It’s likely that someone will correct me for using the term “shortcake” in this recipe name. Strawberry shortcake is traditionally made with a sweet cake or biscuit, so technically these cute little cups are not shortcakes. But I called them Mini Shortcake Cups because I know plenty of people who have adapted the old favorite by using angel food cake.
So where do the blueberries come in you ask? Just like in our American Flag Brownies, the blueberries create a patriotic color scheme making them perfect for Memorial Day or the 4th of July!
Mini Shortcake Cups for Summer
The summer months bring us bushels and baskets full of ripe strawberries, raspberries, and other seasonal fruits. Summer also means that we want to try and keep things a little lighter in the dessert department, so angel food cake is an ideal choice.
Sure, you can make an angel food cake from scratch, or you can grab one from your local grocery store already made.
I think you’re really going to love these mini shortcake cups because they are so incredibly easy to throw together, they are small, but not too small, and they look totally fun and impressive. When food looks fun, it draws people in.
Your guests will comment and smile and happily take one because it looks like you worked so hard on them! And bonus, less than 60 calories per cup!
RELATED: you might also like this recipe – American Flag Cupcakes
A Few Tips
- I used basic white plastic spoons with a few star-shaped foam stickers. Easy peasy. If you’re looking for cute, try the short wooden spoons. But be forewarned, you can’t find those at Walmart or the dollar store, you’ll have to plan ahead and order them or find a party supply store that carries them.
- When looking for containers for these individual shortcake cups I found some plastic snack cups with lids at Walmart in the aisle where plastic utensils, paper plates, and napkins are sold. I thought these were ideal in case anyone wanted to take any home, they could just pop on a lid!
- You can use Cool Whip if you like. I actually used whipping cream and I beat it in my mixer with some powdered sugar. I don’t have anything against Cool Whip or canned whipping cream. To each his own. So you go ahead and use whatever you like best. It won’t offend me!
- If you want to make these mini shortcake cups ahead of time you totally can just don’t add the whipped cream until you are almost ready to serve them. Whipped cream, especially fresh that you have whipped yourself that does not contain stabilizers, can begin to collapse as time passes by. It’s safe to add the whipped topping a few hours before serving, just keep them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to hand them out.
Ingredients for Mini Shortcake Cups
- Prepared angel food cake, cut into cubes
- Fresh strawberries and blueberries (see variations below)
- Whipped cream
Helpful Kitchen Tools
- plastic snack cups
- plastic spoons or wooden ice cream spoons
- paring knife
- serving tray
I have a patriotic American flag kabob recipe that uses angel food cake as well, so if you have leftovers from these little cups, don’t despair! You can definitely use them up there.
Variations of these little Shortcake Cups
You don’t have to stick with just blueberries and strawberries. Heck, some people might not like strawberries (gasp!). You can use raspberries for the red fruit and blackberries for the “blue” fruit. There’s a photo below showing a few different variations, do whatever you want!
There are no rules. You could even bake up a box of white cake or use a pound cake if you want. You just do whatever makes you happy and that will make your guests happy too.
More Ideas for Patriotic Holidays
We have Memorial Day at the end of May and Independence Day on the 4th day of July. Some people like to make patriotic desserts for Labor Day as well, even though it’s not really designated as a patriotic holiday.
But if you’re looking for a couple more ideas, this Patriotic Candy Bark is fun to make and the kids really love it. It’s also great to package up as a gift! If you really like layered desserts, these no-bake Berry Cheesecake Trifles are assembled in mason jars, making them very portable.
I hope you have an enjoyable holiday. It’s such a great opportunity to spend time with your family and friends. So be sure to take advantage of it!
More Patriotic Recipes
- Patriotic Punch
- Red, White and Blue Poke
- Taco Salad Flag
- Patriotic Charcuterie Board
- 4th of July Jello Shots
Mini Shortcake Cups
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 4 cups angel food cake cut into cubes
- 1 cup Strawberries chopped
- 1 cup Blueberries
- 2 cups Whipped cream
Instructions
- Line bottom of plastic cups with cubed angel food cake
- Add a layer of chopped strawberries
- Add a layer of blueberries
- Add a generous dollop of whipped cream
- Garnish with sliced strawberry
Nutrition
This post was originally published on this blog on May 19, 2017.
Amanda Davis
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Amber says
Hello 👋🏾 do you think I can store these in the refrigerator overnight? I want to make a couple for lunches.
Amanda Davis says
Overnight should be fine!
Chas says
Where can i purchase those mini cups ?
These are a wonderful idea !
Amanda Formaro says
I got mine from walmart!
Ashley says
I would like to make these for a brunch I’ll be hosting. Do you think they can hold up outside in September? If so, for how long? Thank you!
Amanda Formaro says
Are you able to keep them in a shady area? If so, they should be fine for several hours. A tip is to place them in a tub or pan filled with ice. :)
Sharon S says
Can you please tell me how many ounces the cups are? I’m going to make these for my son’s upcoming outdoor wedding..
Thank you.
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Sharon! There are 5.5 oz, this is what they look like https://amzn.to/3isjgDO
Amy says
What a great treat for Memorial Day! Just wanted to let you that I featured your post on my blog if you’d like to share it. https://amysenter.com/may-pinterest-roundup/ Happy May!
Amanda Formaro says
Thank you I appreciate it!
Dottie says
I made the mini shortcake cups, they were very easy to make and turned out beautiful. Everyone at out 4th of July party loved them. I would definitely make and serve them again. Thank you for a great recipe!!!!!!!
Amanda Formaro says
How fun!! Thanks for sharing Dottie!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
What a great party treat! I’d love it if you shared this on the What’s for Dinner Link up!
http://www.lazygastronome.com/whats-dinner-sunday-link-98/