Recipe by Louise Gough

These Strawberry Shortcakes are the perfect summer treat, made with buttery Velvet Vanilla shortbread, layers of strawberry jelly and fresh fruit, and a swirl of Strawberries & Cream flavoured whipped cream. Finished with white chocolate-dipped strawberries and a sprinkle of Strawberry Crunch, they look impressive but are wonderfully easy to assemble.

Ingredients (Makes 6)

I pack of Hartleys Strawberry Jelly.

· 6 large strawberries, chopped

· 6 small strawberries (for decoration)

· 300ml Double or Whipping Cream

· 1 tablespoon Strawberries & Cream Flavoured Icing Sugar

· 100g of White Chocolate Melt & Pour, melted

· Strawberry Crunch for decoration.

Method 

For thin and crispy Shortcake:

· Use half a portion of Lou’s All Butter Shortbread recipe using Velvet Vanilla Flavoured Icing Sugar.

· Bake for approx. 15 mins at 180c

For thicker Shortcake:

· Use Lou’s All Butter Shortbread recipe using Velvet Vanilla Flavoured Icing Sugar.

· Bake for approx. 20 mins at 180c

· When the shortbread comes out of the oven mark into 12 triangles or rectangles. Leave to cool fully.

· Whilst the shortbread is cooking snip the jelly into small pieces and place in a measuring jug, make up to half a pint with boiling water and stir until fully dissolved.

Line a small tray or 2lb loaf tin with clingfilm and add the chopped strawberries, pour the jelly over the top, just covering all the strawberries and refrigerate. Any additional jelly set aside in another pot.

Whip the cream until starting to thicken, add 1 tablespoon of Strawberries and Cream Flavoured Icing Sugar and continue to whip until it thick.

Assemble the Strawberry Shortcakes:

Place 6 triangles on a board, remove the jelly from the clingfilm and cut into triangles slightly smaller than the shortbread, place on top of the shortbread. Add a swirl of flavoured cream and place another triangle on top.

Leave to set for a few minutes whilst you dip the 6 smaller strawberries in the white chocolate, sprinkle with Strawberry Crunch and place in the refrigerator to set.

Decorate the top of your Strawberry Shortcake with a swirl of cream and a light sprinkle of Strawberry Crunch then place one of the white chocolate strawberries on top.