6 people
DESSERT
Ina Garten How Easy Is That? (p. 225)
Strawberries - 2 pints
All-purpose flour - 2 cups
Granulated sugar - 2 tbl for dough + 1⁄3 cup for strawberries + 1 tbl (for sprinkling)
Baking powder - 1 tbl
Grand Marnier liquer - 2 tbl
Unsalted butter - 1 1⁄2 sticks (12 tbl)
Eggs - 2 for shortcakes + 1 for egg wash
Heavy cream - 1⁄2 cup
Whipped cream (bought or homemade) - to taste
Butter - leave cold, dice
Eggs 2 - lightly beat eggs for the shortcake
Eggs 1 - beat egg with 2 tbl of water or milk for egg wash
Strawberries - hull and thickly slice
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Sift the flour, 2 tbl of sugar, the baking powder and 1 tsp kosher salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or mix by hand). Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is the size of peas. Combine the 2 eggs and heavy cream in a measuring cup and, with the mixer still on low, add to the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. The dough will be sticky.
Dump the dough out onto a well-floured surface. Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough 1⁄2 to 5⁄8 inches thick. You should see lumps of butter in the dough. Dip a 2-inch plain round cutter in flour and cut 16 to 18 biscuits. Place on the sheet pan, brush the tops of the biscuits with the egg wash, and sprinkle with 1 tbl of sugar. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the tops are browned and the insides are fully baked. Cool on the pan.
To serve, toss the strawberries with 1⁄3 cup of sugar and the Grand Marnier in a medium bowl. Place the berries in 6 martini glasses, top each with a dollop of whipped cream and serve with 2 or 3 shortcakes on the side.