Chocolate Shortcakes {Secret Recipe Club}

This month for the Secret Recipe Club I got Ginny from Cooking with Chopin. When I went to her site I was so excited. She has such a cute family, her food is beautiful, her photo's are beautiful, and all of her recipes look delicious. She makes food that you will be able to find ingredients for at any grocery store. Delicious, homemade food that you need to make! I promise there will be something you want!

These shortcakes are light, flaky, and chocolatey. Topped with sweetened cream, strawberries, chocolate sauce and caramel. Its a sweet dessert that is worth making!

Chocolate Shortcakes
Recipe Source: CookingwithChopin.blogspot.com

2 pints Strawberries, sliced
1/3 cups Granulated Sugar

Shortcakes
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1/2 cup Salted Butter, cold
1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
2/3 cup Mini Chocolate Chips, plus extra to top with
3/4 cup Half and Half
1 Egg White, lightly beaten

Sweetened Whipped Cream
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar

Garnish
Chocolate and Caramel Sauce
Chocolate Shavings

1. Mix together strawberries and 1/3 cup of granulated sugar. Refrigerate for 2 hours mixing every 30 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and remaining 1/3 cup sugar. Using a pastry cutter to cut in the butter into the flour mixture until it has pea size crumbs. Add the mini chocolate chips and mix. Pour in the half-and-half and stir until just moistened. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

3. Divide the dough into 12 - 3/4 inch patties. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place patties on the cookie sheet and brush each with the egg white. Then sprinkle patties with granulated sugar and mini chocolate chips.

4. Bake for 13 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely on the cookie sheet.

5. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff and then refrigerate.

Assembly
Cut shortcakes in half. Place the bottom half on a small plate. Top with whipped cream, strawberries, chocolate sauce, caramel and top with chocolate shavings. Place the shortcake top on and top with more cream, strawberries, sauces and shavings.