Strawberry Shortcake With Strawberry Syrup

"Strawberry Shortcake is my absolute favorite dessert and I have it every year on my Birthday.  This year my Hubby made it with homemade shortcake and strawberry syrup.  It was so YUMMY!" 

Shortcake:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup or 1 stick cold butter

1 egg, beaten

2/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Stir together flour, sugar and baking powder.  Cut in butter with a fork or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Combine egg and milk and add to flour mixture.  Stir just to combine.  Pour into an 8-inch round cake pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Bake at 450 degrees for 15-18 minutes.  Cool and slice into wedges.  When ready to serve, cut wedges in half lengthwise and layer with macerated strawberries and strawberry syrup (recipes follow) and top with whipped cream.

Macerated Strawberries:

6 cups sliced strawberries

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons Grand Marnier or Triple Sec (orange flavored liqueur)

Stir together strawberries, sugar and orange liqueur.  Set aside until ready to assemble shortcake.

Strawberry syrup:

2 pounds strawberries

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

juice from 1/2 a lemon

Combine strawberries, sugar, water and lemon juice in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Remove from the heat and strain mixture through a sieve into a bowl.  Discard solids.  Cool syrup. 

Sweetened Whipped Cream:

1 pint heavy whipping cream

4 Tablespoons powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla  

Combine whipping cream, sugar and vanilla.  Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until soft peaks form.

To assemble shortcakes:

Layer shortcake, macerated strawberries, strawberry syrup and top with whipped cream.