Today is National Strawberry Shortcake Day a holiday to honor the classic strawberry shortcake dessert and its place in American food culture.

Strawberry shortcake has a long and storied history. The dessert is believed to have its origins in Britain, where it was served as early as the 16th century.

The earliest known recipe for strawberry shortcake appears in the book The Accomplisht Cook by Robert May, which was published in 1685. This recipe is for a dessert made with a mixture of flour, butter, eggs, cream, and sugar, which is rolled out into a shortbread-like dough and then topped with strawberries and cream. The recipe was most likely an adaptation of the traditional British trifle.

 

The recipe for strawberry shortcake from The Accomplisht Cook by Robert May is as follows:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup cream

2 tablespoons rosewater

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
4. Gradually stir in the flour and cream until the dough is well mixed.
5. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick.
6. Cut the dough into small rounds and place on a greased baking sheet.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
8. Allow the shortcakes to cool before topping with fresh strawberries and cream.

During the Victorian Era, strawberry shortcake was a popular dessert served at teatime. The shortcake was made with a biscuit-like dough, which was then topped with fresh strawberries and cream. The dessert was a favorite of Queen Victoria, who is said to have enjoyed it at her royal tea parties. The popularity of strawberry shortcake during this time helped to establish the dessert as a classic in American cuisine.

In the United States, the modern strawberry shortcake first appeared in the late 19th century. The earliest known recipe for strawberry shortcake appeared in the Boston Cooking School Magazine in 1881.

The recipe for strawberry shortcake from the Boston Cooking School Magazine in 1881 is as follows:

 

Ingredients:

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 quart fresh strawberries

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.
4. Gradually stir in the milk until the dough is well mixed.
5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to about 1/2 inch thick.
6. Cut out small circles with a biscuit cutter or a glass.
7. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
8. Allow the shortcakes to cool before topping with fresh strawberries and cream.

 

Since then, the classic dessert has become a staple of American cuisine.

 

Strawberry Short Bread vs Strawberry Shortcake?

In case you were wondering, strawberry shortbread and strawberry shortcake are two different desserts. Strawberry shortbread is a type of cookie made with butter, sugar, and flour, and topped with fresh strawberries. Strawberry shortcake is a type of cake made with a biscuit-like dough, topped with fresh strawberries and cream.

 

World Records Associated with Strawberry Shortcake

1. The world’s largest strawberry shortcake was made in Hong Kong in 2008. It was 10 meters in diameter and weighed 2,200 kilograms.
2. The world’s longest strawberry shortcake was made in California in 2005. It was 4,000 feet long and weighed 9,000 pounds.
3. The world’s most expensive strawberry shortcake was made in Japan in 2010. It was valued at $1.3 million.

 

People famous for Strawberry Shortcake

1. Chef Emeril Lagasse is famous for his strawberry shortcake recipe, which features a homemade biscuit-like cake and fresh strawberries.
2. Chef Bobby Flay is famous for his strawberry shortcake recipe, which features a biscuit-like cake made with almond flour and fresh strawberries.
3. Chef Ina Garten is famous for her strawberry shortcake recipe, which features a biscuit-like cake, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream frosting.

 

But it is safe to say that strawberry shortcake is one of the most popular desserts in the United States and is enjoyed around the world. The question is, how do you like your strawberry shortcake? We’d love to hear in the comments.