Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake
Our daughter had pretty elaborate hopes and wishes for her Strawberry Shortcake themed party for her 7th birthday! It was a fun distraction for me to come up with decorations, party games, and a menu, while trying to keep it fairly “simple” and asking for lots of help from her older siblings as I continue to recover from this broken leg and surgeries.
I saw soooo many cute ideas for her Strawberry Shortcake birthday cake but decided to keep it simple yet still berry delicious. I still managed to mess it up! Thankfully we had quite a crowd coming so both of the cakes, the trifle, and all the other treats were enjoyed by all and we didn’t end up with much left over.
This light and summery dessert is perfect for any occasion, combining the sweetness of ripe strawberries and fluffy homemade whipped cream (the added cream cheese made it even more delicious!) and I’m sure we will make it again!
Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake
Supplies
- 3 – 9″ Yellow or Vanilla Cakes
- 2 pints of Strawberries
- Homemade Whipped Cream Filling
- Cake Platter
- Cake Topper
Note: I highly recommend lining the cake pans with parchment paper to avoid it sticking, or you might end up with a Strawberry Shortcake Trifle like I did on my first attempt! 😉
Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe
- 2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
- 3/4 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese, full fat (softened to room temperature)
- 1/4 cup died strawberries
Directions:
- Place the mixing bowl and beater in the freezer for at least 5 minutes, while you gather the rest of the ingredients.
- Add heavy whipping cream to the chilled bowl and beat until it starts to thicken.
- While beating, add 1/4 cup (reserving the rest) of the powdered sugar into the cream.
- Continue to beat and add the vanilla.
- Beat until light and fluffy and soft peaks form.
- Remove whipped cream from bowl and place in larger bowl.
- In the now empty mixing bowl, place the cream cheese and blend until very smooth. Once smooth, add in the remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and beat until fully combined.
- By hand, fold in 1/4 cup diced strawberries and the whipped cream mixture starting with a large scoop and then continuing with the rest once the mixture has gotten a bit fluffier. Be sure to not over mix!
Assemble the Cake
- Place one layer of cake on your cake platter. Top with 1/3 of whipped cream filling, spreading it with an icing spatula to level, and then a layer of strawberries.
- Repeat with another layer of cake, whipped cream, strawberries, and then again for final layer.
- Garnish cake with additional strawberries, candles and maybe a cake topper!
- Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving. Best when served within 1-2 hours of assembly.
I ended up making an additional smaller 4″ cake as well since one of my children’s dearest friends was celebrating an 18th birthday the same day! She scheduled her party for the following day so she could be at our daughter’s. ❤️ (You can see that my middle layer on the small cake was from my first attempt at baking the cakes…)
Coming soon: Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Party! Find other past party themes and cakes here.
More from the archives: Strawberry Shortcake Trifle & Strawberry Shortcake’s Creamy Cookie Dip
Strawberry Shortcake’s Creamy Cookie Dip
Another berry delicious and fun recipe we included in the birthday party menu was our Strawberry Shortcake’s Creamy Cookie Dip inspired by Play Party Plan.
Strawberry Shortcake’s Creamy Cookie Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened at room temperature)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 8 ounces frozen whipped topping (thawed)
- ½ cup diced fresh strawberries
- 3 TBS strawberry ice cream topping
- assorted dipping items (strawberries, cookies, animal crackers, graham crackers, etc.)
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth.
- Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture until fully incorporated.
- Add almost all the chopped strawberries and in mix just enough to evenly distribute the strawberries throughout the mixture.
- Drizzle strawberry ice cream topping over the dip and gently fold it into the mixture.
- Place the rest of the strawberries on top.
- Serve with your favorite dipping treats such as cookies, graham crackers, whole strawberries, or pretzels.
Additional Notes
- Cover and refrigerate any leftovers for up to five days.
- Use the softer strawberries to mix into the dip and keep the firmer ones for dipping.
- Top with graham cracker crumbs for a strawberry cheesecake flavor.
The dip went very quickly during the party and I completely forgot to refill the bowl with more from the fridge but my children all enjoyed the rest of it the next day!
