Strawberry shortcakes

Springtime in the South is a sight to be seen, and I missed it for the eight long years I lived in Los Angeles. Springtime also means super-fresh crops of strawberries—usually starting in late April or early May—and I love strawberries and could eat them by the bowl. The problem is that fresh, local strawberries are typically only available for a few short weeks around April and May. My suggestion is to buy a bunch and freeze them.

This recipe is our take on wanting to let the strawberries speak for themselves, while also doing a spin on the classic strawberry shortcake. The “cakes” here are a little bit like scones, little bit like biscuits, and definitely pretty tasty.

16 ounces (450 g) fresh strawberries
1–2 teaspoons honey (optional)
2 cups (300 g) blanched almond flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons cold grass-fed butter or coconut oil
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  1. Wash, hull, and slice the strawberries as small as you desire.
  2. Mix in a bowl together with honey, if desired, to somewhat macerate the strawberries.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  4. Line a sheet pan with some parchment paper.
  5. In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Using a fork or knife, cut the butter into the almond flour to form and mix, so that you’ve formed some small beads of the butter in the dough.
  6. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, honey, and vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry.
  7. Using a spoon or measuring cup, drop the dough onto the sheet pan into 8 evenly sized cakes, leaving room in between each cake.
  8. Bake for 15–20 minutes until golden brown.
  9. Allow cakes to cool, then slice horizontally, and spoon some of the strawberry mixture into the middle, and some extra on the side.

Variation—You know what I’m going to say. If you are allowing dairy into your life, whip up some fresh cream and serve it on these. You won’t be disappointed!

Tips & Tricks—When storing strawberries, moisture is the enemy. Don’t wash strawberries until you are ready to eat them.