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Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake wide shot of entire cake on a white serving pedestal.

Easy Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake

Easy Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake - this gorgeous, simple cake is so quick to make too, with only about 20 minutes of hands on preparation. It's destined to be one of your go-to desserts.
Course Cake/Dessert, Dessert
Cuisine North American
Keyword shortcake, strawberry shortcake
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 12 or more servings
Author Barry C. Parsons

Ingredients

For the chocolate cake

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup cocoa
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup soured milk just add a tbsp lemon juice or vinegar to the milk and stir.
  • 1 cup brewed black coffee cold
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Vanilla Whipped Cream

  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 4 tbsp icing sugar powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

For the Strawberries

  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups of fresh sliced strawberries
  • 4 tbsp sugar

Instructions

To make the cake batter

  1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer for 2 minutes.
  2. Pour into 2 greased and floured 8 or 9 inch cake pans.
  3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Cool in pans for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

To prepare the macerated strawberries

  1. Simply toss the strawberries in the sugar and let stand at room temperature for about an hour.
  2. Occasionally toss the strawberries and sugar together as they macerate.
  3. Be sure to reserve the juice/syrup that forms.

To prepare the Vanilla Whipped Cream

  1. Simply beat the whipping cream, icing sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer until firm peaks form.

To construct the cake

  1. Strain the strawberries , reserving the syrup.
  2. Poke holes in both layers of cake with a wooden skewer and spoon the reserved syrup over the cake, allowing it to sink into the holes.
  3. Place the first cake layer on a cake plate and spread on a thin layer of whipped cream to help the strawberries stay in place.
  4. Layer the  strawberries over the cream, then pipe on or spread on about 1/2 of the whipped cream.
  5. Add the second layer of cake and repeat the thin layer of cream, layered strawberries and the remaining whipped cream.
  6. Garnish with additional strawberries if you like and a drizzle e of melted chocolate.