If summer was a dessert, it would definitely be a strawberry shortcake in this house. I love strawberry shortcakes! It’s such a light, refreshing end to a grilled summer dinner or even brunch. Whenever I throw a cookout you can bet that you will find these strawberry shortcake bars and snickers ice cream sandwich cake on the dessert table. They are true summer staples around here and easy to make.
Hit up your local farmers market for some really big, fresh, sweet, and juicy strawberries and you’re in for a treat honey!
The cake layer of these strawberry shortcake bars is not your typical angel food cake. It’s more like a fluffy vanilla-butter-pound cake in taste. Dense enough to handle that cream cheese layer and strawberries, yet tender enough to melt in your mouth. It’s the perfect trio of flavors and textures.
Watch me make these strawberry shortcake bars from start to finish!
Strawberry Shortcake Bars
Ingredients
- BUTTER-VANILLA CAKE
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pint strawberries
- CREAM LAYER
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 8 oz frozen whipped topping Cool Whip
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a large bowl, beat together sugar and butter until creamy.
- Mix in eggs, baking powder, and salt.
- Alternate between adding in the flour and milk, beating after each addition.
- Beat until all ingredients are combined.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Pour batter evenly into the dish.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not overbake. The cake will be flat and light in color.
- Let cool completely. Set aside.
- Dice up strawberries. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and frozen whipped topping.
- Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on top of cooled cake.
- Top with fresh, diced strawberries.
- Refrigerate for 3 hours.
- Store in the refrigerator.
- Enjoy.
Notes
Make it colorful! I love using a mixture of fresh diced peaches, strawberries, kiwi, and pineapples on top. Very pretty!
Feeling lazy and don't want to make the homemade cake? It's ok. I've been there. Use a boxed butter-flavored pound cake mix and prepare it in a 9 x 13-inch pan.
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This is the perfect combo of simple and elegant dessert – thank you!!!!
Loooovve your videos and recipes
I have been making this for atleast 2 yrs delicious, making it tomorrow, , thanks Diva
Hi! This looks great! Question – should I thaw the Cool Whip before mixing?
I am hosting my first house party this 4th of July! I am so excited and ready to try this great recipe find! 🙂
Oo this looks and sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Simon
My ultimate favourite <3 Looks very delicious, I'm looking forward to make ittt
Excellent results! This is now my summer’s special occasion recipe. Thank you.
Made this for our Mother’s Day cookout/potluck. It was the star of the dessert table. Everyone loved it. I even had someone tell, “You put your foot all in it, didn’t you?!!!” (For those of you from the south, you’ll will recognize that as extremely high praise for a dish done well.) Thanks for sharing Monique!
I just watched your video for this strawberry bar recipe. Will definitely make for Easter. Thanks for sharing!!
i am into baking but i have not done it for years now..i was inspired by this recipe as i have a nephew (my cousin’s son) who is obsessed with strawberries 🙂 i think i’ll have to try this one of these days 🙂 thank you for this amazing recipe 🙂 God bless you..
looks good
I just made this for Mother’s day. Simply amazing!
Can you use oil in place of the butter?
I also want to know..is that oil is substitute of butter..in my asian country butter is so expensive…
Hi, I’m from uk and we don’t really use cup as our measurements, are you able to translate the cup measurements into ounces or grams for me please, as I would love to make this recipe… Thanks
8 ounces equal 1 cup
4 ounces equal 1/2 cup or around 125 grams
Ok so I told you on the strawberry cobbler review
that your site is my new favorite site,…so,when something is new&exciting to you,you just can’t get enough!:),cutting to the chase,I was so excited to make this,I made it around 3 a.m.!&was very pleased with the outcome,so yummy,my kids wanted this for breakfast(&don’t tell anyone but I gave in! :-)…thanks again,keep up the great work!!
This was my first cake from scratch…I made this for Father’s Day and decided to make this a double layer cake. WOW is a understatement. My dad especially said it was truly the right balance of sweetness. My family was pleasantly surprised. I will have to reveal my secret one day…;-) Thanks Monique.
I made this and took it to work and everyone loved it … everyone thought it would be perfect for a family barbeque. Can’t wait for the local berries to be ready.
Diva is 3 for 3 at my house!
This turned out great….Made it for a bbq and everyone loved it……
Mo this was absolutely delicious! I’ll be making this for the next family get together for sure! The only thing is I wish the cake was a little more moist. Any recommendations for next time?
How long do you let the cake cool before putting the icing on?
made this yesterday it was devine thanks 🙂
Finally tried this recipe last night and OMG…it was sooo good. Better than store bought. Not only was it good but it was soo easy to make. Thank you for another hit Monique!
Thanks for the awesome recipe ! Is there any substitute for the frozen whipped topping ? Because I can’t find it anywhere ! 🙁
Its just regular cool whip. Cool whip is in the frozen section of the grocery store.
Making this for Easter for dessert.
My older sister made this for her volleyball banquet the other day and it was gone in 2 SECONDS. It was a HUGE hit and she got compliments everywhere she went!
AMAZING… My daughter helped me she 5, she loves helping me cook… This will be my very first time preparing Thanksgiving Dinner, so can you do a video on a turkey?
what can i substitute for powdered sugar? i don’t have any at the moment 🙁
Whoops Forgot To Rate
My Family Absolutely Loved It! Thanks Monique. Your A Lifesaver.
looks so yummy u are great
Totally Delicious!!! We are a family of five and it disappeared in one day……EASY as 1-2-3 and the cake was so moist Yummy!
I made this today and I love it , it’s simply perfect 🙂
You make it super easy for me to cook, thank you ..
I made this yesterday with my daughter all I have to say is: WONDERFUL!!!!!! Everyone in the family loved it. Most of the indgredents I had at home already. The comment from my husband was the best he said ‘Babe you made this from scratch? I love it.” Thanks so much Monique!!!!!!!!! I have already received request to make this again. I am in the Military and I don’t get to cook as much as I would like becasue I don’t have time. You make it look easy and it really is!!!! I can’t wait unitl I try another recipe of yours!!!!!!
I made this for the 4th of July, we had a pot luck, so I decided to make a dessert. My family ate all of the cake and it was my first time baking. Thanks for the recipe!!
Diva, you may not have noticed but in the ingredients you have baking powder and in the directions you have baking soda. Which is it?
oops thanks luv! It’s baking powder. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys sometimes!!
This recipe looks scrumptious and little Superman helper is so adorable!
I made this for father’s day, my hubby loved it. Thanks for great recipe
I absolutely love this cake and will continue to make this recipe in the future.
I made this the other day and it is now one of my favorites. Better than store bought. You never disappoint Monique! 🙂