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Strawberry Shortcake Bars

Strawberry shortcake bars feature buttery crust juicy filling and creamy topping

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These bars capture the classic dessert’s charm in a fuss-free, shareable form. They feature a tender buttery crust, a sweet-tart strawberry filling, and a cloud of whipped cream, all made with simple, accessible ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream, very cold
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides.
  2. Make the shortcake crust: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and work it in with a pastry cutter, forks, or fingertips until mixture resembles coarse sand. Stir in beaten egg and 1 tsp vanilla until a crumbly dough forms.
  3. Press about two-thirds of the dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes until set and pale gold at edges.
  4. While base bakes, make filling: In a saucepan, combine strawberries, 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat 5-7 minutes, stirring, until berries break down and mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
  5. Spread warm strawberry filling evenly over the par-baked crust. Crumble the reserved dough evenly over the top.
  6. Bake for 18-20 more minutes, until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly at edges.
  7. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
  8. Just before serving, make whipped cream: In a chilled bowl, whip cold heavy cream, powdered sugar, and 1/2 tsp vanilla until soft peaks form. Spread evenly over cooled bars. Slice and serve.

Notes

For clean cuts, let bars cool completely before adding whipped cream and slicing. Use cold butter for a tender crust. Bars (without cream) can be made 1-2 days ahead or frozen for up to 2 months.

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