Strawberry Shortcake

     Strawberry shortcake has always been synonymous with spring and summer. It is light, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. This cake is simple to make and great to take on a picnic.

Ingredients:

• Shortcake:
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

• Whipped Cream:
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp freshly grate lemon zest

• Strawberry topping:
• 1 1/2 pounds strawberries, stemmed and quartered 
• 3 tbsp sugar

     Mix the quartered strawberries with the 3 tablespoons of sugar, and place in the fridge for about 30 minutes to allow the juices to develop.

     Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, and begin to make the shortcake. Add the dry shortcake ingredients into a bowl, and mix in the heavy cream. Once the dough has formed, place in an 8-inch square pan and bake until golden for about 18-20 minutes.

     Allow the shortcake to cool, and cut into as many pieces as you would like your shortcakes to be. Finally, combine all the ingredients for the whipped cream, and set aside. Cut the shortcakes horizontally, and begin to assemble everything. Add the strawberries to the bottom, top with whipped cream, and add the shortcake top. Then, add more strawberries and whipped cream to the top, and you are ready to serve!