Coming soon: Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Party!
Check our other past party themes and cakes here.
More from the archives:
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle and Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
When life gives you crumbled cake, make Strawberry Shortcake Trifle! This was originally supposed to be a Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Cake, but when the cakes stubbornly stuck to my baking pans and fell apart I went to bed and decided to start over in the morning… 😭 While my second attempt at baking the birthday cake was in the oven I decided to turn my first cakes into a trifle. So glad I did!
“Many of life’s failures are people who didn’t realize how close they were to success when they gave up!”
It was an unplanned addition to the birthday party menu but the fresh berries, strawberry sauce, and a delicious homemade whipped cream perfectly disguised my flop of a cake and it was such a hit!
Strawberry Shortcake Trifle Recipe
Vanilla or Yellow Cake
Use recipe of your choice. Mine was simply boxed cake mix.
Strawberry Sauce
- 1lb strawberries, pureed
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
Puree strawberries in blender. Add the strawberry puree, sugar and vanilla to saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Boil for one minute, remove from heat and set aside to cool while you make the whipped cream.
Homemade Whipped Cream
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbs vanilla
Place mixing bowl in freezer for a few minutes till it’s cold. Add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla to the bowl and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.
Assemble Strawberry Shortcake Trifle
Place half of cake pieces in bottom of trifle bowl, covered with chopped strawberries and then half of the strawberry sauce, followed by half of the whipped cream. Repeat with one more layer of each and then top with extra chopped strawberries to decorate the top.
More pictures from the Strawberry Shortcake birthday party coming soon!
Graduation Party Candy Buffet {More Printables}
Looking for more Graduation Party Candy Buffet options? You’re in luck! 🎓
Every spring and summer, my inbox gets flooded with requests for additional printables to sweeten up graduation celebrations! Everyone seems to want my ‘Class Rings’ sign, and a few others have been in high demand too. While I try my best to send them out via email, l’m not always the quickest to respond, especially this year as I slowly recover from a broken leg and surgery. 😅
So, guess what? You can finally just download them below! 🥳
This printable includes:
- Class Rings
- Nerds (not pictured)
- Teacher’s Pet
- Honor Rolls
- oFISHally Graduated
- Goodbye Kisses
If you’d like to use my Graduation Party Candy Signs, you can download them here.
(Click here to find the link to my original printable.)
From the Archives:
High School Graduation Party {Class of 2019}
High School Graduation Party {Class of 2021}
The Snail and the King
Have you seen the brand new picture book from the author and illustrator of My Name is Philomena? The Snail and the King will be released tomorrow, March 19th, just in time for Easter!
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of The Snail and the King, where Fr. Peregrine Fletcher’s captivating narrative and stunning illustrations convey profound truths about faith, perseverance, and the boundless love of our Heavenly Father. This heartwarming tale is destined to become a cherished favorite among both young readers and those young at heart, inspiring a deeper longing for heaven and a joyful surrender to God’s divine plan.
A Reflection From the Author
“I first wrote the story eleven years ago. The story’s concept—a snail on long and difficult journey—came to mind came to mind while I was on a retreat discerning my vocation. Needless to say, I was feeling pretty slow, being twenty-five years old at the time and with little sense of clarity about my future. Yet in the midst of this struggle, I remember being struck by the confidence which the Scriptures and the saints place in our weakness. As God told St. Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). In this same spirit, St. Therese wrote the following about God to her sister Marie:
What pleases Him is that He sees me loving my littleness and my poverty, the blind hope that I
have in His mercy… understand that to love Jesus, to be His victim of love, the weaker one
is…the more suited one is for the workings of this consuming and transforming love.
I had read verses and writings like this many times before, but now it was time to really live them out. However slow, God would lead me along His path and would continue to do so—through all of the twists, turns, and trials along the way. And with this is mind, I started feverishly drawing in a sketchbook, scribbling many ideas and images, until suddenly this story was born. For more than a decade it remained patiently in a sketchbook, and now I am pleased to be able to share the story with you.”
