How to Make the Best Strawberry Shortcake

This is the best strawberry shortcake. It's prettier, it's interesting, and it tastes better. 

And it's crazy easy.  Nothing hard.

Make the Cake

This is a Vanilla Baby Cake Mix. It's a cream cake, pudding-in-the-mix. It's not one of those airy store cakes that collapse when you touch them. It has substance. If you put chips or nuts in it, they stay suspended and don't sink to the bottom.

It balances better with the berries and cream.

You can bake this cake in round cake pans or a 9x13-inch baking pan. Push the batter toward the edges of the pan so that it is lower in the middle. The top of the cake will then be flat and easier to stack.

If you use the rectangular pan, cut the cake into equal halves to make a two-layer dessert.

Whip the Cream

The whipped cream is pink. And it's strawberry flavored. That makes all the difference. 

Use heavy whipping cream. There are three ways to make strawberry whipped cream--with strawberry jam, strawberry pastry filling, or strawberry flavor. Strawberry pastry filling is the best — and it costs less. Put it in as you are whipping the cream. Add enough to both flavor and color the whipped cream. You can add a drop or two of food color to get the right tint.

Whipped cream melts, so serve your desserts right away. Or use the secret, magic way to keep your whipped cream attractive all day. Add meringue powder. (Meringue powder is made from egg whites.)

Stack 'em Up

Stack them as shown. There are strawberries between the layers.

Here is another way to make a fresh strawberry cake with a Vanilla Cream Cake. For this, you'll need a strawberry slicer for thin slices between the layers.