Strawberry Shortcake Wedding Cake: The Ultimate Elegant Dessert
Quick Overview
Contents
Total Time: 2-3 hours
Servings: 12-20
Difficulty: Intermediate
Dietary: Vegetarian
Essential Equipment
Gather these key tools before starting:
- Stand mixer
- 8″ or 9″ round cake pans
- Offset spatula
- Wire cooling racks
- Serrated knife
Ingredients You’ll Need
Cake Base
- 2-3 cups cake flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2-4 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp baking powder
- Vanilla extract
Strawberry Filling
- 2-3 lbs fresh strawberries
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp strawberry jam
Stabilized Whipped Cream
- 2-3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Preparation Method
Cake Layers
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Beat until light and fluffy
- Add Eggs: Incorporate one at a time
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk
- Bake at 350°F: 20-30 minutes until golden
Strawberry Preparation
- Wash and hull strawberries
- Slice and macerate with sugar
- Let sit to draw out natural juices
Whipped Cream Frosting
- Whip cream to medium peaks
- Stabilize with cream cheese
- Add powdered sugar gradually
Assembly Technique
- Level cake layers
- Spread thin layer of whipped cream
- Add macerated strawberries
- Repeat layering
- Finish with cream and fresh berries
Pro Tips
- Chill layers before assembly
- Drain strawberries to prevent soggy cake
- Use cake dowels for multi-tier stability
- Cake turntable helps smooth frosting
Storage & Serving
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Serve chilled
- Best consumed within 24 hours
Variations
- Substitute raspberries
- Add almond extract
- Use gluten-free flour blend
- Create individual mini-cakes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overmixing batter
- Overbaking layers
- Using warm cream for frosting
- Overloading with strawberry juice
Dietary Adaptations
- Gluten-free: Use alternative flour
- Lower sugar: Reduce sugar in filling
- Dairy-free: Coconut cream alternative
Wedding Cake Styling
- Garnish with fresh mint
- Add edible flowers
- Create naked cake look
- Use shortbread crumbs for texture
Pro Wedding Tip: This cake style works beautifully for spring and summer weddings, offering a fresh, elegant dessert that feels both classic and contemporary.