The Ultimate Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
This Ultimate Strawberry Shortcake is a delightful no-bake dessert featuring fresh strawberries soaked in sugar, layered with a creamy mixture of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and whipped topping, combined with angel food cake cubes for a light and airy treat. Perfectly chilled and topped with strawberries, this recipe offers a refreshing and sweet summer dessert that’s easy to prepare and sure to impress.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberries
- 1 quart fresh strawberries, washed, stemmed, and halved
- 1/2 cup sugar
Cream Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Other
- 1 (14 ounce) angel food cake, cut into cubes (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Prepare the Strawberries: Wash, stem, and cut the strawberries in half. Place them in a bowl and add the sugar, tossing well to coat the berries evenly. Chill the mixture to allow the strawberries to macerate and develop sweetness.
- Mix Cream Cheese and Powdered Sugar: In a separate bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain for a flawless texture.
- Fold in Whipped Topping and Cake Cubes: Gently fold the thawed whipped topping and the angel food cake cubes into the cream cheese mixture, combining carefully to maintain the airy texture of the whipped topping and preserve the lightness of the cake cubes.
- Assemble the Shortcake: Spread the combined cream cheese, whipped topping, and cake mixture evenly into an ungreased 13×9-inch dish, smoothing the top for an even layer.
- Chill: Cover the dish with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This chilling step allows the flavors to meld together and the cake to absorb the moisture from the creamy mixture and strawberries.
- Serve: Cut the chilled shortcake into squares and top each serving generously with the macerated strawberries just before serving for a fresh, juicy finish.
Notes
- Using angel food cake adds a light, airy texture that complements the creaminess of the filling and the freshness of the strawberries.
- For a sweeter or tarter strawberry flavor, adjust the sugar amount accordingly or add a splash of lemon juice to the berries.
- This dessert can be assembled a day ahead to save time; just keep it covered and refrigerated.
- If fresh strawberries are not available, frozen can be used but be sure to thaw and drain excess liquid to avoid a soggy dessert.
- Optional garnish: add a sprig of mint or a dusting of powdered sugar on top for an elegant presentation.
Keywords: Strawberry Shortcake, No-Bake Dessert, Angel Food Cake Dessert, Cream Cheese Dessert, Easy Summer Dessert
