Strawberry Shortcake
It's all in the delicate balance of flavors and textures. The airy, sponge-like texture of angel food cake provides the perfect base for juicy strawberries that have been macerated in sugar, releasing their natural sweetness. Topped with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, each bite is a symphony of flavors that will transport you to dessert paradise.
Ingredients
Angel Food Cake:
- 7 egg whites
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 100 g sugar
- 60 g all purpose flour
- 60 g sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ tsp salt
Strawberries
- 2½ cups strawberries sliced
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ½ lemon juiced
Whipped Cream
- 380 g heavy cream
- 3 tbsp sugar
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (160°C).
- In a bowl, sift together the flour, 60g of sugar, cornstarch and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, use a mixer to beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the lemon juice, then continue beating until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add the 100g of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Fold in the vanilla extract.
- Gently fold the sifted flour mixture into the egg white mixture until just combined.
- Spoon the batter into an ungreased angel food cake pan or a springform bundt pan. Use a knife to gently cut through the batter to remove any air pockets.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and springs back when lightly touched.
- Remove the cake from the oven and invert the pan onto a cooling rack. If using a springform bundt pan, invert the pan onto a funnel or a bottle to keep space between the pan and the cooling rack. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before removing.
- Prepare the strawberries. In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries, lemon juice and sugar. Let the strawberries macerate for at least 30 minutes to release their juices.
- Make the whipped cream. In a large bowl, beat the heavy cream and sugar until stiff peaks form.
- Assembly: once the angel food cake has cooled, use a serrated knife to carefully slice it horizontally into two layers.
- Place one layer of cake on a serving platter and top with a generous spoonful of macerated strawberries.
- Add a layer of whipped cream over the strawberries, then place another layer of cake on top.
- Garnish the top of the cake with additional strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream.