– 4 cups all-purpose flour – 2 tablespoons baking powder – 2 teaspoons salt – 2 tablespoons brown sugar – ¼ cup granulated sugar – 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, cold – 2 cups heavy cream – 2 tablespoons vanilla – 1 egg for egg wash – Turbinado sugar for sprinkling Strawberries – 3 cups chopped fresh or frozen strawberries (thawed if using frozen) – ¼ cup granulated sugar (or to taste)
Step 1. Start with fresh sliced strawberries and add a little sugar. If they're summer strawberries they won't need a lot of sugar, maybe ¼ cup.
Step 2. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugars into a large bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces and incorporate into flour using your hands or a pastry cutter.
Step 3. Pour in cream and vanilla and stir everything together until the dough is wet, then keep stirring to catch most of the rest of the flour in the bowl. You will have a stiff dough initially.
Step 4. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, dip your hands in flour and knead the dough gently until it smooths and comes together nicely. This should take 30-45 seconds.
Step 5. Gently pat the dough into a rectangle about ¾ to an inch thick and cut into 2x2 squares. Of course, you can make your strawberry shortcakes bigger, but I like the 2x2...perfect if you're trying not to overdo on sweets and if someone wants bigger they can always have two.
Step 6. Place the squares on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, leaving just a little space between each one. Brush the tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
Step 7. Bake for about 10 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool on cookie sheet for one minute then remove to wire racks and cool completely. You can also serve warm if you like but they might fall apart a little when you slice them.