Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups are delightful bite-sized desserts that pack all the flavors of the classic strawberry shortcake into a convenient, handheld treat. These miniature delights consist of a buttery shortcake base, topped with luscious whipped cream, and garnished with fresh strawberries.
These charming desserts offer several benefits that make them a favorite among dessert lovers:
- Portability: Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups are easy to serve and enjoy on the go, making them ideal for parties, picnics, or packed lunches.
- Customizability: With endless possibilities for variations and toppings, you can customize each cup to suit your preferences or dietary restrictions.
- Perfect Portions: The individual-sized portions help control serving sizes, allowing you to indulge in a satisfying treat without overindulging.
- Visual Appeal: The vibrant colors of fresh strawberries nestled atop fluffy shortcake and billowy whipped cream make these cups as visually appealing as they are delicious.
Whether you’re hosting a party, craving a midday snack, or simply looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, these little cups of joy are sure to hit the spot.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some serving suggestions to enhance your Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups:
- Fresh Mint Garnish: Add a sprig of fresh mint on top of each shortcake cup for a pop of color and a hint of refreshing flavor.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle melted chocolate over the whipped cream for a decadent touch. Use dark, milk, or white chocolate depending on your preference.
- Extra Berries: Serve the shortcake cups with additional fresh berries such as blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries for added color and variety.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve each shortcake cup with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic and indulgent treat.
- Lemon Zest: Sprinkle a little lemon zest over the whipped cream for a citrusy twist that complements the strawberries.
- Toasted Almonds or Coconut: Sprinkle toasted slivered almonds or shredded coconut over the whipped cream for added texture and flavor.
- Dusting of Powdered Sugar: Dust a little powdered sugar over the top of the shortcake cups just before serving for an elegant finishing touch.
- Individual Servings: Serve each shortcake cup on a decorative dessert plate or in a small cupcake liner for a more elegant presentation.
- Accompaniment with Tea or Coffee: Pair the Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups with a cup of hot tea or coffee for a delightful dessert experience.
- Fruit Sauce: Drizzle a fruit sauce such as raspberry or mango sauce over the whipped cream for an extra burst of fruity flavor.
These serving suggestions will elevate your Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups and make them even more delicious and visually appealing. Customize them to your liking and enjoy the delightful combination of sweet strawberries, fluffy shortcake, and creamy whipped cream!
Tips & Tricks
Here are some cooking tips to help you make perfect Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups:
- Chill the Mixing Bowl and Whisk: For the whipped cream, chill the mixing bowl and whisk in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes before whipping the cream. This will help the cream whip up faster and hold its shape better.
- Use Cold Butter: When making the shortcake dough, ensure that the butter is cold and cut into small pieces. This will help create a flaky and tender texture in the shortcakes.
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: When mixing the shortcake dough, be careful not to overmix it. Mix until the dough just comes together and forms a cohesive ball. Overmixing can result in tough and dense shortcakes.
- Evenly Distribute the Dough: When pressing the dough into the mini muffin tin to form the shortcake cups, make sure to distribute the dough evenly in each cavity. This will ensure that the shortcakes bake evenly and have a consistent texture.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste the strawberry filling and whipped cream as you go and adjust the sweetness if needed. If the strawberries are very sweet, you may need to use less sugar in the filling. Similarly, adjust the amount of powdered sugar in the whipped cream based on your preference for sweetness.
- Assemble Just Before Serving: To prevent the shortcake cups from becoming soggy, assemble them with the strawberry filling and whipped cream just before serving. This will ensure that they maintain their crispness and freshness.
- Slice Strawberries Uniformly: When dicing the strawberries for the filling, try to slice them into uniform pieces so that they cook evenly and look visually appealing in the shortcake cups.
- Customize Toppings: Feel free to customize the toppings to suit your taste preferences. You can add additional fruits, nuts, or flavored syrups to the shortcake cups for extra flavor and texture.
- Store Leftovers Properly: If you have any leftover shortcake cups, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep well for a day or two, although they are best enjoyed fresh.
- Have Fun and Be Creative: Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun with the recipe! Get creative with the toppings and presentation to make the Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups your own unique creation.
By following these cooking tips, you’ll be able to make delicious and beautiful Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups that are sure to impress your family and friends!
Strawberry Shortcake Cups Recipe
These Mini Strawberry Shortcake Cups are perfect for parties, picnics, or any occasion where you want to impress with a delicious and adorable dessert. Enjoy the sweet and tangy flavor of fresh strawberries paired with light and fluffy shortcake, all topped with a creamy whipped cream.
Ingredients
For the Shortcakes:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cold and cut into small pieces
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Strawberry Filling:
- 2 cups fresh strawberries hulled and diced
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
For the Whipped Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a mini muffin tin with cooking spray or butter.
- Make the Shortcakes:In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the milk and vanilla extract, and stir until just combined.
- Form the Cups:Press a small amount of the dough into each cavity of the prepared mini muffin tin, creating small cups. Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to press the dough evenly against the bottom and up the sides of each cavity.
- Bake:Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the shortcakes are golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the oven and let cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the Strawberry Filling:In a medium bowl, combine the diced strawberries, granulated sugar, and lemon juice. Stir until the strawberries are coated in sugar. Let sit for about 15 minutes to allow the strawberries to release their juices.
- Make the Whipped Cream:In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until stiff peaks form.
- Assemble the Cups:Once the shortcake cups have cooled, spoon a small amount of the strawberry filling into each cup. Top with a dollop of whipped cream.
- Serve:Serve the mini strawberry shortcake cups immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve. Enjoy!