One of the best ways to enjoy sweet summer strawberries is as a strawberry shortcake – the biscuit kind!  In this recipe, chopped strawberries are added to the biscuit dough, which makes the biscuits sweeter and the biscuit color a lovely shade of pink! Add a dollop of fresh whipped cream and this dessert will delight your senses!

Sweet Biscuit Strawberry Shortcake
Yield: makes 8-10 shortcakes

SWEET STRAWBERRY BISCUITS:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 pint strawberries (1 cup, finely chopped)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons butter, melted

STRAWBERRY FILLING:
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

WHIPPED CREAM INGREDIENTS:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or piece of parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and lemon zest. Add the chopped strawberries, gently stirring to distribute.
3. In a large bowl, stir together the milk and buttermilk. Slowly add the milk to the flour mixture and stir a couple of times until barely combined.
4. Pour in the melted butter and continue to fold in until combined. Do not over mix. It will be a coarse dough and rather sticky.
5. Drop spoonfuls of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet in 8 equal portions. Bake biscuits for 18-20 minutes, or until baked through and the top and edges begin to turn golden brown. Cool on the pan for five minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
6. While the biscuits are baking, prepare the strawberries by hulling and slicing. Combine the citrus juices and honey in a small bowl, whisk until the honey is dissolved.
7. Pour the honey-sweetened juice over the sliced strawberries and toss to evenly coat the berries. Let the sweetened strawberries stand and macerate while the biscuits bake.
8. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the whipping cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Split the biscuits and add a layer of strawberries. Add the biscuit top, and spoon on a generous dollop of whipped cream.