Strawberry Chocolate Shortcakes

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks. Add cream and whisk to combine.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, granulated sugar, and salt until thoroughly combined. Add butter and use your fingers to break into small pea-sized bits and coat in dry ingredients. Stir in chopped chocolate. Pour the cream mixture into the butter-flour mixture and use a rubber spatula, followed by your hands, to mix and mash it together into one cohesive dough.
4. Divide dough into 8, roll each lump into a ball, and dip in sanding sugar.
5. Place balls on prepared baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until set but not hard, rotating once halfway. Let cool completely on tray or on a cooling rack.
6. About 30 minutes before you’re ready to assemble, gently mash about a quarter of the strawberries in a medium bowl using a fork. Add remaining strawberries, sugar, and salt and stir gently to mix. Set aside for 20 to 30 minutes, until very juicy.
7. In a cold bowl, beat the cream to soft peaks.
8. Use a serrated knife to gently slice each shortcake. Top the bottoms with whipped cream, spoon macerated strawberries over top, and perch shortcake hats on top.
9. Shortcakes can be frozen. Defrost in the refrigerator, then warm in a low oven.