Ingredients
Shortcake:
190g plain flour
60g caster sugar
12g baking powder
A large pinch of salt
100g unsalted butter (in cubes, cold from the fridge)
40g egg yolk (approximately 2)
190g double cream
½ tsp vanilla bean extract
30g melted butter
Sprinkle of demerara sugar
Elderflower strawberries:
100g fresh strawberries halved or quartered
60g elderflower cordial
Juice of half a lemon
20g caster sugar
Instructions
For the shortcake:
- Place the plain flour, caster sugar, baking powder, salt and cold cubed butter in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add the egg yolks, double cream and vanilla extract and pulse until the mixture comes together into a dough (it will be soft and slightly sticky).
- Remove the mixture from the food processor and press onto a lined baking tray, approximately 4cm in depth. Cover with a light layer of clingfilm and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 200/180 degrees fan.
- Once the dough has hardened, use a 6cm round cutter (or something similar) to cut out discs of shortcake.
- Brush the top with melted butter and sprinkle with demerara sugar and bake for 15-18 minutes until golden.
For the elferflower strawberries:
- Place the elderflower cordial, lemon juice and caster sugar in a bowl and leave to sit for 10 minutes so the sugar dissolves.
- Place the cut strawberries in the syrup and leave them to sit preferably outside for 1-2 hours, until they have broken down and softened.
To assemble:
- Mix 80g of full fat crème fraiche with 1/4 tsp of vanilla bean extract.
- Once cooled, cut one piece of shortcake in half. Layer the shortcake with spoonfuls of vanilla crème fraiche and strawberries.
- Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.
Enjoy!