Summer is right around the corner and we’re definitely ready for fresh food, the beach and fun in the sun! One of the best ways to celebrate is National Strawberry Shortcake Day on June 14th–yum! This fluffy delicious dessert has been crowned as one of summer’s most popular desserts, and for good reason! However, there is little information about how this cake came to be. It’s supposedly been around since the 1850’s and has roots in the United Kingdom, but who invented it and for what reason remains a mystery. Our best guess is a chef’s never-ending quest for deliciousness! [photo via tasteofhome]
For a dessert this popular, we’ve come up with a unique recipe that puts a twist on the classic dessert. Including all the key ingredients: shortcake, strawberries, and whipped cream, this dessert is easy to make and sure to be a hit at your next barbecue or picnic. If that sounds like a long list of ingredients, don’t be intimidated! The extra effort you put into this lovely cake will definitely pay off. Allow us to present: the Upside Down Strawberry Shortcake!
Ingredients
- 1 cup miniature marshmallows
- 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen sweetened sliced strawberries
- 1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup 2% milk
- Fresh strawberries and whipped cream
Directions
- Sprinkle marshmallows evenly into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish; set aside. In a small bowl, combine strawberries and gelatin powder; set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.
- Pour batter over the marshmallows. Spoon strawberry mixture evenly over batter. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Garnish with strawberries and whipped cream. Yield: 12-16 servings.
One of the nice things about this recipe is that you can use almost any kind of fruit in place of the strawberries. Fresh fruit is a big part of summer, so feel free to change it up a bit by using fresh blueberries, peaches, or raspberries! Every time you serve it, your family is sure to love it! There’s no denying that strawberry shortcake is a classic loved by all.
So loved in fact, its name is synonymous with another timeless treasure – Strawberry Shortcake, the doll! What most people don’t know is that Strawberry and her cat, Custard, got their start as a much-loved greeting card character. Her real claim to fame came in the 80’s when she branched out into the world of dolls, stickers, video games and a host of other little girls’ memorabilia. She, and at that point, all of her friends were the undeniable love of little girls in not only the United States, but all around the world!
Her legacy continued with a television show which ran from 1980-1985. It was relaunched in 2003, then again in 2009 as Strawberry Shortcake’s Berry Bitty Adventures. We’ve included a full-length episode below so that you and your young ones can enjoy this wonderful cartoon, maybe while eating some upside down strawberry shortcake!