The Story
“When all of the creatures of the wild are invited to King’s castle, a little snail sets out on his journey to the ship that will take him there. And with only three days until the ship sets sail, there isn’t a moment to lose! In this parable, join the snail on his exciting adventure through the wild and discover how he’s able to overcome many trials in order to meet the King.“
Order a Copy or Enter Giveaway!
I’m eagerly looking forward to reading The Snail and the King to my children! One of them will discover it in their Easter Basket this year. Purchase a copy directly from Joannes Press or over at Amazon here.
Enter the giveaway I am hosting over at Instagram for a chance to win a signed copy!
Baskets of Books for Easter {and a Giveaway!}
As Easter approaches once again, our family tradition of filling our children’s Easter baskets with books continues. As a family with nine children spanning from preschool to young adults, finding the right books for each age group can be a daunting task but one I look forward to each Christmas and Easter!
Once again, our children’s Easter baskets are set to overflow with an abundance of books, ready to captivate and inspire them throughout the spring season. I have always loved searching through local bookstores and watching for publisher sales year-round. (Quick tip: TAN Books offers fantastic $5 deals every month!) Additionally, I’m fortunate to receive review copies of new releases from generous authors and publishers, allowing me to handpick the perfect additions to our family library. I am always requesting extra copies when possible to share the joy with some of you! Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a chance to win one a set of new releases from both Sophia Institute Press and Emmaus Road Publishing!
Note: Before I share the book list, I do want to mention that I haven’t read all of these books. I make my decisions based on recommendations, reviews, publishers, and the past work of some of the authors/illustrators.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please purchase directly from publishers when possible!
P.S. I can’t even begin to tell you how hard this post was to get photographs for on one leg… Definitely a workout! 😉
Captain – 23
- The Imitation of St. Joseph from TAN Books (Also available from Amazon here)
- Finding Peace in the Storm: Reflections on St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Uniformity with God’s Will from Sophia Institute Press (Also available from Amazon here)
- 12 Rules for Manliness: Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? from Sophia Institute Press (Also available from Amazon here)
Ranger – 22
- The Imitation of St. Joseph from TAN Books (Also available from Amazon here)
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – He enjoys Agatha Christie! Many of us do!
- Three to Get Married by Fulton Sheen (Our copy is pictured, waiting for his copy to arrive! Sean and I read this during our engagement. Update: he’s not engaged, just discerning his vocation whatever it may be, and it’s such a great book. I actually ordered a couple copies so I wont have to keep lending ours out!)
- Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead and Win
Twinkle Toes – 20
- The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation from TAN Books (also available from Amazon here)
- Courtship of the Saints: How the Saints Met their Spouses from TAN Books (also available from Amazon here)
- Saintly Women of Modern Times from TAN Books (also available from Amazon here)
- Les Misérables (Penguin Clothbound Classics) – On the list of books she is working through, plus I took her to see the play a few months back!
Chiquita – 18
- The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation from TAN Books (also available from Amazon here)
- Exogenesis since she always enjoys dystopian fiction.. Sent from Ignatius Press. Maybe I can get her to give us a review.
- The Hobbit Illustrated by the Author (Tolkien Illustrated Editions)
- Recipes from the World of Tolkien: Inspired by the Legends (Literary Cookbooks)
Scout – 16
- The Imitation of St. Joseph from TAN Books (Also available from Amazon here)
- Wounds of Love: The Story of Saint Padre Pio (great sale this month!) from TAN Books
- To Be a Man: Life Lessons for Young Men (still waiting for this one to arrive)
- Hondo – He’s been enjoying Louis L’Amore lately!
