A dessert made of sweetened, crumbly cake topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, usually strawberries.
From 'short' (referring to the texture created by shortening or butter in the cake) + 'cake.' The 'short' comes from the pastry technique.
The 'short' in shortcake is actually a baking term—short dough or paste is made with lots of butter, making it crumbly and delicate. It's the same 'short' in 'shortbread,' and it's why these treats practically melt in your mouth.
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