Strawberry Shortcake Squares 🍓Fluffy vanilla cake, pillowy whipped cream, freshstrawberries — spring on a plate.

☀️

🧾 INGREDIENTS

🍰 Vanilla Cake Base

・250g (2 cups) all-purpose flour

・200g (1 cup) granulated sugar

・1 tbsp baking powder

・½ tsp fine sea salt

・3 large eggs, room temperature

・180ml (¾ cup) whole milk

・120g (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted

・2 tsp vanilla extract

・1 tbsp lemon zest

☁️ Whipped Cream Layer

・500ml (2 cups) heavy cream, cold

・80g (⅔ cup) powdered sugar

・1 tsp vanilla extract

・250g (9oz) mascarpone cheese, softened

🍓 Strawberry Layer

・500g (1.1 lbs) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

・2 tbsp granulated sugar

・1 tsp lemon juice

🌸 Garnish

・Edible spring flowers (pansies, violets, or pink

blossoms)

・Fresh mint leaves

・Extra strawberries

・Powdered sugar for dusting

🔢 INSTRUCTIONS

🔥 Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F) and line a 23cm (9-

inch) square pan with parchment.

🥣 Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large

bowl.

🥚 Beat eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla, and lemon zest

in a separate bowl until smooth.

🌬️ Fold wet into dry just until combined — do not

overmix.

🍰 Pour into the lined pan and bake for 25-30 minutes

until a skewer comes out clean.

❄️ Cool completely, then cut into 9 equal squares.

🍓 Toss strawberry slices with sugar and lemon juice, let

sit 10 minutes until glossy.

☁️ Whip cold cream with powdered sugar and vanilla to

soft peaks, then fold in mascarpone until pillowy.

🏗️ Slice each cake square horizontally, sandwich with

whipped cream and strawberries.

🌸 Top each square with more cream swirls, fresh

strawberry slices, edible flowers and a heavy dusting of

powdered sugar.