Biscuit Recipe for Strawberry Shortcake

4.90 from 38 votes

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This is the only biscuit recipe for strawberry shortcake you’ll ever need. Homemade lightly sweet biscuits that are easy to make, perfect with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!

A bowl with a strawberry short cake biscuit, whipped cream, and sliced strawberries featuring a biscuit recipe for strawberry shortcake.

These golden-brown biscuits feature a delicate crunch on the outside while maintaining a soft, buttery interior that melts in your mouth. The subtle sweetness in the dough complements the natural flavors of fresh strawberries without overwhelming them.

What sets this recipe apart is its foolproof nature – even novice bakers can achieve professional-looking results on their first try. These homemade sweet biscuits strike the perfect balance between tender and sturdy, making them the ideal base for juicy strawberries and pillowy whipped cream.

The sparkling sugar on top is optional, but makes this shortcake beautiful and extra-tasty. Fresh whipped cream sets it over the top!

A bowl with a strawberry short cake biscuit, whipped cream, and sliced strawberries with a fork and short cake biscuits in the background.

Why You’ll Love This Biscuit Recipe for Strawberry Shortcake

  • Quick Dessert: This recipe takes just 29 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for a fast dessert option.
  • Perfect Pairing: The sweet, buttery biscuit-like shortcake pairs perfectly with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
  • Just Right: You can adjust the sweetness of the strawberries and whipped cream to your liking, making it a versatile treat.
  • Simple Recipe: Uses common pantry items, so you likely already have everything you need on hand.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Flour – All-purpose
  • Sugar – Granulated
  • Baking powder
  • Butter
  • Egg
  • Whole milk – Or 2% milk
  • Vanilla extract
  • Sprinkling sugar – I used this sparkling sugar.
  • Strawberries – Fresh
  • Whipped Cream – I use my homemade whipped cream.
  • Salt

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities 

How to Make Biscuits for Strawberry Shortcake

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet. Mix dry ingredients and cut in butter.
  2. Add egg, milk, and vanilla to the mixture and stir.
  3. Drop dough onto the baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes. Let cool.
  4. Split biscuits, add strawberries and whipped cream, and enjoy.
A bowl of dough with a spoon sits next to a bowl of fresh strawberries, ready to create the best strawberry shortcake. Nearby are two eggs, one cracked, and a stick of butter wrapped in paper, all resting on a pristine white surface.

Recipe FAQs

Can I double this recipe?

I had great luck doubling the cake recipe and placing it in a sheet pan. I baked it for about 15 minutes and then added a layer of strawberries, a layer of whipped cream, and then more strawberries. I took it like this to a big family party and sliced it there. It was a great and easy way to make strawberry shortcake for a crowd!

What happens when you put sugar on a strawberry?

I like to add a tablespoon or two of sugar to my cut strawberries and let them sit while I make the shortcake. This gives the strawberries some time to release their juices and makes a nice syrup to drizzle on top of the shortcakes. So good.

How do I make whipped cream?

To make whipped cream, I simply add 1-2 cups of heavy whipping cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla to the bowl of my stand mixer and beat until soft peaks form. SO much better than anything pre-made from the store. Very worth the 5 minutes of prep, if you ask me.

A plate with the best strawberry shortcake features a layer of sliced strawberries and whipped cream between crumbly biscuit pieces. A fork rests beside it, inviting a taste, while more biscuits tempt in the background.

Expert Tips

  • Cold Butter: Ensure the butter is cold when you cut it into the flour. This helps create a flakier texture in the biscuits.
  • Just Enough: Stir the dough just until it comes together. Overmixing can make the biscuits tough.
  • Scooping Tip: Use an ice cream scoop to portion out the dough evenly, ensuring all biscuits bake at the same rate.
  • Last Minute: Assemble the shortcakes just before serving to keep the biscuits from becoming soggy.
Top view of short cake biscuits in a baking dish.

How to Serve and Store Biscuits for Strawberry Shortcake

This is a classic midwestern summertime dessert. It could be served after eating pork chops, crockpot BBQ pulled pork, Mississippi pot roast, or fried chicken for dinner.

For an elegant presentation, serve them on a cake stand with bowls of strawberries and whipped cream alongside, allowing guests to build their own desserts.

