Easy Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake In Layers

This easy Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake recipe is the perfect dessert for a summer birthday celebration. It is the perfect birthday cake for any strawberry lover with moist and fluffy sponge base layers, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. Whether you're looking for a simple yet delicious dessert for a family gathering or an impressive centerpiece for a birthday party, this fresh and fruity dessert is sure to impress. 

Jump to:

• Strawberry shortcake components
• Shortcake base
• Strawberry components
• Homemade whipped cream
• Composing the birthday cake
• Serving a deconstructive strawberry shortcake
• How to serve it
• The origin of this recipe
• Why this cake is perfect for large parties
• More fruits recipes you may like
• 📋 Easy Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake in Layers

My son Francesco loves strawberry cake and whipped cream, who doesn't? 

So I decided to make this dessert for his birthday.

It is so easy to make. Easier than going out to buy a cake.

It was such a great success that now this cake is our birthday cake for every birthday. 

No matter who is invited, you are sure 100% they are going to love it.

This is now my birthday cake!

Nevertheless, even if there are no birthdays coming up, I will make this strawberry shortcake layer cake anyway and keep it deconstructed in the fridge for when we urge a sweet, delicious bite.

You can substitute strawberries with any other fruits.

For more desserts you can make with any fruits, you can check: Pear crumble, peach tarte tatin, Italian apple pie, and Italian fruit tart.

Strawberry shortcake components

To make this recipe, you need 3 main components:

• The shortcake base
• The strawberries and their coulis
• Cream frosting made with heavy whipping cream

Shortcake base

Ingredients 

The shortcake base is similar to a sponge cake with no eggs and made with the following ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Butter at room temperature
• Milk
• Salt

Measurements are in the recipe card.

You can make a birthday cake for 12/14 people using 2 round cakes of 8 in - 20 cm each to make 2 cake layers

You can also serve it deconstructed by baking half of the quantity into a rectangular pan 9 x 13 in - 36 x 26 cm.

Making the batter

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together
2. Then add the butter and mix until it is well combined
3. Slowly add the milk
4. Mix until the batter is smooth and homogeneous

Cooking the shortcake

5. Cover the removable bottom of a cake pan with parchment paper and butter thoroughly also on the sides
6. Pour the batter in the pan 
7. and spread it evenly
8. Bake in a warm oven at 250 F - 180 C for 25 minutes until golden brown
9. Wait 10 minutes before removing it from the pan
10. Make two round cakes

If you are serving it deconstructed

You only need half of the batter:

5. Cover a rectangular pan with parchment paper and butter thoroughly
6. Pour the batter and spread evenly
7. Sprinkle the top with castor sugar
8. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 F - 180 C until golden brown

Strawberry components

This recipe uses fresh strawberries, but you can use any other fresh berries or fresh fruit

Preparing the strawberries

I buy fresh juicy strawberries and divide them into 3 parts for different use. 

So for a total of 2 lb - 1kg of cleaned fresh strawberries, I share:

1. Strawberries to make the coulis: it is a smooth strawberry puree you pour over the cake. I use 14 oz - 400 g of strawberries; usually, the ones that are slightly damaged.
2. Thinly sliced strawberries: I put about 7 oz - 200 g of strawberry slices between the two layers of the cake. You don't need this strawberry filling if you are serving it deconstructed
3. Chopped strawberries 14 oz - 400 g to put on top of the cake or mixed with the coulis to serve on a side

How to make the strawberry coulis

We add freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice to the strawberries coulis for best results and extra flavor. 

They add a tangy acidity to cut the strawberry sweetness

1. Cut the strawberry into smaller sizes
2. Add the juice from 1 orange and 1 lemon
3. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and blend
4. Taste and add more sugar if necessary; some strawberries are sweeter than others

You can filter the coulis through a fine mesh colander for extra smoothness

To make a special end-of-the-meal treat for a grownup birthday party, you can add to the coulis some strawberry liqueur.

Homemade whipped cream

Homemade whipped cream

You can buy already-made whipped cream, but it is very easy to make it from scratch. 

It tastes much better, and you can regulate the amount of sugar if you like it more or less sweet.

1. Whip 14 oz - 400 g of heavy cream with 1 tablespoon of sugar until it forms stiff peaks

If you never whipped cream before, read the notes on the recipe card for more tips.

I use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment

Composing the birthday cake

1. Level the 2 cakes with a wire layer cake cutter or with a long knife
2. Remove the top
3. Place the first cake layer on a serving dish
4. Pour the strawberry coulis over the first layer and spread uniformly
5. Spread over half of the whipped cream
6. Arrange the thinly sliced strawberries

7. Place the second layer of cake on top
8. For a perfectly flat layer, place the second cake upside down
9. Spread the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream
10. Pour the remaining diced strawberries on top at the center of the cake

11. Pour more coulis on top

12. Serve the remaining coulis and strawberries in a separate jug for everyone to add to their slice of cake.

Serving a deconstructive strawberry shortcake

1. Once the shortbread is cooked, let it rest for at least 10 minutes
2. Remove it from the pan
3. Cut it into squares
4. Arrange the squares on a serving plate
5. In a bowl mix together the diced strawberries with the coulis and serve

6. In a second bowl, serve the whipped cream

7. Let everyone serve themselves in small bowls placing the shortbread first, then the strawberries and the cream on top

How to serve it

This cake is a delicious treat to serve after a lavish meal, a barbecue, or a seafood feast. 

The fresh strawberries will cleanse your mouth, leaving a nice fresh sensation.

You can serve it with one of my homemade liquors, or add some strawberry liquor to the coulis.

Whatever period of the year, you can replace the strawberries with any fruit that is in season or replace the heavy whipped cream with  vanilla ice cream.

The origin of this recipe

This is an American recipe given to me by my dear friends from New York City, Lisa and Donna D'Urso.

It was their grandmother Anna Perkoski Astringer's favorite dessert and she often made it for them when they were children.

It was a feast for the 4 siblings and their cousins. A lot of children to please, but this cake was always a success.

Luckily the recipe was saved in this precious book together with all her other favorite recipes, priceless collections for generations to come.

Why this cake is perfect for large parties

Lisa made this recipe for a summer lunch we organized at my villa. We were hosting a total of 25 people between adults and children. It was the perfect dessert, especially for that occasion.

Everyone loved it, and she was able to make it ahead in no time.

We only needed to serve the shortcake biscuits, the strawberries, and the whipped cream in 3 separate dishes and everyone helped themselves.

More fruits recipes you may like

Here are more desserts made with fruits:

If you are making this Easy Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, sign up to my newsletter.