Easy, Simple, Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits

I was craving some Strawberry Shortcake, but I am going to be honest, I wanted something quick, tasty, small enough for just myself (social distancing you know), and have no guilt for eating one for breakfast.

I figured it out, Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits.

Makes About: 12 Biscuits (and enough Strawberry glaze for 3-4)

Takes About: 1 Hour (including baking and cooling time)

Difficulty: 1 out of 5 (I would say less, but it involves folding)

Prep:

Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper and preheat the oven to 410 degrees F (210 degrees C).

Ingredients:

Biscuits:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

115 grams unsalted butter - cubed and frozen

1 cup cold buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk you can mix 1 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and set off to the side for 10 minutes)

2-3 tablespoons of milk for brushing over the biscuits

Filling:

About 15 Strawberries (depending on how many strawberries you want - again, this is for about 4 biscuits)

1 teaspoon sugar (depending on how sweet you want the strawberries)

1/2 - 1 cup Whipping Cream (depending on how much cream you want on top)

Do you see a trend with the filling? I'll explain later, I promise.

Instructions:

- Step 1 - Bake the Biscuits: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, combine and mix the 2 1/2 cups of flour, the 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon salt.

- Step 2 - Add Cold Butter

Add the 115 grams of cubed cold butter to the flour mixture.

Using a fork (or your bladed dough blender if you have one. (That is fun to say, ha!)) and work the butter into the dough.

Resist the urge to use your hands because you want the butter to stay cold.

Using your fork, press the butter into the flour mixture until the flour seems to be covered in butter and your butter is about the size of a pea.

- Step 3 - Add Wet Ingredients

Add the 1 cup of buttermilk to the butter and flour mixture.

Using a spatula, mix the dry and wet ingredients together just until it sticks together - it will look like it won't come together, but just keep going because then it will be very crumbly and that is good.

- Step 4 - Start the Strawberries

Slice all, but 3 or 4 strawberries into a small pan and place the pan on low heat (about a 2) and let them warm up stirring occasionally, but you can just let them sit while you continue the dough.

Continue with the dough while the strawberries warm.

- Step 5 - Start Shaping

Dump the dough onto a floured counter.

Then press the dough together until it forms a crumbly rectangle.

Definitely does not have to be perfect.

- Step 6 - Folding

Now that you have a rectangle, fold the top third down and then fold the bottom third up onto the other third (like you are folding a letter).

It will be crumbly, resist the urge to fix it.

If your dough is sticking to the counter, add a little more flour under it.

Press the dough into another rectangle, but in the other direction and fold again.

Repeat this process 3 or 4 more times.

- Step 7 - Back to Strawberries

Add 1 teaspoon of sugar (or more if you want them sweeter) to the warm strawberries and toss them around and let them sit on the warm stove for a few more minutes.

Go back to the biscuits while the strawberries continue to warm.

- Step 8 - Cut out the Biscuits

Press the dough out one last time until it is a even rectangle.

And about 1 inch think.

Using a pastry scraper or knife, mark where your you'll be cutting the biscuits. I did 4 by 3.

And then cut all the way through once they are even.

Then place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet about 1/2 inch apart.

Cutting the biscuits into squares, you won't be wasting any part of your dough.

-Step 9 - Bush the Tops

Brush the 2-3 tablespoons of milk over top the biscuits until completely covered.

Toss the remaining milk.

You can sprinkle a little sugar sugar on top as well.

- Step 10 - Bake and Cool

Bake the biscuits for about 12-17 minutes in the preheated over until the tops are golden brown and the bottom of the biscuit is also golden brown as well and let them cool completely.

- Step 11 - Cool Down the Strawberries

Take the strawberries off the stove and set them aside to cool completely.

- Step 12 - Make the Cream

Fill a bowl with about 1/2 to 1 cup of whipping cream and whip until stiff.

- Step 13 - Assemble

Split one of the biscuits in half add a spoonful of cooked strawberries on top of half, add a scoop of whip cream, then add the top half of the biscuit, then another spoonful of warmed strawberries, and another scoop of whip cream. And for fun, add a whole strawberry on top!