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My Great-Great Grandma’s From Scratch Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

By Michelle Marine

on Jun 09, 2016, Updated Oct 25, 2023

9 Comments

This post is sponsored by ALDI. All opinions are mine.

June 14 is National Strawberry Shortcake Day. Do you have your recipe ready? Today I’m sharing my Great-Great Grandma’s recipe, passed down to me by Grandma. It’s not only made from scratch with quality ingredients, but it is hands-down, the best strawberry shortcake I have ever had. If you like flaky pie crust, whipped cream, and strawberries, you need this in your life. 

My Great-Great Grandma’s From Scratch Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

I’m divulging all the secret family recipes lately! This recipe makes such a delicious strawberry shortcake. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but strawberry shortcake is best made with fresh strawberries from the garden. If you don’t have a garden, I recommend using organic strawberries. Strawberries are sadly one of the most sprayed fruits and there’s just no reason to put that many harmful chemicals in your body if you can avoid it. I love that ALDI carries organic strawberries for a price that won’t break the bank. I’ve found them recently for $2.99 for 16 ounces, but they also have conventional strawberries for .99! {Of course, these prices are subject to change and vary by location.}

My Great-Great Grandma did not use the spongy little shortcakes you can buy at the store these days when she made her shortcake years and years ago. Instead, she used homemade pie crusts and her pie crust recipe is really the best recipe I’ve ever made. My grandma said it was imperative to use lard, but she rendered hers herself and I don’t do that. So, I use coconut shortening instead and think it’s delicious. It makes a super flaky and yummy pie crust.

To make this recipe, first slice, sugar, and slightly mash a ton of fresh berries. My grandma also said not to skimp on the sugar, but I honestly don’t like my berries as sweet as she did, so I use less. You use whatever makes you happy. 🙂

While the berries are getting all gooey, make your crusts. Also, make some homemade whipped cream if you want. My great-great grandma’s recipe does not call for whipped cream, but I love it! So I add it. I love to make homemade whipped cream in my Vitamix. If you don’t have one, just use your mixer. It’s really quick and easy to make homemade whipped cream. And so much better than the store bought stuff.

When everything’s done, assemble the dessert – it’s a layered dish like lasagna. Ok, it’s nothing like lasagna really. Except it’s layered. 😉 Start with crust and end with strawberries. My Grandma said it’s better to leave some of the pie crust out than to end with too much. She also said it’s best to assemble this dessert while the crusts are still warm. But she liked the pie crusts really mushy and I do not prefer it that way. So I use cooled crusts and assemble right before I serve it.

Here’s my Great-Great Grandma’s recipe for you! Enjoy!

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Yield: 6

My Great-Great Grandma's from Scratch Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

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Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Pie Crust

• 2 cups Simply Nature Organic All Purpose Flour, unbleached
• 1 cup Coconut Oil Shortening {or lard like my great-great-grandma used}
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/4 cup cold water + 1 TBS if necessary

Strawberries

• 3 quarts organic strawberries
• 1/3-1/2 cup Simply Nature Organic Cane Sugar

Homemade Whipped Cream {if desired}

• 1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 TBS Simply Nature Organic Cane Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Instructions

For the strawberries

2. Stem and partially crush 3 quarts organic strawberries.
3. Add sugar to taste and place in fridge so that it will get nice and juicy.

For the crust

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Mix salt with flour. Cut in shortening with the edge of a spoon until all the flour is used and the mixture resembles crumbles.
4. Sprinkle water on top and stir until the mass holds together.
5. Place on floured board and knead lightly just until the dough can be rolled. Work in as little flour as possible.
6. Divide dough into 6 portions. Roll each into thin, flat circles. Put circles on cookie sheets and back until browned to suit, 18-22 minutes.

For the whipped cream

2. Add cream, sugar, and vanilla and beat to desired consistency.

To Assemble Shortcake

2. Place crusts and berries together in large bowl, starting with the crust and alternating with the berries.
3. Don't be stingy with the berries, my grandma said. It's better to not use all the crusts if there's a shortage of berries.
4. Add whipped cream to individual serving bowls.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 4148Total Fat: 182gSaturated Fat: 111gCholesterol: 542mgSodium: 3449mgCarbohydrates: 578gSugar: 288gProtein: 70g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram tagging @simplifylivelove! I love to see your photos!

Many thank to ALDI USA for sponsoring this post! I hope you’ll connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. Seriously, I love ALDI! Enjoy this recipe and Happy National Strawberry Shortcake Day!