Folk Singer Pete Seeger’s Favorite Dessert is Perfect for Summer

Folk Singer Pete Seeger's Favorite Dessert is Perfect for Summer originally appeared on Parade .

Pete Seeger created music that changed America with folk songs like "If I Had a Hammer," "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and many more. (You also might remember seeing Edward Norton portray him in the 2024 Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown ).

It's well established that Seeger is a musical and lyrical genius, but we recently discovered that apparently, Pete Seeger was also a total foodie. His claim-to-fame dessert is an iconic summer treat.   

The American folk singer-songwriter once reportedly declared, "You know, there are rather better banjo players in the world than me, but I always claim I make the best strawberry shortcake." Seeger was a three-time Grammy winner, so his modesty is really saying something about his culinary skills. 

Seeger's go-to dessert recipe has been passed around for years, and he was even dubbed among his friends and musical colleagues the "Strawberry Shortcake King." But all of the reports on Seeger's favorite treat make it clear that he liked to enjoy it with others.

"Like Pete says, the worst thing you can do is shortchange your guests on the shortcake, so make sure you have enough to start with," wrote singer and Seeger friend Michael Johnathon in his book, WoodSongs . Let's dive into why Pete Seeger 's strawberry shortcake recipe is such a smash hit so you can recreate at home this summer.

Related: The Famous Dolly Parton No-Bake Dessert That's Perfect for Summer

What Makes Pete Seeger's Favorite Dessert So Great?

Pete Seeger's strawberry shortcake recipe is homemade from start to finish, but it's easy to pull together using ingredients you already have at home. Plus, you can break up the steps so you can make the recipe work with your timeline. If you want to do it start to finish, it's still not particularly daunting. While the shortcakes bake, you can work on the strawberries and the homemade whipped cream, a detail that really pulls everything together.

Instead of cutting out individual biscuits, Seeger's recipe calls for making one giant shortcake and then cutting it into portions. That method helps streamline the recipe and also lets you customize the portions, depending on your guests.

It's worth noting that this recipe is designed to feed up to 18 people, making it perfect for a big summer dinner party (or a picnic at an outdoor concert). If you have a smaller group, the recipe can be easily adjusted.

Related: Tom Selleck's Easy Tuna Melt Is Creamy, Cheesy and Super Satisfying

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How to Make Pete Seeger's Strawberry Shortcakes 

To start, you'll need fresh strawberries–about 6 quarts. Slice then toss about half of the berries with some sugar and let them sit until juices begin to form. Hull (don't slice!) the remaining 3 quarts of berries. To make the shortcake, combine flour, butter, baking powder, sugar, salt and milk. Stir to combine.

Spread the biscuit dough onto a large baking sheet and bake at 350° until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.

While the shortcake is baking, make the whipped cream. Combine cold heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and sugar in a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whip with a handheld mixer or in the stand mixer until stiff peaks form. (If you prefer softer whipped cream, stop whipping when it gets to soft or medium peaks.)

Cut the baked shortcake into 3-inch squares, and split each biscuit in half horizontally. Put a pat of butter inside each biscuit, followed by the juicy sliced strawberries. Finish with the biscuit top, a dollop of whipped cream and the hulled strawberries.

Serve to your favorite people with a Pete Seeger soundtrack playing in the background.

Related: Bob Dylan's Favorite Dinner is Full of Surprises

Folk Singer Pete Seeger's Favorite Dessert is Perfect for Summer first appeared on Parade on Jun 5, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.