Simply Sensational Strawberry Shortcake

My lady friends came over for a pizza night last Saturday evening and I made this dessert for them.  I was rude...as soon as I was done with my pizza, I made a bee-line for the dessert and told everyone to serve themselves.  I mean, I just had to have some of this right away. 

It has most of the same ingredients for a strawberry trifle that I make, but is a small step up from your typical strawberry shortcake.  In short, it's terrific.  And I love anything strawberry. I'll be sad when they go out of season.  Last night, I made myself a batch of chocolate covered strawberries!

Simply Sensational Strawberry Shortcake

by Kraft Food & Family

1 1/4 cups of milk (divided)

1/4 cup sour cream

3 Tbsp sugar

2 1/4 cups all-purpose baking mix (I used the Jiffy brand)

1 pkg (3.4 oz) Vanilla Instant Pudding

1 tub (8 oz) Cool Whip

4 cups sliced fresh strawberries

1/3 cup sugar

1.  Heat oven to 425 degrees

2.  Beat 1/2 cup milk, sour cream, and 3 Tbsp sugar in large bowl with whisk until well blended.  Stir in baking mix just until well moistened.  Spread onto bottom of greased 9-inch round pan.  Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool in pan for 5 minutes.  Remove cake from pan to wire rack.  Cool completely.

3.  Beat pudding mix and remaining milk in medium bowl with whisk for 2 minutes.  Stir in half the Cool Whip.  Toss strawberries with 1/3 cup sugar.

4.  Cut cake horizontally in half to make 2 layers; stack on plate, filling with half the strawberry mixture and all the pudding mixture.  Top with remaining Cool Whip and strawberry mixture.  Serve immediately.