If you love homemade biscuits topped with juicy fresh strawberries and whipped cream, this gluten free strawberry shortcakes recipe is a must-make! The flakiness of the sweet biscuits makes this recipe a winner! Make it in under 30 minutes!
Jump to:
If you are looking for a simple dessert, I can't say enough about this simple gluten free strawberry shortcake recipe. I slightly modified my popular gluten free biscuit recipe to be a little sweeter so that the flavor of the strawberries and cream could stand out.
The biscuits are light and fluffy, and I have tested my flaky biscuit recipe with multiple gluten free flour blends so you know this is a tried and true recipe! If you love a homemade strawberry shortcake, this is the recipe you need to make next.
While you are visiting, I have lots of delicious gluten free strawberries recipes to make. Strawberries are available all year round at both our farmer's market and local grocery store but strawberry season is when they are at their best flavor. It is the best summer dessert!
While you are here, check out all of my incredible gluten free dessert recipes.
Why This Gluten Free Shortcake Recipe Is Great:
- These shortcakes are a quick and easy recipe to make. All you need is 30 minutes to make this classic dessert recipe.
- It is delicious with juicy ripe strawberries, but other berries also work beautifully alone or combined with strawberries. The strawberry flavor is what makes these shortcakes so special.
- I tested multiple gluten free flour blends so you know what works so that your biscuits are totally flaky and delicious.
- You can make the biscuits drop style, or with a biscuit cutter.
Ingredient Notes:
- Gluten Free Flour Blend - For this recipe, I used Cup4Cup because it was my favorite yielding big fluffy biscuits. I tested 8 different brands and quite a few were excellent as well. I also liked King Arthur Measure for Measure, Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1, Better Batter Artisian Blend Gum Free, Pillsbury Gluten Free Blend, and Gluten Free Bisquick Baking Mix.
- Xanthan Gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- Strawberries - Although fresh strawberries are best, you can use frozen strawberries too. Just thaw them and drain some of the juice.
- Pure Vanilla Extract - When you make a recipe with few ingredients like these strawberry shortcakes, you really want to use pure vanilla extract and not imitation.
- Whipped Cream - You can use any brand or make it from scratch. Check out to be sure Cool Whip and Other Brands Are Gluten Free.
Recipe Step By Step Directions:
Step 1: Add your gluten free flour blend, baking soda, sugar, and salt to a large
To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using either the spoon method or leveling method.
Spoon Method: You can also use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.
Leveling Method: Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.
Step 2: Add cold butter chunks to the dry ingredients and use a pastry blender (aka pastry cutter) to cut in the butter. You can also use two knives to cut the butter into crumb-sized pieces, but it takes longer.
Do not use a food processor because it tends to overmix the butter. If this happens you will not get the delicious flaky layers!
HINT: Freeze the butter chunks for 15 minutes to get them colder. This will really make delicious flaky pockets in your biscuits.
Step 3: In a small bowl, combine the milk and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients to form a nice biscuit dough.
Step 4: This is what the biscuit dough will look like. It will vary slightly by gluten free flour blend used. If you need to dust flour on the biscuit dough to roll the dough, that is fine.
Step 5: Use a rolling pin or your hand to press the biscuit dough to 1 ½ to 2 inches in thickness. (This will depend on how tall you want your biscuits.)
Use a biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuit shapes. You can also use a glass or cookie cutter.
Step 6: Preheat your oven to 425º F. Place the biscuits on a parchment paper-lined or prepared baking sheet. Be sure to space them out so they are not touching. Brush milk over each biscuit. This will help them brown on top to a nice golden color.
Step 7: Bake the biscuits for 15-18 minutes. The baking time will vary by the size of the biscuits.
Step 8: Remove from the oven and allow the biscuits to cool on a wire rack. Slice the shortcake biscuits in half when cool.
Step 9: Wash your strawberries. Slice the strawberry tops off and then slice the strawberries into pieces. Place the cut strawberries into a bowl and add the orange juice.
Optional: If your strawberries are sweet, you do not need to add sugar. If your strawberries were purchased in the off-season (winter) you can add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar to sweeten them up.
Step 10: Top a biscuit half with the strawberry mixture. Top with whipped cream. I like to use Truvia brand dairy-free whipped cream because it doesn't have corn syrup. Cool whip is another option.
How To Make Whipped Cream:
You can also make homemade whipped cream by adding heavy whipping cream to a standing mixer with the whisk attachment or to a large bowl with an electric handheld mixer. Whip the cream for 5 minutes until it forms stiff peaks. If you like sweet whipped cream, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar to the heavy cream.
This whipped cream would also taste amazing on my Gluten Free Strawberry Crumble Bars!
Storage:
For best results, store these gluten free shortcakes separately from their toppings. The biscuits can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 3 days, or frozen in a zipper bag for up to 4 months.
