Strawberry Shortcake for Perfect Valentine’s Dinner
Calling all lovebirds! Ditch the heavy mains and elevate your Valentine’s dinner with a light, refreshing, and seriously romantic dessert: a Strawberry Shortcake transformed into a Valentine’s Special Recipe. This classic, easy-to-make treat can be dressed up to impress your sweetheart, setting the perfect ending to a memorable evening.
Why it’s perfect for your Valentine’s dinner:
- Sparkling Simplicity: Impress your date with a homemade dessert, but ditch the lengthy recipes. This shortcake whips up in no time, leaving more moments for enjoying your special evening.
- Fresh and Romantic: Bursting with juicy strawberries and fluffy whipped cream, this dessert embodies the spirit of Valentine’s Day. The vibrant red pops of color add a cheerful touch to your table setting.
- Effortlessly Adaptable: Make it personal! Top your shortcake with chocolate shavings, drizzle with rose water syrup, or sprinkle with edible glitter for a touch of magic.
STRAWBERRY TIPS
Since fresh strawberries are the star of this dessert, you’ll want to choose the best possible ones.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Strawberries do not continue to ripen once they’re picked so choose berries that are a nice red from stem to tip.
- Buy local and in season. This will help ensure the berries are as ripe as possible and it saves a little money.
- Ripe berries should have a nice sweet aroma.
- Cut strawberries can last, covered, in the fridge for 3-4 days. Note that with the sugar, it will “sweat” and create juices that the cake will absorb.
HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
- PREPARE THE BERRIES: Wash and dry the strawberries. Reserve 6 berries for garnish. Slice the remaining strawberries into halves or quarters. Transfer the sliced strawberries to a container, add sugar, and cover with a lid. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes, allowing the sugar to dissolve.
- GET THE CAKE CUPS: Look for 5-ounce packages of sponge cake cups at your local grocery store; each package usually contains 6 cups. Purchase two packages to create 6 double-layer desserts, perfect for a Valentine’s Day treat.
- ASSEMBLE THE DELIGHT: Place 6 dessert cake cups on a charming serving plate. Begin assembling by adding a dollop of whipped cream to each sponge cake cup. Spoon the macerated strawberries on top of the cream. Continue the layers by adding the second sponge cake on top, followed by another layer of whipped cream and a finishing touch of a whole strawberry.
- SERVE WITH LOVE: Present this delightful Valentine’s Day dessert to your special someone or share it with loved ones. The combination of sweet, juicy strawberries and light sponge cake is sure to make this treat a memorable part of your romantic dinner.
VARIATIONS
You can use heavy cream to make Homemade Whip Cream or store-bought. Change up this favorite strawberry shortcake recipe with any of these suggestions:
- For more quick cake options, pick up a pound cake or an angel food cake from your local bakery. Slice and top with berries.
- For a more homemade version, try using a Chiffon Cake, Pound Cake, or Angel Food Cake.
- Use our Cheesecake Fruit Salad (a white chocolate cheesecake mousse filled with berries) instead of whipped cream. It’s to die for!
- Sprinkle on powder sugar, lemon zest or other berries like blueberries, blackberries or raspberries.
- Spread the dessert out and serve 12 single-layer instead of 6 double-layer portions.
STORING INFO
Can you make ahead of time? We do not recommend assembling these until a couple of hours before you wish to serve them. However, you can prepare the different elements the day before and keep them stored in separate containers until you’re ready to make and serve the desserts.
STORE the sponge cakes, strawberries, and whipped cream in separate containers. The sponge cakes will get too soggy if they are stored with strawberries on top.
Ingredients
- 1 quart strawberries sliced
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 10 oz sponge cake dessert cups (12 dessert cups)
- 1- 7 oz can whipped cream to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry the strawberries. Set aside 6 strawberries to use as toppers. Slice the remaining into halves or quarters. Place the sliced strawberries into a container, toss with sugar, and place a lid on top. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
- Place 6 dessert cake cups onto a different serving plate. Add whipped cream to each sponge cake and top with the sliced strawberries. Add the second sponge cake and top off with more cream and a strawberry.
Notes
For a delightful Valentine’s Day treat, we suggest preparing this special recipe a day in advance. While we advise against assembling the desserts until a couple of hours before serving to maintain freshness, you can certainly get a head start by preparing the individual elements ahead of time.
Begin by storing the Valentine’s special sponge cakes, luscious strawberries, and fluffy whipped cream in separate containers. This strategic separation is key, as it prevents the sponge cakes from becoming overly moist if stored with strawberries on top.
When you’re ready to impress your loved one with a romantic Valentine’s dinner, simply assemble these pre-prepared elements for a delectable and stress-free dessert that captures the essence of love.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Click Here to read top picked valentine special dinner ideas!