Storage Tips:

  • Biscuits will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days
  • Refrigerate for up to 5 days, though texture is best when fresh
  • Freeze unassembled biscuits for up to 3 months
  • Always store components separately and assemble just before serving
  • To refresh day-old biscuits, warm them briefly in a 350°F oven

A Few Delicious Strawberry Recipes

Strawberry shortcake is the definition of summer, or at least it is at my house! Here are a few other ways we fully enjoy strawberry season (although I’ve been known to use frozen strawberries to recreate this summer-y vibe in the middle of a freezing winter!)

Photo of a shortcake biscuit with sliced strawberries and whipped cream in a bowl with the words "strawberry shortcake biscuits" written at the top.

More Fun Dessert Recipes to Consider

4.90 from 38 votes

Biscuit Recipe for Strawberry Shortcake

This is the only biscuit recipe for strawberry shortcake you'll ever need. Homemade lightly sweet biscuits that are easy to make, perfect with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 14 minutes
Total: 29 minutes
Servings: 9 large shortcakes

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick cold butter, 1/2 cup, cut into 8 pieces
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup whole milk or 2% milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 tablespoons sprinkling sugar, optional
  • 1-2 pounds fresh strawberries, hulled, sliced, and sweetened to your liking
  • 2-4 cups freshly whipped cream, (sweetened if you like)
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Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine. Add the butter and use a pastry blender, two knives, a fork, or your hands to cut the butter into the flour, until it resembles small crumbs with pieces of butter no larger than a pea.
  • Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add the beaten egg, milk, and vanilla and stir just until the mixture comes together.
  • Using a large spoon, place a mound of dough on the baking sheet. You should use about 1/2 cup of dough for each biscuit. Repeat with remaining dough. Sprinkle dough with sparkling sugar.
  • Bake until the shortcakes are golden brown, 12-14 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
  • To serve, split the shortcake in half, add strawberries and whipped cream, and then top with the second half of the biscuit. Enjoy right away. Store leftover shortcakes at room temperature, separate from the berries and whipped cream.

Notes

  • Ensure the butter is cold when you cut it into the flour. This helps create a flakier texture in the biscuits.
  • Stir the dough just until it comes together. Overmixing can make the biscuits tough.
  • Use an ice cream scoop to portion out the dough evenly, ensuring all biscuits bake at the same rate.
  • Assemble the shortcakes just before serving to keep the biscuits from becoming soggy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 9 large shortcakes, Calories: 284kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 57mg, Sodium: 366mg, Potassium: 157mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 461IU, Vitamin C: 30mg, Calcium: 127mg, Iron: 2mg
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About Melissa

4.90 from 38 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




44 Comments

  1. Cindy says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is way too simple to be the best short cake biscuits I have ever had! Perfect crusty and crunchy outside with light and tender in the middle!
    Delicious on their own too! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

  2. Kimberley K says:

    Delicious and followed this recipe as written. I used Fairlife milk which isn’t quite the same as whole milk and still wonderful. Thanks for this GREAT recipe.

  3. Charity says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! Made with fresh Pa. Sun ripened strawberries. My only switch was coconut milk for the regular milk. It turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!

  4. Shelly B says:

    5 stars
    These are definitely quick & easy and truly just what I was looking for!! I would have paid you for this recipe!! Thank you for kindly sharing this with the whole world.

  5. CJ Bergren says:

    5 stars
    Delicious!!!

  6. Cheryl says:

    5 stars
    Best biscuit recipe I have used to date! Easy and delicious with just the right amount of sweetness

  7. Paul Gula says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is easy and the biscuits tasted great. They were soft in the middle with perfect crust on the outside. The vanilla gave them a nice touch. The last batch I made contained baking soda and required rolling out and cutting. They did not compare with this recipe!

  8. Laura Ridgeway says:

    5 stars
    This is the best – and easiest recipe Iโ€™ve ever used to make shortcake biscuits. I made a batch on Easter to serve as our main dessert. What a hit! Never will I use Bisquick for shortcakes again.

  9. Sandy says:

    5 stars
    Unbelievably good!! So simple you can make it in a flash for a last minute dessert. I’ve made twice and ate them all myself. lol I even made a 1/2 recipe with good results.
    Some recipes do not call for egg but I think it adds a richness that might be missing otherwise.
    My go-to dessert shortcake.

  10. Cynthia Anderson says:

    5 stars
    I made this for strawberry shortcake but my husband decided to have it with butter. He LOVED it!