Strawberry Shortcake Trifles

Published April 16, 2016. Updated April 24, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Strawberry Shortcake Trifles — All the flavors of the classic strawberry shortcake but with a soft cake layer instead of biscuit, and served in individual cups for a fun party or after dinner treat! 

Strawberry Shortcake Trifles on wood serving board

Individual Strawberry Shortcake Trifles

Strawberry Shortcake Trifles made with six layers of utter bliss! In these mini dessert cups, you get a sweet vanilla cake alternating with layers of fresh, juicy strawberries and rich, fluffy whipped cream.

Let me tell you though, these mini strawberry trifle cups are dangerous! I’m generally pretty good and putting limits on myself since I have so many desserts around here all the time — but not with these.

Goodbye self-restraint, hellooo strawberry shortcake trifles! These would be perfect for a shower or for Mother’s Day, or of course they are perfect just to treat yourself because it’s the weekend! Dessert on the weekend is a must, right?

Strawberry Shortcake Trifle Ingredients

For the shortcake layer, you’ll need:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Cornstarch
  • Salt
  • Baking powder and baking soda
  • Unsalted butter
  • Granulated sugar
  • Lemon zest
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • Sour cream

For the strawberry layer, you’ll need:

  • Fresh strawberries
  • Granulated sugar

And for the whipped cream layer, you’ll need:

  • Heavy cream
  • Cream cheese
  • Powdered sugar
  • Vanilla extract

individual Strawberry Shortcake Trifles garnished with fresh strawberries

How to Make Strawberry Shortcake Trifles

  • Make the cake batter. Spread into greased and floured pan and bake.

spreading cake batter into pan

  • Cut cooled cake into rounds that will fit into the cups you’ll be serving in.

cutting cake with biscuit cutter in pan

  • Make the cream cheese topping.

whipped cream in two mixing bowls next to electric mixer

  • Make the strawberry mixture.

diced strawberries for strawberry shortcake trifles in glass bowl with spoon

  • Assemble trifles by layering cake strawberries and cream, two times each.

Strawberry Shortcake Trifles

What Size Are the Jars You Used?

For these individual strawberry shortcake trifle cups, I used 8-oz glass jars. But you can use any size jar you have on hand!

Can I Make These in Advance?

You can make the cake one to two days ahead of time (if it gets a little dry, don’t worry! The whipped cream and fresh strawberries will moisten the cake again).

However, I’d wait to assemble the strawberry trifles until the day of, otherwise they’ll become soggy.

Tips for the Best Strawberry Shortcake Trifles

  • If you don’t have a cookie or biscuit cutter, simply cut out the cake layers with the top of the jar.
  • Frozen strawberries can’t be used in this recipe. They’re too soggy and the flavor isn’t as good!
  • For a less sweet treat, scale back on the amount of sugar in the whipped cream.

Strawberry Shortcake Trifles in wooden tray with spoons

More Strawberry Dessert Recipes You’ll Love:

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

5 from 11 votes

Strawberry Shortcake Trifles

Strawberry Shortcake Trifle - All the flavors of the classic strawberry shortcake but with a soft cake layer instead of biscuit, and served in individual cups for a fun party or after dinner treat treat! Always a must on the summer to do list!
Servings: 12
Prep40 minutes
Cook20 minutes
Cool2 hours
Ready in: 3 hours

Ingredients

Cake

Strawberry layer

Cream layer

Instructions

For the cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda and baking powder, set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment whip together butter, sugar and lemon zest until pale and fluffy. Mix in eggs one at a time then mix in vanilla.
  • Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix just until combined then add in 1/2 the sour cream and mix just until combined, repeat with flour and sour cream once more then end by mixing in last 1/3 of the flour mixture and mixing just until combined (scrape down bowl to ensure it's evenly combined). 
  • Pour and spread batter evenly into prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 - 24 minutes. 
  • Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack. Once cool cut into 24 rounds the size of your dessert cups (you'll have a little left over cake which you can chill or freeze and serve later with more fresh fruit and whipped cream).

For the strawberry layer:

  • Toss diced strawberries with sugar. Let rest 10 minutes.

For the cream layer:

  • In a large mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer whip heavy cream until soft peaks form (no need to clean beater blades for next step).
  • In a separate medium mixing bowl whip cream cheese until smooth, add powdered sugar and vanilla and whip until light and fluffy. Add cream cheese mixture to heavy cream and whip until stiff peaks form.

To assemble trifles:

  • Place 12 cake rounds in 12 fairly tall dessert cups. Add a spoonful of strawberries over each cake round.
  • Transfer cream mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip and pipe cream mixture over strawberry layer. Repeat layering process once more. 
  • Garnish each with a fresh strawberry. Serve within an hour for best results (the cake can be made a day in advance and covered, just wait to prepare the cream mixture and strawberries until almost ready to serve).

Notes

  • Frozen strawberries can't be used in this recipe. They're too soggy and the flavor isn't as good!
Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Shortcake Trifles
Amount Per Serving
Calories 606 Calories from Fat 315
% Daily Value*
Fat 35g54%
Saturated Fat 21g131%
Cholesterol 163mg54%
Sodium 251mg11%
Potassium 284mg8%
Carbohydrates 67g22%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 41g46%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 1290IU26%
Vitamin C 45.1mg55%
Calcium 109mg11%
Iron 1.7mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.
close up of individual Strawberry Shortcake Trifle garnished with whole strawberry