Rose – 14
- The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation from TAN Books (also available from Amazon here)
- An American Little Flower: Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich (also available from Ignatius Press)
- Rescue
- Three Knocks on the Wall
- Bargain Bride
- The First Notes: The Story of Do, Re, Mi
Bud – 12
- We Have a Pope – Find the Shower of Roses book review here! (coming soon)
- Saintly Creatures: 14 Tales of Animals and Their Holy Companions
- Peter and Jesus by the Charcoal Fire
- Hugh O’Flattery: The Irish Priest who Resisted the Nazis (also available from Ignatius Press)
- The Missing Maiden (Volume 6 in In the Shadows of Rome Series) (also available from Ignatius Press)
- Mooses with Bazookas: And Other Stories Children Should Never Read
Grace – 6
- The Snail and the King by Fr. Peregrine Fletcher – Also available on Amazon here. Find the Shower of Roses book review here! (coming soon)
- The Supper of the Lamb by Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson Chapman
- The Narrow Gate by Rachel Schluenderfritz and illustrated by Ted Schluenderfritz (also available from Amazon here)
- Go and Fear Nothing: The Story of Our Lady of Champion
- Brides of Christ by Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles from Sophia Institute Press (Also available at Amazon here)
- Light of the Sacraments
Joy – 4
- The Story of the First Easter Bunny brand new from Sophia Institute Press (also available from Amazon here)
- Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus: An Introductory Latin Missal for Children from TAN Books (also available from Amazon here)
- Listening for God: Silence Practice for Little Ones from TAN Books (Also available at Amazon here)
- Sister Clare Gets Ready for Prayer from TAN Books (Also available at Amazon here)
- Bless the Lord
- Goodnight Jesus from Sophia Institute Press (Also available at Amazon here)
Baskets of Books for Easter Giveaway
Enter using the Rafflecopter Box below for a chance to win one of the following two prizes!
Prize #1 – Sponsored by Sophia Institute Press
Includes: Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children (see my review here), The Story of the First Easter Bunny, and Goodnight Jesus: A Children’s Bedtime Story ($53.85 value)
Congratulations, Cindy G!
Prize #2 – Sponsored by Emmaus Road Publishing
Includes: We Have A Pope and The Supper of the Lamb ($35.90 value)
Congratulations, Amelia D!
a Rafflecopter giveawayGiveaway concludes at 11:59 PM PST on March 23, 2024.
Winners will be announced on Palm Sunday.
Having issues with Rafflecopter? Feel free to reach out via email or message with your name and email address, and I’ll manually add you.
You can find links to all my other book lists here and our past Easter posts in the archives including our 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Baskets of Books for Easter.
One of these years I’ll make an updated gift guide… In the meantime:
100+ Easter Basket Stuffers & Catholic Gift Ideas
Easter Symbols Gift Ideas :: More Easter Basket Stuffers & Catholic Gift Ideas
Easter Baskets on Easter Sunday (2018)
Scroll through all past Easter Baskets here…
A Celtic Cross Cake on St. Patrick’s Day
On March 17, 2021 I made a Celtic Cross Cake on St. Patrick’s Day for my brother-in-law Fr. Terrence Gordon’s 50th birthday! He shared a birthday with his dad, my father-in-law, and today would have been his 53rd birthday. Would you please say a prayer for the souls of James Patrick Gordon, Jr and Fr. Terrence Patrick Gerard Gordon today? We miss them both so very much!
I never got around to sharing any of these pictures. We were too busy enjoying the couple weeks we were so blessed to spend with him that March! Looking back I am even more grateful for that time we had with him here.
When I asked him what type of cake he wanted he first joked about some crazy theme ideas… They all love to challenge me! Ultimately he said to surprise him. I ended up making a Celtic Cross out of candy melts for the top of his Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!
My ganache was way too thick but still delicious.
Annual Shamrock Cinnamon Rolls ☘️
Leave it to your loving sister-in-law to squeeze 50 candles on a 6-inch cake! 😉
O God, Thou didst raise Thy servant Fr. Terrence Patrick Gerard Gordon, FSSP to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, according to the Order of Melchisedech, giving him the sublime power to offer the Eternal Sacrifice, to bring the Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ down upon the altar, and to absolve the sins of men in Thine own Holy Name.
We beseech Thee to reward his faithfulness and to forget his faults, admitting him speedily into Thy Holy Presence, there to enjoy forever the recompense of his labors. This we ask through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
St. Patrick, pray for us!
Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children
Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children
Many years ago I was encouraged by the priest in the confessional to begin a personal devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. She so deeply understands our own maternal sufferings and became a source of hope during my own trials, filling my heart with renewed faith in her beloved Son. A few years later my mom gifted me with a beautiful Seven Sorrows of Mary Chaplet for my birthday. Praying each bead while meditating on Our Lady’s sorrows is always a comforting reminder of her enduring strength and compassion. It has been such a treasure!
Another treasure is the brand new picture book written by Patrick O’Hearn and illustrated by Adalee Hude. Every family should have a copy of this beautiful book on their shelves! Even though it is written for children, as a mother with a devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, I found it to be a great addition to my own personal prayer life! The way in which Our Blessed Mother’s sorrows are presented is both poignant and moving, emphasizing the depth of her love and suffering. The writing is captivating and the illustrations bring it to life.
O Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Sorrows, you knew the prophecies from the moment your Son was born – that you Son would offer His life for souls – help me to bear my crosses. Help me to have the courage to face the future with faith, hope and courage, not doubt, negativity, and discouragement. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Marian Flowers and Prayers for Children
I love that the illustrator included Marian Flowers for each of Our Blessed Mother’s sorrows. They include Mary’s Heart (Begonia), Mary’s Sword of Sorrow (Iris), Mary’s Eyes (Forget-Me-Not), Mary’s Thorn (Dog Rose), Mary’s Tears (Lily of the Valley), Mary’s Bitter Sorrow (Dandelion), and Mary’s Heart (Bleeding Heart).
I also really love the “Other Daily Prayers” written for children by Fr. Chad Ripperger included in the back.
Such a beautiful book!
Our Lady of Sorrows: Devotion to Mary’s Seven Sorrows for Children is also available on Amazon here. Click over to Instagram for a giveaway!
Order it directly from Sophia Institute Press!
(SAVE 30% ON ORDERS $25+ WITH PROMO CODE EASTER2024 – EXPIRES 3/18 at 11:59PM EST)
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!
Leap Day Time Capsule {Free Printable}
Leap Day is quickly approaching! Despite my Intention to share this year’s Leap Day Time Capsule weeks ago, an unexpected surgery delayed my plans. However, I’ve now completed the updates for 2024 and uploaded the files uploaded to share with you all!
This year marks the fourth time our family has created Leap Day Time Capsules. We started the tradition back in 2012 when our oldest was just 11 years old. Since then, we’ve revisited our capsules in 2016 and 2020, each time marveling at all the changes life has brought. It’s astonishing how quickly time flies and how profoundly it shapes our lives.
I’m looking forward to once again pulling out our children’s time capsules and continuing this tradition with the younger ones who are home. ♥
I’m excited to share this year’s free printable with you all once again and just uploaded the PDFs to Dropbox! Whether you are new to using our printable or continuing the tradition, this activity is such a fun way to capture future memories. Click the links below to access the download and enjoy. Feel free to spread the word and share this resource with others. Here are the links:
2024 Leap Day Time Capsule (Green)
2024 Leap Day Time Capsule (Purple)
Christmas Cookies
Merry Christmas Eve! 🎄
Mom tip: Teach your little kids to bake! Your future self will thank you! 😍
Our girls baked our annual Christmas cookies all on their own this year and did such an amazing job! (I didn’t have plans to bake and very grateful for Catherine taking the initiative and for all of their help this year as I am still dealing with nerve pain and extra fatigue after having shingles and covid. Recovery has been slow with my added autoimmune challenges.) Anyway, they made nearly all of our family’s favorites, have a few more in the works, mailed some to their older brother at the academy, and plan to gift some to local friends too! 🎁
Some of our family’s favorite Christmas Cookies:
✨Hot Cocoa Cookies
✨Chocolate Covered Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Balls
✨Oreo Truffles
✨Peanut Butter Blossoms
✨Chocolate Chip Cookies (Dad’s fave)
✨Thumbprint Cookies (Mom’s fave- they made a small batch with coconut sugar for Mom!)
✨Lemon Cookies
Still to bake:
✨Persimmon Drop Cookies (also Mom’s fave)
✨Biscochitos
✨The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies (to decorate
What is your favorite kind of Christmas cookies?
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