Valentine Strawberry Shortcake Cups (Printable)

Tender shortcake cups layered with juicy strawberries and fluffy whipped cream, perfect for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shortcake Components

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 tbsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp salt
05 - 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
06 - 2/3 cup whole milk
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Strawberry Filling

09 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
10 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
11 - 1 tsp lemon juice

→ Whipped Cream Topping

12 - 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
13 - 2 tbsp powdered sugar
14 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
03 - Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk milk, egg, and vanilla. Pour into the flour mixture and gently mix until just combined.
05 - Drop 6 equal portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten each mound with your fingers.
06 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool completely on the baking sheet.
07 - Toss sliced strawberries with sugar and lemon juice in a bowl. Let sit for at least 15 minutes to macerate and release juices.
08 - In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
09 - Break each shortcake in half horizontally. Place the bottom half in a serving cup, spoon over strawberries and juices, add whipped cream, then top with the remaining shortcake half. Finish with additional strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream.
10 - Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Individual portions mean everyone gets their own perfect ratio of cake to berries to cream
  • The assembly comes together in minutes while still looking impressive enough for a special occasion
02 -
  • Working quickly with cold butter prevents it from melting before it hits the oven—the contrast between cold butter and hot heat creates flakiness
  • Let the strawberries macerate for the full 15 minutes—that sugar draws out juices and transforms them into something syrupy and intense
03 -
  • Chill your mixing bowl and beaters for 10 minutes before whipping cream—it makes the process noticeably faster
  • If your strawberries aren't very sweet, add an extra tablespoon of sugar to the macerating mixture

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