Strawberry Shortcake Cake Recipe – An Italian in my Kitchen

This strawberry shortcake cake is a twist on the classic dessert with moist vanilla yogurt cake layered between fresh strawberries and whipped cream! Drizzle with chocolate and this light summery dessert is perfect!

During the summer when strawberries are ripe and fresh, I love to use them in everything from homemade strawberry cake to strawberry tiramisu. 

With a simple yet classic flavor combination of strawberries and whipped cream, this strawberry shortcake cake is a summer dessert that everyone will love! 

Instead of using traditional shortcake for this recipe, I took all the traditional flavors of strawberry shortcake and turned it into a layer cake! The result is just as stunning as my strawberries and cream vertical cake but with lighter texture and a chocolate drizzle. 

Why You’ll Love This Easy Strawberry Shortcake Cake

• Beautiful layer cake: This cake combines fresh strawberry shortcake taste with a layered cake look and is both impressive and elegant! 
• Light summer dessert: With a light yogurt vanilla cake, fluffy whipped cream and sweet, fresh strawberries this cake is perfect for summer! 
• Easy to make: Just bake the cake, make the whipped cream and layer. It couldn’t be more simple! 
• Versatile: Strawberry shortcake is elegant enough for a dinner party, yet casual enough for a summer BBQ! Birthdays or special occasions, this dessert wins. 

Recipe Ingredients

• Cake: For the strawberry shortcake cake layers, you will need one recipe of my easy yogurt cake made with vanilla yogurt. This makes the best layers of moist vanilla cake for this shortcake. 
• Stabilized whipped cream: To make the homemade whipped cream you will need unflavored gelatine, whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and cold water. 
• Strawberries: You will need 20 juicy strawberries, leaving 5 whole for top of the cake and 10-15 washed and sliced.
• Dark chocolate: Good quality chocolate bar for dipping strawberries and the chocolate drizzle.

Substitutions And Variations

• Type of sugar: I like to use powdered sugar but granulated sugar will work for the whipped cream. If using your whisk attachment, just be careful that the sugar doesn’t get stuck at the bottom of the bowl.
• More layers: Double the cake recipe and make this strawberry shortcake cake recipe even taller with four layer. Double the strawberries and whipped cream, too. 
• Cake: Instead of a yogurt cake, try this vanilla birthday cake. It won’t be as light but still delicious. An Italian sponge cake would also be delicious! 
• Garnish: I love the chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate drizzle, but a dusting of powdered sugar, some fresh mint or a dollop of lemon curd is also delicious. 

How To Make Strawberry Shortcake Cake

To start, make the yogurt cake using vanilla yogurt for a vanilla cake. Grease and flour or spray two 8-inch cake pans, and divide the batter evenly between them. Bake then cool completely.

Make your stabilized whipped cream by first bringing the whipping cream to room temperature. In a small pot, add the cold water and sprinkle the gelatine on top. Rest for a minute, then heat on the stovetop just until the gelatine dissolves.

Cool then add the room temperature whipping cream. In a large mixing bowl, using a stand mixer with whisk attachment, add remaining cold heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until thickened then slowly add the gelatine mixture, beating until stiff peaks form.

Melt chocolate in the microwave or using a bain-marie until melted and smooth. Dip the whole strawberries into the chocolate then set aside on parchment paper until dry. Set the remaining melted chocolate aside to use for drizzle.

Assemble cake by placing one of the cakes on a plate and topping it with a third of the whipped cream filling. Place sliced strawberries on top, spread with a third of the whipped cream filling on top of the strawberries, then place the remaining cake on top of the filling, cover top with the remaining whipped cream filling.

Top cake with chocolate dipped strawberries then drizzle with remaining melted chocolate. Chill then slice and serve. 

Tips For The Best Strawberry Shortcake Cake

• Pick good strawberries: Smaller fresh berries that smell sweet are preferred. Look for firm, plump berries with a deep red color. 
• Macerated strawberries: Slice strawberries then place in a bowl with up to 3 Tablespoons of sugar or strawberry jam. The sugar will draw out the juices and make syrupy strawberries that really add amazing flavor to the cake.
• Best way to drizzle chocolate: Instead of a spoon, use a fork! It’s life changing.
• Chill cake: For easier slicing, chill cake for at least one hour before serving. 
• Fresh is best: While parts of this shortcake can be made ahead of time, it’s best to assemble and serve the same day. 

Can I Make This Cake Ahead Of Time? 

If you are planning to make and serve the day of, you can make this cake ahead of time. After assembling, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container  for up to 4 hours. 

The yogurt cake can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored at room temperature. You can also freeze the cake for up to 3 months. You can make the whipped cream up to 4 days in advance and store in the refrigerator. 

How To Store Leftover Cake?

While this cake tastes best fresh, you can store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Can I Freeze This Cake?

While you can freeze the cake on its own, I would not freeze the cake assembled. The texture will change upon thawing.

Can I Make This Into Smaller Individual Strawberry Shortcakes?

You could bake the yogurt cake in smaller cake pans or ramekins and then top with strawberries and whipped cream, although if you are looking for individual portions, I would just serve the strawberries with whipped cream over homemade biscuits, strawberry cupcakes or vanilla almond cupcakes. 

More Strawberry Dessert Recipes You will want to try

So when you come across some fresh strawberries, you should give this Strawberry Whipped Cream Vanilla Yogurt Cake a try, I think you will really enjoy it. Makes a great little birthday cake or a let’s have some cake day. Enjoy!

Updated from January 11, 2017.