Berry season is a very happy time of year for me and my family. Both my daughter and I adore fresh berries and for the second year in a row our family enjoyed picking strawberries from a local New Jersey farm together. Of course my daughter does far more eating than picking, but that’s all part of the fun.
While we mostly enjoy eating the strawberries with breakfast, in smoothies or as a snack, I was hankering for a special berry dessert this year.
I grew up eating traditional strawberry shortcakes, made often with Bisquick mix and lots of freshly whipped cream.
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But my own preference is for moist, spongy CAKE. So my version of berry shortcake includes a triple layer of simple white cake, made from my dear friend Brittany Wayne’s recipe. Layered with macerated strawberries and simple whipped cream and the result is a taste of summer indulgence at its finest. Who cares if it isn’t quite traditional; to me it’s even better.
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Ingredients
one batch of white cake, baked into three round pans one pint heavy cream 2 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 2 cups sliced strawberries 2 Tbsp sugar mixed berries for topping fresh mint (optional)Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour three 9 inch round pans.
Divide cake batter evenly among the three pans. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Allow cakes to cool completely.
Combine 2 cups sliced strawberries with 2 Tbsp sugar. Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes.
Using a hand mixer, whip heavy cream until frothy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and continue to whip until stiff peaks form.
Layer whipped cream and strawberries on top of each layer of cake. Finish the final layer with a generous layer of whipped cream and top with mixed berries of your choice. Garnish with fresh mint if desired.
