5 cups sliced strawberries
6 tablespoons sugar
1-1/2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon milk, if needed
Softened butter
Several hours before serving time, slice the strawberries. Mash one cup of the strawberries with a potato masher and mix mashed berries and juice back in with the rest of the berries. Sprinkle the 6 tablespoons sugar over the berries, stir a few times and keep at room temperature until serving time.
Whip the cream to soft peaks, adding the sugar while the mixer is running. Stir in the vanilla when cream is whipped Refrigerate until serving time.
Preheat oven to 450F degrees. If you’re making an 8-inch layer shortcake, butter an 8-inch cake pan.
Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two knives until mixture has the consistency of coarse crumbs. Combine the beaten egg with the cream and pour over the dry ingredients all at once. Stir briefly just until mixture comes together. If mixture seems dry, stir in 1 tablespoon milk
Strawberry Shortcake Variations
For the 8-inch layer shortcake, lightly press the dough into the buttered cake pan, leaving the edges slightly higher than the center. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack for 5 minutes.
For individual shortcakes, turn dough out on a floured surface and knead and fold 6 or so times. Gently pat the dough to a thickness of inch. Cut 3-inch rounds with a cookie cutter. Gather the scraps back together and knead lightly until you have at least six rounds and have used all the dough. Place rounds 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool baking sheet on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
To serve either size shortcake, split and butter the shortcake with the softened butter. Spoon strawberries and whipped cream between the layers and over the top. Serve at once while still warm.
Think you’ll have trouble splitting the 8-inch layer? Not to worry. Here’s a tip that will really simplify the task. You’ll need 6 or 8 toothpicks. Stick the toothpicks into the side of the layer, just at the middle, all around the layer – like a sun with rays. Using the toothpicks as a guide, slice through the layer with a serrated knife – a bread knife works great. Piece of cake!