Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

I've always wanted to try a Strawberry Shortcake for dessert.  I remember watching a black and white movie one rainy Sunday afternoon when I was maybe 9, don't ask me the name of the movie or for the general plot or end result because I can't remember!  What I can remember is that the heroine of the piece had been hotly pursued by the hero (who was very handsome and had me swooning from the start!) and about half way through finally consented to a date.  She had strawberry shortcake for dessert which I thought was ever so elegant and grown up and I vowed to myself that when I was old enough to go out on a date I too would have strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Of course that never happened, I think my first date was probably to McDonalds!  So when I saw this recipe recently on Martha Stewart's Cookie Of The Day site I knew I had to try them.

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
275g strawberries, hulled and cut into 1cm dice (chopped weight)
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
115g caster sugar
355g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
85g cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
165ml double cream
sanding sugar, for sprinkling (optional)

Preheat the oven to 190C.  Combine strawberries, lemon juice and 30g of the caster sugar.  Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and remaining caster sugar in a large bowl.  Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter, or rub in with your fingers (I actually did this in the food processor), until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Stir in the cream until a dough starts to form, then stir in the strawberry mixture.

Using an ice cream scoop (Martha says to use a 1 1/2 inch scoop, I used a regular ice cream scoop which was a lot bigger) or a tablespoon, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with baking parchment, spacing evenly apart.  Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if using, and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 mins.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Cookies are best served immediately but can be stored in an airtight container at room temp for up to 1 day.

Makes about 3 dozen (I got 18 cookies, using a much larger scoop)
Martha Stewart's Cookie Of The Day

These were delish, although I think calling them a cookie is maybe a stretch too far.  They are more scone like than cookie.  Martha says these are best eaten immediately, but I think they are equally as nice the next day.  These will definitely be made again.