Quick Strawberry Shortcake Cups Recipe
Quick Strawberry Shortcake Cups are a delightful and easy-to-make dessert featuring layers of sweet macerated strawberries, fluffy whipped cream, and soft cake pieces served in individual cups. Perfect for a refreshing treat that comes together in just 15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberry Mixture
- 2 pounds fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Whipped Cream
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, very cold
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cake
- 1 (10-12 ounce) store-bought angel food cake or pound cake
Instructions
- Macerate strawberries: In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries and granulated sugar. Let them sit for 10 minutes to allow the strawberries to release their natural juices, creating a sweet syrup.
- Prepare the cake: If using store-bought shortcakes, crumble them into bite-sized pieces. If using pound cake, cut or crumble into small pieces suitable for layering.
- Assemble the first layer: In serving cups or glasses, add a layer of the crumbled shortcake or pound cake as a base.
- Add strawberry layer: Spoon a generous layer of the macerated strawberries along with their juices over the cake layer to soak the pieces and add flavor.
- Make whipped cream: Using a mixer, whip the cold heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form, creating a light and fluffy whipped cream.
- Add whipped cream layer: Top the strawberry layer with a generous dollop of whipped cream to add richness and creaminess to the dessert.
- Repeat layering: Continue layering cake, strawberries, and whipped cream until the serving cups are filled, finishing with a swirl of whipped cream on top.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish each cup with a fresh strawberry slice and a mint leaf if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving to keep fresh.
Notes
- Using very cold heavy cream helps achieve a better whipped cream consistency.
- This dessert can be prepped ahead but is best served fresh to prevent the cake from becoming too soggy.
- Feel free to substitute pound cake with angel food cake or store-bought shortcakes based on preference.
- To make it more festive, add mint leaves or a dusting of powdered sugar on top before serving.
Keywords: strawberry shortcake, quick dessert, no-bake dessert, whipped cream dessert, strawberry recipe, summer dessert
