Dark Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes with Amaretto Cream, an easy dessert recipe and twist on the classic strawberry shortcake recipe.
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Dark Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes with Amaretto Cream recipe for you today! Ever start off making something in the kitchen and when you’re all done, you realize you may have gone a little overboard and ended up with something completely different? Ok, maybe it’s just me and I’m just the crazy one. I started off making strawberry shortcakes, I SWEAR. Yep, just plain-old-simple-but-good strawberry shortcake. But next thing I knew I was taking out the chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and Amaretto! Maybe I am crazy, because I really think they were all calling my name from the cupboard…
Next thing I knew I ended up with 2 very tall family-size Dark Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes with Amaretto Cream! Just because I love you all SO much I used up every last drop of Amaretto I had in my house. Frangelico or other flavored liqueurs would be great too or leave it out and use milk.
You could also make smaller shortcakes if you don’t want to make large ones. These were incredible!
These shortcakes are definitely big enough to share with your loved ones, or just eat one all by yourself. Your secret will be safe with me! This would be a great Mother’s Day dessert this weekend!
Don’t forget to follow me on FACEBOOK so you can hear about some of my upcoming recipes!! I have some special treats coming up that you are NOT going to want to miss!
I used a food processor for the shortcake, but you can make everything in a bowl.
I added the butter to the food processor but you can cut it in with a fork, knife, or pastry cutter.
I used Hershey’s dark chocolate chips and dark cocoa powder but you can use semi-sweet chocolate chips and original cocoa powder if you don’t like dark chocolate.
The recipe makes 6 large shortcakes but you can make 12 small ones just be sure to adjust the time.
While the dark chocolate shortcakes are baking, start making the cream. I used Philadelphia cream cheese and Jell-O vanilla instant pudding mix, but you can use other flavors of pudding such as chocolate or coconut. Make sure the cream cheese is nice and soft so that the mixture won’t be lumpy. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour or two until a firmer consistency.
When everything is done, start assembling these Dark Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes and serve! Garnish with some whipped topping/cream and strawberries if desired!
Fresh strawberries work best for this recipe. Check out my Strawberry Season information for more details.
Hope you enjoy!
Dark Chocolate Strawberry Shortcakes with Amaretto Cream
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder (or original)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted cold butter chopped
- Cream:
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1/4 cup Amaretto (or substitute other liqueur or milk)
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 8 ounces defrosted frozen whipped topping or sweetened whipped cream
- 4 cups sliced strawberries
- Garnish (optional): whipped topping/cream & strawberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat (or grease pan well).
- Place 2/3 cup milk and dark chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Cool.
- Meanwhile, add flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt into food processor (or large bowl), and process until combined (or whisk together if not using processor). Add butter and process until just combined (or cut in with fork if not using a food processor).
- While food processor is running, slowly add milk and chocolate chip mixture until just combined (or stir in until just combined if making in a bowl).
- Spoon mixture into 6 large circles (or 12 small) onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until set (or about 8-12 minutes for small). Cool on wire racks.
- Meanwhile, in large bowl mix together cream cheese and pudding mix with electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Mix in Amaretto and milk until well combined. Fold in whipped topping. Cover and refrigerate for about 1-2 hours or until firm.
- To assemble, place a chocolate shortcake on serving plate then top with cream, strawberries; repeat layers ending with a chocolate shortcake. Top with whipped topping/cream and strawberries if desired.
Recipe Notes
SNAPPY TIPS: You can make smaller shortcakes rather than the 6 large shortcakes. Adjust time as needed.
SNAPPY SUBSTITUTIONS: If you don’t like dark chocolate, substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips and original unsweetened cocoa powder. Instead of Amaretto you could use any liqueur or milk. Substitute your favorite flavor of instant vanilla pudding for the vanilla such as chocolate or coconut.
Other Strawberry Shortcake recipes you may enjoy:
Pamela Shank says
What a great creation!
N. Helrman says
Can’t find the cream filling recipe for the chocolate cupcakes made on pioneer woman.
Lisa Huff says
Thanks! :)
Kimberly at The Hungry Goddess says
I could wax poetic but really, my first thought was O M G!
