Hard to mess up, easy to love, and ready to impress a crowd! Layers of shortcake, whipped cream, and strawberries make this Strawberry Shortcake Trifle a dessert dream come true.

It’s time, you guys. Strawberry Shortcake Trifle time. This is one of those recipes that I have been GIDDY with excitement to publish because I just know you’re going to love it! And have you ever seen a more photogenic dish? She’s a real babe, I tell you what.

Strawberry Shortcake in a Trifle!?

Why not?! But seriously, this recipe is basically the same as my classic Strawberry Shortcake, just with a different presentation. If the idea of making shortcake from scratch scares you, this is totally your recipe. It’s reeeeeally hard to mess up and the presentation has a total WOW factor that’s great for the ego.

How do you macerate strawberries?

This is the secret to perfect strawberries, and if the 20-point Scrabble word “macerate” makes you nervous, don’t worry. It just means we’re:

Slicing the strawberries
Tossing them in a bit of sugar and lemon
Letting them marinate for a bit

The shortcake doesn’t actually have a ton of sugar in it, so we’re letting these macerated strawberries bring the real sweetness and OMG do they deliver!

How to store Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

This is a really great dessert to make the day before you want to serve it, 1.) because it gets it done and out of the way ahead of time (goodbye, stress!), and 2.) it tastes EVEN BETTER when everything’s sat and gotten to know each other a bit before you serve it. Just assemble, pop it in the fridge, and forget about it until you’re ready to blow everyone’s mind with your epic dessert skills.

Can you use store-bought shortcake mix?

Of course you can! Honest truth, though, I really think the homemade shortcake is what makes this recipe absolutely bonkers good. It’s so simple, has just 6 ingredients, and comes together in a few short minutes before it’s oven ready. Just trust me on this one, guys! Let me be your guru and lead you with confidence into the world of homemade shortcake!

My favorite strawberry recipes

Looking for more quick and easy recipes featuring strawberries? Try these:

And without further ado, let’s make some Strawberry Shortcake Trifle!

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

Hard to mess up, easy to love, and ready to impress a crowd! Layers of shortcake, whipped cream, and strawberries make this Strawberry Shortcake Trifle a dessert dream come true.

Servings 10

Ingredients

For the Shortcake

2 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups heavy cream

For the Berries

2 pounds strawberries, sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice

For the Whipped Cream

3 cups heavy whipping cream (COLD)
6 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray an 8-inch round baking pan and set aside. In a medium bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Add the heavy cream and stir to combine. Mixture will be sticky.
Pour mixture prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack to cool completely.
In a separate bowl add the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice and gently stir to combine. Set aside. The sugar and lemon juice will help bring out the natural juices in the berries and create a light sauce.
Meanwhile make the whipped cream. In a bowl or stand alone mixer, beat the cold whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat another 1-2 minutes.
Once cake has cooled prepare to assemble the trifle. Begin with a layer of crumbled shortcake on the bottom followed by a layer of whipped cream, then strawberries. Repeat layers until ingredients run out. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to serve. This dish is best if able to sit in the fridge overnight.

When you try a recipe, use the hashtag #lifeisbutadish on INSTAGRAM for a chance to be featured in my stories! Follow Life is but a Dish on PINTEREST | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM for all the latest content and behind the scenes!

Remember to subscribe to my free Life is but a Dish Weekly Newsletter and receive easy recipes delivered to your inbox every week!