Valentines Strawberry Shortcake Cups (Printable)

Individual layered cups with golden shortcake, macerated strawberries, and billowy whipped cream—a romantic dessert ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Shortcake Components

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
07 - 2/3 cup buttermilk
08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Filling

09 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
10 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice

→ Whipped Cream Topping

12 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
13 - 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
14 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# How To Cook:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly blended.
03 - Work cold butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or fingertips until the texture resembles coarse crumbs. Keep the mixture cold to maintain flaky texture.
04 - Pour buttermilk and vanilla into the flour-butter mixture. Stir gently just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough shortcakes.
05 - Drop 6 equal mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden brown on top. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
06 - Combine diced strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a bowl. Toss to coat evenly and let stand at room temperature for at least 10 minutes, allowing the berries to release their juices.
07 - Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Do not overwhip.
08 - Break cooled shortcakes into bite-sized chunks. Layer in individual serving cups or jars: start with shortcake pieces, followed by a generous spoonful of macerated strawberries and their juices, then whipped cream. Repeat layers as desired, finishing with whipped cream and a fresh strawberry garnish. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The individual portions make everyone feel special and served
  • You can prepare everything ahead and assemble right before serving
  • The combination of tender cake, juicy berries, and cloud-like cream is pure comfort
02 -
  • Cold butter is non negotiable for flaky shortcake, so keep it chilled until the moment it hits the flour
  • The strawberries need time to macerate so they release those beautiful red juices
  • Whipped cream holds its shape best when everything, your bowl and whisk, is chilled
03 -
  • If your buttermilk has been sitting in the fridge for weeks, give it a sniff. Fresh buttermilk makes noticeably tender shortcakes.
  • Room temperature strawberries release more juice than cold ones, so let them sit out while the oven preheats.

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