Strawberry shortcake recipe - Delightful Dessert

Home made strawberry shortcake with fresh berries and whipped cream is a delicious dessert in early summer. Here is an easy recipe, to surprise your family with.

Ingredients

For the shortcake:

• All Purpose Flour - 1 1/2 Cups
• Sugar - 1/4 Cup
• Butter - 1/2 Cups
• Baking Powder2 tsp
• Salt - 1/4 tsp
• Heavy Cream - 1/2 Cup
• Egg Yolk, beaten - 1
• egg for egg wash - 1

For the filling:

• Strawberries - 2 pounds
• Sugar - 2 Tbsp or more, depending on how sweet the berries are
• Lemon - 1/2
• Heavy whipping cream - 1 Cup

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (176°C), line a baking sheet with parchment paper in a cake pan and set aside.

Strawberry filling:

• Place about one third of the strawberries in a bowl and crush them with a fork.
• Slice the rest of the strawberries and add them in the same bowl, along with the sugar, lemon zest and juice.
• Mix well and place the bowl in the fridge until the scones are done and completely cool.

Shortcake - scones:

1. In a large bowl, sift together all dry ingredients: the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
2. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or an electric mixer, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. In a small bowl whisk together the cream, beaten egg yolk and vanilla. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and combine together just until a dough forms.
4. Transfer to a lightly floured board and knead the dough gently into about half inch thick.
5. cut the dough into rounds with a cookie cutter or with a common water glass, 7-10 cm (2.8 - 4 inch) in diameter, as to your liking. Place the rounds on the prepared cookie sheet and brush the tops with egg wash or a little cream.
6. Bake for about 20 minutes or until lightly golden. When done, transfer to a wire rack to completely cool.

Serving:

• When cool, carefully split the shortcake into two layers and set the top half nearby.
• Spoon the mashed berries with their juice over the bottom layer of the shortcake and spread the lightly whipped cream on top of the berries.
• Place the top half on and top with whipped cream and a few more strawberries.
  The few kiwi slices add also some color contrast to the decoration.

Makes about 6-8 servings, scones of a 2.8 inch (7 cm) diameter .

Bon Appétit!