Star-Spangled Strawberry-Basil Shortcake

A classic American dessert featuring fresh strawberries, sweet basil, and vanilla-infused shortcake, perfect for summer celebrations and outdoor gatherings.

🛒 Ingredients

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• .5 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• .25 tsp kosher salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk
• 3 cups strawberries
• .25 cup fresh basil leaves
• 2 tbsp confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup whipping cream

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. 2

   In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

3. 3

   Add the cold butter and, using a pastry blender or your fingers, work it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

4. 4

   In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and vanilla extract.

5. 5

   Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until the mixture forms a shaggy dough.

6. 6

   Gently fold in the milk until the dough comes together.

7. 7

   Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently knead it a few times until it becomes smooth.

8. 8

   Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1 inch.

9. 9

   Cut out rounds of dough using a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass.

10. 10

    Place the rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly golden.

11. 11

    Allow the shortcakes to cool completely on a wire rack.

12. 12

    In a large bowl, gently toss the sliced strawberries with the chopped basil and confectioners' sugar.

13. 13

    Split the cooled shortcakes in half horizontally using a serrated knife.

14. 14

    Spoon some of the strawberry-basil mixture onto the bottom half of each shortcake.

15. 15

    Top with the top half of the shortcake and drizzle with whipping cream.

💡 Pro Tips

To ensure the shortcakes stay fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Simply split the shortcakes and fill with the strawberry-basil mixture just before serving. To avoid a soggy shortcake, be gentle when handling the shortcakes to prevent tearing the layers.

📊 Nutrition per Serving