SHORTCUT STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE WITH ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Can you keep a secret? Good. I’m going to tell you how to make strawberry shortcake with angel food cake but please don’t tell your friends that his impressive-looking and absolutely delicious dessert utilizes store bought cake and only four other simple ingredients.

Yup, that’s right. An easy strawberry sauce made by combining strawberries and sugar and super quick homemade whipped cream make a regular old store bought angel food cake taste DIVINE! 

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 STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE WITH ANGEL FOOD CAKE (SO EASY)

I’m unsure why I grew up watching so much of Sandra Lee’s Semi-Homemade on the Food Network as a child but I did watch it religiously. I was always amazed by her ability to elevate basic store-bought ingredients and make them special.

Now that I’m a grown up and able to host friends and family at my home, I love finding ways to make similar super easy recipes that still look, feel, and taste special.

As someone who loves to cook but isn’t the most proficient baker, if I’m going store-bought for something on the menu… it’ll likely be dessert.

This super easy strawberry shortcake with angel food cake takes minutes to prepare and will wow your guests both with its beautiful appearance and light and fruity taste.

WHY THIS STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE WITH ANGEL FOOD CAKE RECIPE WORKS 

Quick & Easy: This recipe comes together in a matter of minutes although you will need about 30 minutes to let the strawberries and sugar marry together in the fridge.

No Oven Needed: This perfect summer dessert requires no baking since you’re using store bought angel food cake. Keep your house nice and cool!

Beautiful: They always say we eat with our eyes first and I think this dessert looks gorgeous! Remove the cake from its plastic packaging and put it on a cute cake stand before topping with whipped cream and strawberries. Your guests will never know it’s store bought!

INGREDIENTS IN EASY STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE:

Angel Food Cake: A store bought angel food cake will work beautifully but feel free to make your own from a boxed mix or even from scratch! 

Strawberries: This recipe is amazing with fresh strawberries in the summer, but is also a great use for those less than perfect strawberries too! Feel free to substitute your favorite fruit or mix different types of berries together.

Sugar: You’ll need a bit of sugar to combine with the strawberries to create a sauce and a bit more to mix into your homemade whipped cream. 

Heavy Whipping Cream: Heavy whipping cream is beaten for a few minutes with sugar and vanilla extract to create the most delicious homemade whipped cream.

Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract gives the homemade whipped cream extra flavor. You can also play with substituting it for other extracts! I bet almond extract would be delicious too.

HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE WITH ANGEL FOOD CAKE:

1. Wash and chop strawberries.
2. Combine strawberries and ¼ cup of your sugar into a bowl. Mix together and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to create a strawberry sauce. 
3. Combine heavy whipping cream, one tablespoon of sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla extract into a stand mixer (or mixing bowl with hand mixer) and whip until stiff. Approximately 3 minutes. 
4. Remove angel food cake from packaging and place onto a cake stand or plate.
5. Top with whipped cream followed by strawberries, and be sure to include the sugary strawberry juices from the bowl.
6. Serve and enjoy! 

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

Colander/Strainer: You’ll need a colander or strainer to rinse your strawberries.

Knife: Use a knife of our choice to chop strawberries.

Cutting Board: A cutting board to chop strawberries.

Mixing Bowl: Use a small mixing bowl to combine the strawberries and sugar. Use a bowl with lid or cover with saran wrap for the refrigerator.

Measuring Cups: You will need measuring cups for the sugar and whipping cream.

Stand or Hand Mixer: I am loyal to my KitchenAid stand mixer to make the process of making fresh whipped cream hands free but a handheld mixer and your mixing bowl will work just fine.

Measuring Spoons: A measuring spoon will be used to measure the vanilla extract.

Cake Stand: While you can use any plate, a cute cake stand will elevate the presentation of your dish!

ADDITIONAL SERVING SUGGESTIONS AND VARIATIONS:

While this simple recipe is perfect as is, the options for serving it are endless. Check out these serving suggestions and variations:

Layered Strawberry Angel Food Cake Dessert: Cut the angel food cake into chunks and layer it with the strawberry mixture and whipped cream in a trifle dish.

Individual Strawberry Short Cake Desserts: Substitute vanilla dessert shells for angel food cake to create mini, single-serve strawberry shortcakes.

Angel Food Cake With Fruit and Whipped Cream: Substitute the strawberries for any fruit of choice. All berries work beautifully and peaches are another great option. Combine strawberries, kiwis, mandarin oranges, and raspberries for a beautiful and delicous mixed fruit option.

Sugar Cookie “Short Cake” With Fruit and Whipped Cream: Substitute the angel food cake for store-bought or home baked sugar cookies. This reminds me of the classic fruit pizza I grew up loving!

Strawberry Cake Mix With Strawberries and Whipped Cream: For the true strawberry lovers, bake a strawberry cake instead of an angel food cake and keep the toppings the same. You can make a homemade cake or use your favorite store-bought cake mix.

SERVING AND STORAGE

If you’re serving guests and want to make a great impression, I recommend fully assembling the cake with the strawberries and whipped cream as pictured in this recipe. If you’d like to eat a small portion then save the rest for later, I recommend slicing the cake and topping the slices individually with whipped cream and strawberries to avoid the cake getting soggy.

Store the strawberries and the whipped cream in the refrigerator separately and then top just before serving.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Angel Food Cake?

Angel Food Cake is a type of sponge cake made with egg whites and flour. It is light and fluffy and gets its name due to the light and airy texture and white color.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

You can combine the strawberries and sugar and make the whipped cream ahead of time. Assemble just before serving.

Can I use store-bought whipped cream?

Absolutely, yes! But the texture of the homemade stuff is thicker and creamier. If you can, I highly recommend making it yourself.

Can I use frozen fruit in this recipe?

This is a great use of frozen fruit. Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge and add sugar once thawed. Frozen fruit will likely generate more liquid but it works well as a topping for the cake.

Is strawberry shortcake with angel food cake a good dessert for 4th of July?

Yes, I love serving berry desserts on 4th of July. This one is especially great for hosting because it requires minimal prep and no use of the oven. For the 4th of July, I recommend doing half blueberries and half strawberries for a red, white, and blue dessert.

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