Mother’s Day Surprise: Mini Strawberry Shortcakes

Dad, here’s a fun and simple treat that will make the perfect Mother’s Day surprise: Mini Strawberry Shortcake cups. You can make the gourmet version using the “from scratch” recipes below, or opt for the quick and dirty pre-purchased ingredients version. Either option will give Dad some fun in-the-kitchen cooking time with the kids. And Mom is going to be thrilled to get dessert!

First, scavenge around Mom’s kitchen for a few pretty serving dishes. You can use your creativity, and even purchase inexpensive dollar-store votive candle holders. You’ll want a dish with clear sides to show the layers inside. It won’t even matter if everyone’s dish matches. Just make sure Mom gets the biggest one.

Next, assemble the ingredients for your Mother’s Day Surprise. You’ll need:

• Fresh strawberries
• Fresh whipped cream (the kind you purchase in a spray can will work and is easy if you are inexperienced, but whipping your own works best for this recipe)
• Your favorite angel food cake or white cake (see recipe below)
• Vanilla custard or vanilla pudding
• 1 Tablespoon of vanilla instant pudding to stabilize your whipped cream (makes it thick and sturdy so it won’t lose its shape)
• 1 package of strawberry flavor pie filling glaze

Remember, if you aren’t an expert in the kitchen and don’t want to assemble the ingredients from scratch, you can still make this Mother’s Day Surprise with purchased ingredients.

Start with your favorite white cake. You can purchase pound cake, angel food cake, or another type of cake from a department store bakery, but a simple white cake mix is easy as well. If you want to really up your game, try this Delicious Vanilla Cake, courtesy of the TableForFifty.com website, which is an “upgrade” from your basic white cake mix. If you have any baking expertise, taking time to make this cake is worth the extra effort since it’s extra moist and absolutely delicious:

Delicious Vanilla Cake

1 Vanilla Cake Mix
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups water
4 egg whites (save the yolks for making Old Fashioned Vanilla Custard)
1/8 cup canola oil (or vegetable oil)
1 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract

1. Place all ingredients except sour cream and flavorings in a large mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until combined and fluffy.
2. Stir in sour cream, vanilla, and almond extract
3. Using a cake pan of your choice (a 10×15 baking sheet is perfect for these shortcakes), lightly grease the pan.
4. Pour the cake mix into the pan, smooth the top, and bake at 325 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. The top of the cake will be slightly golden and will spring back when touched.

Next, we’re going to need some custard. You can purchase vanilla custard, or if you are not going for gourmet, you can purchase vanilla pudding or (gasp) instant vanilla pudding for this dessert. On the other hand, if you are going for some extra time and connection with your kids, working together in the kitchen is a great option and this recipe can become your personal secret Dad recipe. Just keep in mind that it’s Mother’s Day, so you’ll need to clean up after yourselves. Her Mother’s Day Surprise is supposed to be a happy one, and you don’t want to be in the doghouse for creating extra work for her on her special day.

Old Fashioned Vanilla Custard

2 cups milk
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
3 Tablespoons flour
1/2 cup cold milk
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Gently warm the 2 cups of milk in a heavy pan. Be careful! The milk will scorch easily, so keep the temperature low and stir well while it’s warming.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk sugar, salt, cornstarch, and flour. You’ll want these to be thoroughly combined.
3. Add 1/2 cup cold milk to the sugar/salt/cornstarch/flour mixture and whisk until all of the lumps are dissolved.
4. Stir the sugar mixture into the hot milk and stir constantly using a whisk until the mixture comes to a boil. Again, use extra CAUTION not to heat too quickly and burn it on the bottom. Scrape the bottom often, or, use a double boiler for this step.
5. Stir a small amount of the hot milk mixture into a bowl that holds your slightly beaten egg yolks and stir well to combine. The purpose of this step is to warm the yolks so that they don’t cook and turn into hard little egg-yolk nuggets in your custard.
6. Once you’ve stirred the yolks and some of the warm milk together, you can add the yolks into the main custard pan and stir in well. The eggs will help the custard start to thicken.
7. Cook 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Add butter and vanilla and stir well.
8. Remove pan from the heat and cool your custard slightly. (Use a clean teaspoon if you need a taste test at this point). Cover the custard with a tight-fitting lid, or cover it well with plastic wrap to prevent a skin forming on the top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Prepare the Pie Glaze and Whipped Cream

Prepare your Danish Dessert ahead of time as well so it can cool too. Prepare according to package directions.

Whip the cream, and if you will be serving the shortcakes to a crowd, consider stabilizing the whipped cream so it doesn’t lose all of its body after sitting for a few minutes. While you are whipping your cream, add 1 Tablespoon of white chocolate or vanilla instant pudding to the whipped cream as you are whipping it. If you like, you can pipe this whipped cream into decorative swirls with a pastry bag with a star tip on top.

Assembling Your Mini Mother’s Day Surprise Strawberry Shortcakes

1. Slice your cake into small, bite-sized squares about 1.5 – 2 inches square
2. Prepare the Danish Dessert according to package directions, and allow it to cool.
3. Slice strawberries and gently stir them into the cooled Danish Dessert
4. Place a square or two of cake into the bottom of your clear glass serving dish.
5. Top with a Tablespoon or so of the strawberries and then a Tablespoon of the cooled custard
6. Add a generous dollop of whipped cream to the top of your strawberry shortcake
7. Garnish with a whole or half strawberry (leave the green leaf on the strawberry for color)
8. Serve and watch Mom’s face light up!