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!
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
How to Make Strawberry Shortcake Trifles
- Make the cake batter. Spread into greased and floured pan and bake.
- Cut cooled cake into rounds that will fit into the cups you’ll be serving in.
- Make the cream cheese topping.
- Make the strawberry mixture.
- Assemble trifles by layering cake strawberries and cream, two times each.
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.
More Strawberry Dessert Recipes You’ll Love:
- Classic Strawberry Shortcake
- Fresh Strawberry Cake
- Strawberry Cupcakes
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
- Angel Food Cake French Toast with Fresh Strawberry Syrup
- Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars
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Strawberry Shortcake Trifles
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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!
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups (284g) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting pan
- 3 Tbsp (26g) cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 12 Tbsp (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (315g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (283g) sour cream (I used light because it's what I had on hand)
Strawberry layer
- 2 lbs fresh strawberries, diced, plus 12 more small whole for garnish
- 3 1/2 Tbsp (45g) granulated sugar
Cream layer
- 2 cups (475ml) heavy cream
- 6 oz (170g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup (90g) powdered sugar
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).
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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).
Recipe Notes
- Frozen strawberries can't be used in this recipe. They're too soggy and the flavor isn't as good!
Sarah Remington: Could I make 1 big trifle instead of using individual jars? If so, does that change any part of the recipe? May 27, 2019 at 5:42am
Jaclyn: It should be work well to make it into one big trifle instead. I don’t think you’d need to make any changes. May 27, 2019 at 10:22am
Eclispe: UPDATE: It turned out really well! Me and my family really likes it. Also Jaclyn, thank you for telling the size of the pipe tip and for sharing this recipe! May 12, 2019 at 3:41pm
Jaclyn: I’m so glad you family enjoyed these trifles! Thanks for coming back to leave a review! May 12, 2019 at 4:03pm
Eclispe: So what size pipe are you looking for exactly? May 9, 2019 at 7:08pm
Jaclyn: Piping tip? Probably about 1/2 to 3/4-inch. May 9, 2019 at 9:05pm
Ang: It was very good and easy to make. Thank you for this beautiful and delicious Strawberry Shortcake :-) November 17, 2018 at 9:33pm
Brenda: They look beautiful! I’m going to make them for my daughter’s bridal shower. I have a couple questions. First, what size cutter did you use? What size are the jars and where did you get them? I would love for my strawberry shortcakes to look like yours! Fingers crossed!! Thanks! August 14, 2018 at 5:30pm
Jaclyn: Sorry for the late reply, I believe this is the same product https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kerr-Regular-Mouth-Half-Pint-8-Oz-Glass-Mason-Jars-with-Lids-and-Bands-12-Count/16213401 then as far as the cutter goes it’s 2 1/3-inches (it’s a biscuit cutter). August 22, 2018 at 5:20pm
Joanie: What type of jar is that ? August 13, 2018 at 8:17pm
Jaclyn: Sorry for the late reply, I believe this is the same product https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kerr-Regular-Mouth-Half-Pint-8-Oz-Glass-Mason-Jars-with-Lids-and-Bands-12-Count/16213401 August 22, 2018 at 5:20pm