Name: Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups 1-to-1 gluten-free flour; 2 tablespoons coconut sugar; 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon xanthum gum; 1/2 cup cold butter (1 stick); 1 egg, beaten; 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk; 1 tablespoon organic cane sugar for topping; Whipped cream (we love this Dairy-Free Whipped Cream) but you whatever works best for you.; Macerated Strawberries (or just fresh, sliced strawberries work too)

Published on 06/30/21

by Erin Jensen

Bowl of gluten free strawberry shortcake with strawberries.

Summer isn’t complete until I’ve gotten a bite of my favorite summer dessert; strawberry shortcake. But because I’m sensitive to gluten, I experimented with different gluten-free recipes until I nailed it with this one! The shortcake has the perfect texture that is the perfect foundation for juicy macerated strawberries and Homemade Whipped Cream.

Looking for More Recipes Like This?

Then you’ve got to try our fruit pizza that’s made with a gluten-free sugar cookie crust!

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

Gluten-Free Flour: My favorite is Bob’s Redmill 1:1 gluten-free flour. Typically, 1:1 gluten-free flours are a blend of rice flour, starches, and binders all in one bag. Other gluten-free flours, like almond flour and oat flour, do not have this blend, and will therefore not yield the same result.
Coconut Sugar: This can easily be swapped for regular white sugar.
Xanthum gum: This helps to bind all of the ingredients together during the baking process. I can usually find this at my local co-op or on Amazon.
Almond Milk – This can easily be swapped with cow’s milk or another type of dairy-free milk.
Strawberries – We like macerated strawberries, where a little sugar and lemon juice bring out the sweetness in the strawberries and make a syrupy sauce. But sliced strawberries would do here too.
Whipped Cream – Sub with our dairy-free whipped cream recipe.

How to Make Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake

When To Make Macerated Strawberries

Macerated strawberries take about 30 minutes to get nice and juicy, so if you’re using them, mix the berries, sugar, and lemon juice first to let the flavors combine while you make the dough and bake the shortcake.

Spoon Your Flour

To ensure that you don’t over pack your measuring cup with flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup. This will help ensure that you use the right amount of flour vs. using too much and getting a tough shortcake.

Flour mixture in a bowl with pieces of butter on top. The same bowl of flour but with the butter cut into the flour. — Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the cold butter and cut it into the flour mixture until it’s evenly distributed.

Bowl of almond milk and egg. — In a separate bowl, combine the egg and almond milk.

Shortcake dough in a bowl. Shortcake dough pressed evenly in a square baking dish. — Add the wet and dry ingredients together to make a dough. Press it evenly into a 8×8 baking pan.

Gluten free shortcake that just came out of the oven. — Let the shortcake bake for 15 minutes and then let it cool slightly before cutting.

Plate of gluten free strawberry shortcake. — Top it with some strawberries and whipped cream and enjoy your gluten free strawberry shortcakes!

Recipe FAQs and Tips

Can I use gluten-free bread flour? I wouldn’t. Bread flour is designed to be used in recipes that require some elasticity and chew. It also absorbs liquid differently and will change the consistency of your shortcake.
Can I use frozen strawberries? While fresh is always better, frozen strawberries will work. Just give them enough time and drain the excess liquid to ensure that your shortcakes don’t get soggy.
Do I have to add sugar to my strawberries? Nope. This is totally a personal preference. I like my strawberries to be a bit sweeter, but feel free to omit if you like yours a bit more tart.
How do you know when strawberries are ripe? In the Midwest, the best in-season strawberries are available in late May and throughout June. I find this to be true if I pick my own or go to the grocery store. Look for a bright red colored strawberry that has a plump looking exterior.
Can you make gluten-free strawberry shortcake ahead of time? Yes! Once it’s cooled, wrap it in some tin foil and let it sit on the counter for about one day. Then store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for any additional days.

Bowl of gluten free strawberry shortcake.

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