Name: Strawberry and cream shortcakes
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: about 12
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 2 cups plain flour; 1/2 tsp sea salt; 1 tbsp baking powder; 2 tbsp castor sugar; 110g cold unsalted butter,diced; 1 tsp finely grated orange zest; 4 cups thickened cream (35 per cent fat); 3 punnets strawberries; 1/3 cup pure icing sugar; 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

Simply stunning:Strawberry and cream shortcakes.William Meppem

easyTime:<30 minsMakes:about 12

The beautiful thing about berries is you don't have to do much to them. These shortcakes are a great alternative to scones and jam and allow the fresh strawberries to shine. Alternatively,try making them in the height of summer using pitted cherries or raspberries.

Ingredients

2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tbsp castor sugar
110g cold unsalted butter,diced
1 tsp finely grated orange zest
4 cups thickened cream (35 per cent fat)
3 punnets strawberries
1/3 cup pure icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla bean paste

Method

PREHEAT OVEN to 200°C. Place oven rack in the middle of oven.
SIFT TOGETHER flour,salt,baking powder and castor sugar into a mixing bowl. Place in a food processor with the butter and orange zest. Process until it resembles fine breadcrumbs,then empty this back into the bowl.
MIX IN about 3/4 cup cream,just until most of the dry ingredients have been moistened. Turn out onto a floured board and knead gently until the dough just comes together. Don't overwork it.
ROLL DOUGH out to 1.5 centimetres thick. Using a 7-centimetre diameter cutter,cut out shortcake rounds. Lightly knead together remaining dough,re-roll and cut out until all used. Place on a tray lined with baking paper. Brush tops lightly with some cream. Bake for 10-12 minutes,until the tops are light brown and the dough is set.
WASH,DRY AND HULL the strawberries. Using a mortar and pestle,lightly crush about a quarter of the strawberries. Place these in a bowl. Slice the remaining berries and add to the bowl with 2 tbsp icing sugar. Mix through and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
PLACE REMAINING CREAM in a bowl with the vanilla paste. Sift in 2 tbsp icing sugar and whisk until soft peaks form.
SPLIT THE SHORTCAKES in half. Place some cream and strawberries on each base,then finish with the shortcake tops.

Photography William Meppem; Jennifer Soo Styling Hannah Meppem Food preparation Nick Banbury