Fresh Strawberry & Basil Shortcakes

I was provided coupons to purchase Driscoll’s Strawberries. All thoughts are 100% my own.

Summer is almost here and I can’t wait for all of the delicious fresh fruits and vegetables that will be available locally soon! Strawberries are the first berries we get to harvest here in Western New York, starting in June.  Thankfully all of our local grocery stores have been bursting with ripe & juicy strawberries from other warm places around the U.S., so we can make our favorite strawberry recipes early. These simple Fresh Strawberry & Basil Shortcakes make a wonderful dessert any day of the week!

A good strawberry shortcake has to start with good berries.  My go-to strawberries are always Driscoll’s Strawberries.  They are always ripe, juicy and delicious.  They are even available in organic too!

To make this tasty dessert, I start by rinsing my strawberries well. Once they have dried a bit, I take off the stems,  thinly slice the berries and place them in a medium sized glass mixing bowl.

If you’ve got fresh basil in your garden, go out and grab a small handful.  If you don’t have basil growing at home, you can always grab an individual container at any garden center this time of year.  It’s probably cheaper than buying the basil that’s available in the produce section and you can place it on your kitchen counter and use it the rest of the season!

I take my rinsed and dried fresh basil, roll it up tightly and chop it.  Add the basil to the strawberries and add a little sugar.  Give it a good stir and then let it sit so the flavors mingle and so you get a nice, sweet strawberry and basil syrup.  The basil adds such a wonderful flavor to the strawberries.  Your family & friends will love it!

While the strawberry mixture is sitting, go ahead and prepare your shortcakes.  I always use this Easy Buttery Homemade Shortcake recipe!  It’s sooo good! Please try this, or your own favorite shortcake recipe and skip the spongy, oily premade ones at the grocery store.

After your shortcakes come out of the oven, let them cool a bit.  I like to make this dessert in individual glass dishes.  My children just love it and it makes them feel extra special! 😉

Place roughly broken shortcake pieces into the bottom of your serving dishes.  Add a layer of strawberries with a little of the juice, some fresh whipped cream (you can use store bought if you like), the remaining shortcake, more berries and more whipped cream.

Top with a fresh strawberry and a few basil leaves and you’ve got yourself one pretty & delicious dessert!

If you are getting together with family & friends this weekend consider making this yummy treat! Enjoy!

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*Linking up at Savvy Southern Style, Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, Living Well Spending Less