on a plate with fresh strawberries.

Fresh strawberries are at their best in the spring and summer when they are in season. And this strawberry shortcake recipe is as perfect to serve at a backyard barbecue as it is for a festive Mother’s Day or Easter celebration.

Strawberry shortcake is now Florida’s official dessert! During its most recent legislative session, Strawberry shortcake was designated as the official state dessert.

Ingredients – Here’s what you need to make this recipe:

Ingredients for strawberry shortcake including strawberries and buttermilk.

Fresh strawberries – are the star of this show. Buy the freshest strawberries possible and let them shine.
Sugar – granulated sugar is used to macerate the strawberries and to sweeten the shortcake biscuits. Confectioners sugar sweetens the whipped cream.
Heavy cream – is the major component in the soft billowy homemade whipped cream. After whipping, the rich cream doubles in volume.
All-purpose flour – is the base of the cornmeal shortcake biscuits.
Cornmeal – is what sets this southern shortcake biscuit apart and gives it a Southern spin or twist.
Butter – adds rich flavor and moisture to the shortcakes.
Baking powder – reacts with the buttermilk and causes the shortcakes to rise.
Salt – enhances the flavor of the other shortcake ingredients.
Buttermilk – another southern twist, works with the baking powder to cause the drop biscuits to rise and become fluffy shortcakes.

Directions – Here’s how to make it:

To make the strawberry filling, mix the sliced strawberries and sugar in a bowl and macerate for about 30 minutes.

To make the drop biscuits for the strawberry shortcakes, gather the ingredients and preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Place the dry ingredients, including flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine everything. Or, if you don’t have a food processor, place the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
Add the chilled cubed butter to the mixture in the food processor and pulse a few times until the flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You can also cut the butter in with a pastry blender or fork until the flour mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Flour and cubes of butter in a food processor.

Add the buttermilk and stir until the mixture comes together. Do not over-mix, or your biscuits will be tough.

Shortcake batter mixed and ready to use.

If the mixture seems too dry, add a little more buttermilk, about a tablespoon at a time. If it appears too runny, add a little more flour, about a tablespoon at a time.
Spray the inside of a quarter cup measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray and use it to scoop out your biscuits.

A measuring cup with biscuit dough to make drop biscuits.

Drop the biscuits about an inch apart onto a greased baking sheet or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Southern shortcake biscuit dough on a baking sheet.

Bake the biscuits for 12-14 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

To make the whipped cream, place a metal mixing bowl and electric mixer beaters in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes.
Add the sugar and whipping cream to the chilled mixing bowl. Whisk just until the cream reaches stiff peaks. Store any unused portion in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To assemble the strawberry shortcakes, slice the biscuits. Add a generous layer of whipped cream and a generous layer of strawberries to the bottom biscuit half. Place the top of the biscuit on top and repeat the layers. Serve immediately.

Strawberry shortcake with sliced strawberries on a plate.

Frequently asked questions:

How to buy and store fresh strawberries?

When purchasing strawberries, look for medium-sized berries with a bright red color. They do not continue ripening after they are picked, so don’t buy green ones. They should also have a sweet strawberry fragrance that is almost intoxicating. If you can’t smell them, walk away.

Also, make sure that they are free of bruises or blemishes and that their leaves are green and healthy-looking. If the leaves look dry, the berries are past their prime.

Strawberries are extremely perishable. Try to use them as soon as possible after purchasing them. To keep them from spoiling, don’t wash them until you are ready to eat them and store them in the refrigerator in the container they came in. They should keep in the refrigerator for one to two days.

How to hull strawberries?

First, give your berries a quick rinse and pat them dry. Then, if you don’t have a strawberry huller, angle a small sharp paring knife at a 45-degree angle under the green leafy top of the strawberry and into the flesh directly underneath, turn the fruit in a circular motion, and cut out the hull.

What is a shortcake?

When you see the term “shortcake,” it refers to a sweetened biscuit with a crispy exterior that has been leavened with baking powder or soda. The biscuits can be either easy drop biscuits, like mine, or rolled out and cut into circles. This recipe features sweetened drop biscuits made with a bit of cornmeal, which is slightly different from old-fashioned strawberry shortcake biscuits.

Can this dessert be made ahead of time?

You can make the biscuits up to two days ahead and store them tightly covered until you are ready to assemble the shortcake. You can also freeze them for a month or two. For the best texture and taste, don’t add the sugar and macerate the strawberries any longer than an hour ahead of when you want to serve this dessert. The longer the berries sit, the softer they become.

How to store leftovers?

Unfortunately, once assembled, strawberry shortcake doesn’t store very well and leftovers will get soggy. My recommendation is to make and keep the components separately and then assemble them before serving.

Sharon’s tips:

Instead of strawberries, step out on the wild side and try substituting your favorite fruit or a combination of fruit and berries. For example, blackberries, raspberries, sliced peaches, nectarines, blueberries, cherries, or even figs would all be delicious.
Keep the butter cold until you are ready to make the biscuits. I use unsalted butter; if all you have is salted, reduce the amount of salt you use in this recipe.
Speaking of salt, I use kosher salt. If all you have is regular table salt, only use one-half as much.
Not in the mood to make biscuits or don’t have time? Substitute slices of angel food cake, or pound cake, or the small cake dessert shells you can purchase at your bakery.
You can also substitute frozen whipped topping or canned whipped cream for homemade whipped cream too!
Want to ramp up the flavor of the strawberries? Feel free to add a splash of Grand Marnier or a bit of lemon juice to the strawberry mixture.

More desserts with fresh fruit:

If you like this fruit dessert, you might also be interested in these easy and popular recipes on my blog:

If you need more menu ideas or recipes, check out all of my dessert recipes here.

★ If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and give it a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

**This recipe was originally published on February 15, 2018. It was republished on February 28, 2021, with new pictures, a new FAQ section, and expanded tips.

Old-Fashioned Southern Strawberry Shortcakes

Ingredients – Here’s what you need to make this recipe:

Directions – Here’s how to make it:

Frequently asked questions:

Sharon’s tips:

More desserts with fresh fruit: