A Healthier Take on Strawberry Shortcake for a Big Group
It’s no secret that there are a few select foods that I could literally could eat every single day and not get tired of them. Nachos (and I do), a good burger, and my homemade strawberry shortcake. My homemade strawberry shortcake for a crowd is sublime.
And guess what, I found a way to make my “strawberry shortcake for a crowd” even healthier!
[Note, this recipe was originally published in 2017 but photos were updated in 2026]
I stumbled upon this recipe years ago when I needed to come up with a dessert for like 15 people. Individual shortcakes would have been way too time-consuming (and quite frankly they’re kind of dry), but I had it stuck in my head that I wanted to use the pounds of strawberries that my mom had.
And then I found my G.O.A.T. strawberry shortcake for a crowd recipe…as my original post mentioned, I’m obsessed. It’s literally the best.
But, as with many recipes, I wanted to see if there was a way to make it just a tad more healthy—cut down on the calories just a bit, but also bringing in some healthier elements. And the fact is, I might like this version even a tiny bit better.
I cut the sugar a bit, and it definitely doesn’t lose anything. And then I’ve substituted half of the flour for whole wheat (or white whole wheat, which is a bit softer), which gives it a great heartiness and also a slightly nutty, warm flavor that I really love.
You can make this ahead of time when feeding a big group and it’s the most moist, fragrant, yummy summer dessert I can think of. Pair it with fresh strawberries and a bit of homemade cinnamon whipped cream, and you’ve got yourself a winner!
Moist strawberry shortcake for a crowd
Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Add in the buttermilk, vanilla, almond extract, and melted butter, then mix well. It’s okay to have a few lumps, you don’t want to over-stir.
Pour/spread the batter into a greased pan and spread evenly. It’ll be pretty thick.
Bake until golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean (25-35 minutes for a 9×13 pan or cupcakes). For a jelly roll pan, just bake for about 5 minutes less.
Top with fresh berries and whipped cream. I usually let my berries macerate in a bit of sugar for at least half an hour, along with some lemon zest and vanilla.
This is perfect for making ahead of time too (key for prepping for a large gathering), just make sure to cover it to keep it fresh. Top with fresh berries and homemade whipped cream.
Pin for later!
You might also like:
- Almond Pavlova with Balsamic Berries & Whipped Cream (gluten-free)
- The Original Moist Strawberry Shortcake for a Big Group
- Oat & Brown Sugar Strawberry Shortcake
- Easy Summer-y Strawberry Cake (like an all-in-one strawberry shortcake)
Moist Healthy(ish) Strawberry Shortcake for a Crowd
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups of white whole wheat flour
- 1 cup of granulated sugar scant
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher sea salt
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup of melted unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup of oil olive or avocado
- 2 cups of low-fat buttermilk
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract
- Prepped diced strawberries see notes
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9×13 pan (clear glass is preferred). You can also make these as a jelly roll or cupcakes, though baking time will vary.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.
- Add in the buttermilk, vanilla, almond extract, melted butter, and oil, and whisk together making sure you don’t have dry streaks. It’s okay to have a few lumps, you don’t want to over-stir. The batter will be thick.
- Pour the batter into a greased pan and spread evenly, then bake until golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean (22-30 minutes for a 9×13 pan). For cupcakes or jelly roll pan, my guess is bake for about 5 minutes less but I haven’t tried it.
- Serve with whipped cream and strawberries. You can make the cake ahead of time, it’s great for a few days.
