The lemon in this Lemon Strawberry Shortcake adds so much amazing tartness to this delicious classic dessert! Nothing provides more fresh spring zing than lemon zest with sweet strawberries on crumbly morsels of shortcake, all with fresh whipped cream on top. I LOVE the mix of sweet and citrus. Tender shortcake is ready FAST because they are baked in a pan and not individually. Originally posted July 1, 2014.

Strawberry Lemon Shortcake on a plate

I’m pretty sure that 3-year-old Charlotte is officially going on 13. Usually when she earns a time out, I take her to her room and shut the door. But the tables have turned. Now when she acts up, she runs to her room and slams the door in my face. It’s not dramatic at all or anything.

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Stack of shortcake with strawberry and lemon sauce

And the other day I started making cookies and asked if she wanted to help and SHE SAID NO. To cookies. To mother-daughter bonding time. What is going on?? Send help.

Sliced strawberries with lemon shortcake

Update in 2020: Charlotte is an amazing baker and LOVES spending time in the kitchen! Of all our kids she has a real sweet tooth and at 9 years old can take on any basic recipe on her own. She never says no to cookies these days. Whew! I guess I didn’t go too wrong.

Lemon strawberries on shortcake

How to make Lemon Strawberry Shortcake

Aren’t strawberry and lemon just the best combo? Seems natural to add it to shortcake. Especially since I’ve still got some crazy determined lemons hanging around on my tree outside. Seriously guys, it’s July, I’m picking peaches and plums, and you lemons are still thinking that this citrus party is rockin on.

Zesting lemon into flour mix

Well I’m all for it actually. Never enough lemons. Especially when it comes to Strawberry Lemon Shortcake. I love this recipe because it’s soooo easy. There is no butter. As much as I love you, dear butter, you are annoying to cut into flour. All you have to do for this shortcake is get the dry ingredients together and stir in some cream and lemon juice with a fork, then spread it in a pan. Easy peasy.

Mixed cake batter in bowl and pressed into pan

And then you bake it in a pan instead of rolling it out and cutting it, or dropping it onto a pan. You bake it all together and cut it afterward. So much faster. Also, so much softer. If you’re not into a soft shortcake recipe, this isn’t the one for you.

Cutting individual circle cakes

And did I mention the lemon whipped cream? Lemon. whipped. cream. Watch out, 4th of July BBQ. I’m ready for you.

Lemon strawberry mixture in bowl with sugar and zest

Zestify that lemon. Add more!! I definitely add it in with the strawberries. You can see that I don’t really hold back when it comes to my citrus. I’ve said it before: If I’m not sweating, you haven’t put in enough lemon!

Lemon strawberry shortcake

Strawberries + lemon zest = BFF. We do it in lemonade! Why not on shortcake? In fact, I can’t really think of anytime you would use strawberry where a little bit of lemon wouldn’t sparkle up the flavor nicely. Give it a try!

More great fresh fruit desserts to try!

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Easy Strawberry Lemon Shortcake

5 from 3 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Cooling Time: 10 minutes
Total: 38 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
The lemon in this Lemon Strawberry Shortcake adds so much amazing tartness to this delicious classic dessert! Nothing provides more fresh spring zing than lemon zest with sweet strawberries on crumbly morsels of shortcake, all with fresh whipped cream on top. I LOVE the mix of sweet and citrus. Tender shortcake is ready FAST because they are baked in a pan and not individually.

Ingredients

For the strawberry topping:

  • 4 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1-3 teaspoons lemon zest

For the shortcake:

  • 2 cups all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • 1 & 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh

For the Lemon Whipped Cream:

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice, fresh

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400 F. If there is room in your fridge or freezer, chill your stand mixer bowl or another large bowl, and the beaters you will use to whip the cream later. (don’t fret too much if you don’t have room.)
  • In a medium bowl, sprinkle the sliced strawberries with 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon (or more) lemon zest. Mix and refrigerate while you prepare the shortcake.
  • In another medium bowl, whisk together flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Use a fork to stir in the cream–do not over mix. While there are still some flour-y spots, add the 1/4 lemon juice. Continue to combine until it has just come together, just a few turns.
  • Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Spread the batter into the pan.
  • Bake at 400 F for about 18-20 minutes, until golden brown around the edges and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes.
  • Carefully lift the shortcake from the pan and let sit on a wire rack to cool some more.
  • Cut the shortcake into 6 pieces and then split each piece in half horizontally. (You can use a biscuit cutter if you want to do circles.)
  • Make the lemon whipped cream. Take your empty mixing bowl out of the fridge. Add the heavy cream and beat on high. Gradually add in the sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Continue to beat on high until stiff peaks form.
  • To assemble, place the bottom half of a shortcake on a plate. Top with strawberry topping, lemon whipped cream, and then the other half of the shortcake. Top with more whipped cream. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 761kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 177mg | Sodium: 457mg | Potassium: 307mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 1909IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 227mg | Iron: 3mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 761
Keyword: lemon, Shortcake, strawberry
Did you make this? I’d love to see it!Mention @thefoodcharlatan or tag #thefoodcharlatan!

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Comments

  1. My daughter Emily loves your blog, and shared this recipe. Your Easy Strawberry Lemon Shortcake was anything but short. It was long on flavor, delicious and easy! It looked and tasted like it belonged on a restaurant dessert specials menu! This one will be a repeat performance at our house! 

    1. I’m so glad it’s become a family favorite Christi! hard to beat shortcake with those summer berries!

  2. I usually only make chocolate desserts, and I never liked shortcake growing up (fruit for dessert?!), but these caught my eye and were delicious! They are a great summer dessert and my husband has been raving about them too. The directions were easy to follow and I will be making these again. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Okay that’s so funny because I’m totally with you Emily, usually a chocolate girl all the way. But there really is something about a moist shortcake… I’m so glad you and your husband liked it! Enjoy strawberry season!

  3. For the shortcake, is it 1/4 cup of lemon juice, or 1/4 of the juice squeezed from a lemon? And if so, how big of a lemon are you using? Thanks!

    1. Hey Mattie! You will need 1/4 cup of lemon juice that has been squeezed from a lemon. If you use a large lemon, it should be about 1/4 cup.

  4. That totally reminded me of the movie “13 Going On 30!” Except, well, toddler style. And if she won’t take your mother-daughter bonding time, can I be the substitute? Especially if you’re making shortcakes — these look incredible! So light & tender & juicy & perfect. Yum!

  5. All I have to say is FOUR is a zillion times better than age three. Just have confidence in that…and you’ll be able to sleep at night. She’ll still have the same fiery little personality- just won’t be quite so defiant…and ANNOYING. Something about age four…they just start to able to actually use REASON…they’re smarter, better able to express themselves through words, have a better understanding of how to get their way without throwing a tantrum. I’m not sure exactly what it is. But thank God for FOUR!!

    These strawberry lemon shortcakes look delicious!

  6. Eeks, my 3 year old boy is doing that to me now too and I can only imagine when my daughter reaches her brother’s age – hang in there mama :)
    These shortcakes are just the treats to help get us through these times. Yay for not having to cut any butter into the flour. I love the strawberry and fresh lemon combination!

  7. Yes! Strawberries and Lemon ARE the best combo! And those shortcakes look so flaky, serious hunger paisn over here….

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