Mini Mason Jar Strawberry Shortcakes Recipe

You’re about to discover my favorite summer dessert that never fails to impress guests at backyard gatherings. These Mini Mason Jar Strawberry Shortcakes combine buttery homemade biscuits, juicy macerated strawberries, and clouds of fresh whipped cream in perfect portable portions. I’ve spent years perfecting the layering technique to create that stunning visual appeal, and I’ll share all my tricks for making each component shine. Let’s start building these beautiful little jars of pure happiness.

Why You’ll Love These Mason Jar Shortcakes

These adorable mini mason jar strawberry shortcakes have become my absolute favorite summer dessert to serve at parties and backyard gatherings.

You’ll love how perfectly portioned and portable they are, making them ideal for any outdoor event.

I’m always amazed by how the layers of buttery shortcake, fresh strawberries, and whipped cream look so elegant in these clear jars – they’re truly Instagram-worthy!

Essential Ingredients & Equipment

Creating these delightful mason jar desserts requires just a handful of quality ingredients and basic kitchen tools you likely already have on hand. You’ll need 4-5 small mason jars, fresh strawberries, heavy cream, vanilla extract, sugar, and my favorite buttermilk biscuit mix. I always keep an extra jar handy because these disappear quickly in my house. A hand mixer makes whipping cream easier, but a whisk works too.

Making the Perfect Shortcake Biscuits

While many shortcake recipes call for store-bought biscuits, I’ve found that making them from scratch creates an irresistibly tender and buttery base for our mason jar desserts.

You’ll need 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 cup sugar, and 6 tablespoons cold butter.

I love watching these biscuits rise into perfectly golden rounds in just 12-15 minutes at 425°F.

Preparing Fresh Strawberry Filling

Fresh strawberries transform into pure magic with just a few simple ingredients and gentle mixing.

Start by hulling and slicing 2 cups of ripe strawberries, then toss them with 1/4 cup sugar and a splash of vanilla extract.

Let them macerate for 30 minutes – I love watching the syrup develop as the sugar works its magic.

For extra tang, you can add a squeeze of lemon juice.

Homemade Whipped Cream Tips

Making perfect whipped cream is one of my favorite parts of this recipe, since it’s incredibly simple yet makes such a dramatic difference.

For the best results, chill your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes before whipping.

Use heavy cream that’s very cold, add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar per cup of cream, and whip until soft peaks form.

Assembly and Serving Instructions

Now that you’ve mastered the whipped cream, let’s put these adorable mini desserts together!

Start by placing cubed shortcake pieces at the bottom of each mason jar.

Layer with fresh strawberries and a generous dollop of whipped cream.

Repeat the layers once more, finishing with a final swirl of cream and a perfect berry on top.

You’ll want to serve these beauties right away!

Storage and Make-Ahead Options

While these delightful mini desserts are best enjoyed immediately, you’ll be happy to know there are several ways to prep components ahead of time.

You can bake the shortcakes up to 2 days in advance, storing them in an airtight container at room temperature.

The macerated strawberries will keep for 24 hours in the fridge, and you can whip the cream up to 4 hours before serving.