Strawberry shortcakes can be made from scratch in 30 minutes! Sweet biscuits are layered with juicy strawberries and homemade whipped cream for a easy to make, classic summer dessert.
Cover and place in the fridge to let the juices release while you make the rest of the shortcake ingredients.
Sweet Biscuits
Preheat oven to 425°F. In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest and salt and pulse to combine.
1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
If you're not using a food processor, whisk to combine in a large bowl.
Add the butter to the food processor and quickly pulse a few times until a coarse crumb forms. Pour 1/3 cup heavy cream into food processor and pulse only until just combined - you don't want to overwork the dough.
1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/3 cup + 2 teaspoons heavy cream
If you're not using a food processor, use a pastry cutter or fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Then pour heavy cream into bowl and stir until combined.
The dough is going to be crumbly and that's how it should be! Turn the dough out onto a large silicon mat or other clean surface and shape into a ball. If you find it's not quite coming together after kneading, add a teeny bit more heavy cream and knead to combine. Flatten into a 1/2" high disc.
Use a 3" biscuit cutter or the top of a drinking glass to cut out 4 circles (re-rolling the dough as needed). Press straight up and down with the cutter - don't twist.
Place the biscuits on a baking sheet lined with a nonstick silicone mat, making sure the insides of biscuit are touching.
Use a pastry brush to coat the tops of each biscuit with the remaining 2 teaspoons heavy cream. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if using.
1/3 cup + 2 teaspoons heavy cream, coarse sugar
Bake for 15 minutes or until the biscuits are golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet while you make the whipped cream.
Whipped Cream
In a medium bowl using a hand mixer, beat the heavy cream, sugar and vanilla together on medium speed to combine, then increase to high and beat until soft peaks form.
1/3 cup heavy cream, 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Assemble your strawberry shortcakes
Pull apart or slice each biscuit in half, horizontally.
On the bottom half of the biscuit, add a layer of strawberries and whipped cream, then top with the other half of the biscuit.
Add another dollop of whipped cream and more strawberries if desired. Drizzle with the strawberry syrup leftover from the strawberries. Serve immediately and enjoy!