Rosey says
Oh my gosh, can we be neighbors?!?!??! Delicious!
Sweepstakes says
Oh wow this looks amazing! I need to do this dessert ASAP!
cookinmom says
What if I added expresso to it…oh my!!!!
Beth @ Hungry Happenings says
OMG those look good. Can I have one, right now????
Angela says
Every time I visit your blog I see this on your side bar and I WANT IT!!! You should probably make me some and ship it overnight.
Snappy Gourmet says
Roxanne, that is just the nicest comment ever! Thank you for making my day! I just started blogging a few months ago and feel like I’m just getting warmed up! :) Hope you visit again or join us on facebook. Thanks again!!!
Snappy Gourmet says
I totally agree Alecia! How can anyone not likedark chocolate! :) Hope you enjoy the shortcakes!
Snappy Gourmet says
Thanks Carol! Hope you enjoy the shortcakes!
Snappy Gourmet says
Thanks Sue Ann! Hope you enjoy it! Grand Marnier is a great idea! I was thinking of trying Frangelico next time. So many ideas, so little time. :)
Roxanne Hill says
Tried this out on my girl friends at a retreat this weekend. Absolutely the best strawberry shortcake we all have had!Everyone wanted the recipe!
Alecia @ Hoobing Family Adventures says
It’s hard to imagine a person who doesn’t like dark chocolate!
Cannot wait to try this recipe!
Snappy Gourmet says
Hi Tina! Thank you so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed them!! Made my day!! And thanks for visiting my site! :)
Tina says
New visitor from Pioneer Woman. LOVED the shortcakes! I made them for a party today, and they were DIVINE! Being out of amaretto, I used additional milk and a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste. I layered them with one shortcake, filling, strawberries, soft whipped cream with chocolate curls on top. They were picture perfect and tasted out of this world. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Carol says
Sounds yummy. Plan to share your site and the recipe on Chocolate Inkwell, in a coming post to http://www.angelinyourinkwell.blogspot.com. I just saw snappygourmet mentioned at Pioneer Woman. Thanks.
Sue Ann Gleason says
I’m thinking of trying this recipe with a little Grand Marnier! Can’t wait to share it on my fan page. They’ll be all over this one. Yum.
Snappy Gourmet says
Beth, I’m so jealous that you have a chocolate-loving husband!!! :) Mine unfortunately is not a huge fan of chocolate but he did love these (thanks to the cream filling) and I think he was even licking his plate when I turned my head!! Happy Birthday to your husband! Let me know how he likes them!
Beth says
I am new to your blog – happy to have found it! Today is my chocolate-loving husband’s birthday, I think I will need to make these tonight!
Snappy Gourmet says
Hi Sarah! The cream would definitely last a few days. The shortcakes would be fine, but may be a little drier. I would suggest wrapping them tightly in some kind of plastic wrap and in an airtight container. Once you put the cream on them, they won’t taste as dry so I’m sure they’d be fine. If they do appear to dry to your taste, I would suggest brushing a little more Amaretto over them! Can’t go wrong with a little more Amaretto! :) Hope you enjoy!
Snappy Gourmet says
I’m so with you Sherry! I LOVE dark chocolate and amaretto! These turned out WAY better than I would have thought! Hope you enjoy!
Snappy Gourmet says
That’s so sweet Mary, thank you!
Snappy Gourmet says
Thanks so much Sara!
Sarah M says
Do you think the cream and shortcakes could be made in advance and then assembled before serving several days later?
Sherry says
This is delicious! I can’t believe they are dark chocolate AND have amaretto cream in between. Sooo good!
Mary @ Delightful Bitefuls says
Oh my goodness! This looks divine!
New to your blog; happy I found you!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
sara says
Wow, this looks so delicious! Love the idea of making chocolate shortcakes.
Snappy Gourmet says
Thanks Katie!
Snappy Gourmet says
Thanks Ben! Can’t go wrong with amaretto! Just wish I didn’t run out of it! :)
Katie @ This Chick Cooks says
That is one great looking dessert! I think that looks a lot more interesting than a regular strawberry shortcake.
Ben says
Oh yuymmy! I love the amaretto cream!