The strawberries can also be made ahead and stored in an air-tight container. I recommend whipping the cream the day you plan to serve these gluten free strawberry shortcakes.
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
My best tip for making the best shortcakes is to use good unsalted butter and be sure it is really cold when you are cutting it into the flour.
I love to use blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries in shortcakes. You can also use a combination of several types of berries. Peaches are also delicious in the summer.
You can easily make this recipe sugar-free by omitting the sugar in the biscuits.
Check out this fun shortcakes web story too!
More Gluten Free Dessert Recipes:
- Gluten Free Whoopie Pies
- Easy Gluten Free Blueberry Crumble Bars
- Gluten Free Strawberry Pies
- Gluten Free Cake Mix Cobbler
📖 Recipe
Easy Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
Ingredients
Biscuits:
- 2 cups gluten free flour blend
- 2 tablespoons baking powder *It must be aluminum free!
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter *Cold butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk * see note
Strawberry Topping
- 2 pints strawberries * see note
- ¼ cup orange juice * see note
- Optional 1 teaspoon sugar
Whipped Cream
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream * see note
- optional 1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425º F.
- Add your gluten free flour blend, baking powder, sugar, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk to blend together.
- Add cold butter chunks to the dry ingredients and use a pastry blender to cut in the cold butter. You can also use two knives to cut the butter into crumb-sized pieces, but it takes longer.
- In a small bowl, combine the milk and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients to form the dough.
- Use a rolling pin or your hand to press the biscuit dough to 1 ½ to 2 inches in thickness. (This will depend on how tall you want your biscuits.)
- Use a biscuit cutter to cut out the biscuit shapes. You can also use a glass or cookie cutter.
- Place the biscuits on a parchment paper-lined or prepared baking sheet. Be sure to space them out so they are not touching. Brush milk over each biscuit. This will help them brown on top.
- Remove the biscuits after baking for 15-18 minutes. The baking time will vary by size of the biscuits.
- Wash your strawberries. Slice the strawberry tops off and then slice the strawberries into pieces. Place the cut strawberries into a bowl and add the orange juice and optional sugar.
- Top a biscuit half with the strawberry mixture. Top with whipped cream.
- To make homemade whipped cream, add the heavy whipping cream to a standing mixer with the whisk attachment or to a large bowl with an electric handheld mixer. Whip the cream for 5 minutes until it forms stiff peaks. If you like sweet whipped cream, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of sugar to the heavy cream.
Notes
- I used Cup4Cup for this recipe because it makes biscuits fluffy. I also tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours and I can not guarantee the recipe will work if you use other mixes.
- Xanthan Gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- This bears repeating, you must use aluminum-free baking powder. Regular baking powder will leave a horrible bitter taste.
- You can make this biscuits recipe with vegan butter and non-dairy milk but the biscuits will not turn out as flaky and soft.
- It is fine to use frozen strawberries, but you will need to thaw them and drain the extra juice.
- These biscuits will keep fresh in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. You will need to warm them in the microwave if they get dense from being in the refrigerator.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
If you love the recipes you find on my blog, I would love for you to sign up for my newsletter (and get my free gluten free lemon dessert e-cookbook!)
Pam
On the recipe it calls for vanilla in the whipped topping but not the biscuit portion of it. But in the directions is says to add the vanilla to the milk so that’s what I did. Could be confusing to someone who never has baked before or just learning. I don’t mean to sound picky. They look delicious!! They tasted delicious also!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Pam, thank you so much. I clarified in the recipe better. Thank you!
Brooke
I used dairy free margarine and milk, and they seemed to still work well. I do question the amount of salt, 1 1/2 T seems high, I used less and it still seems plenty salty. Perhaps it should be 1/2 tsp! It also says add vanilla to milk but vanilla is not listed on the ingredients, Glad I read ahead.
Over it worked, but will use 1/2 tsp salt next time.
Sandi Gaertner
It should be 1/2 teaspoon, not 1/2 T.
Vicky Hopkins
You do not list the amount of vanilla extract to use in this recipe. I am experienced enough that I can "wing it," but others might not be able to.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Vicky, I am not sure what you mean. The vanilla extract is part of the whipped cream recipe and it lists 1 teaspoon.
Andria G.
She's talking about step #4. Combine milk and vanilla. But vanilla is not listed in the ingredients for the biscuits, only the whipped cream.
sharon
how much vanilla to be mixed with milk?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Sharon, one teaspoon of vanilla.
Caroline
Made these shortcake biscuits and they came out perfect! I used Cup4Cup gf flour like suggested. They came out soft & fluffy and we ate them with our berries & cream while still slightly warm. So so good!!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you loved the recipe. I really appreciate your coming back to let everyone know.
Leslie
Sounds yummy! Should step #8 be cooking time rather than “remove?” How long should biscuits cool before slicing and topping?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Leslie, they can cool 10 minutes or longer. I added clarification about removing the biscuits too. Thank you!