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1
In a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt to combine.
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2
Add the butter, a few cubes at a time, pulsing on and off-until the mixture looks like a coarse meal.
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3
This should take 20 to 40 seconds.
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4
Dump this mixture into a large bowl and set it aside.
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5
In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, cream, and lemon zest.
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6
Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture, stirring with a fork just until a dough forms.
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7
Lightly flour a work surface.
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8
Gently knead the dough on the floured surface a few times, until all the ingredients are combined.
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9
Form it into a disk.
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10
Place the disk on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
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11
Lightly sprinkle the disk with flour, and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough to 3/4-inch thickness.
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12
Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
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13
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400F.
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14
Remove the dough from the refrigerator.
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15
Using 2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutters, cut out the shortcakes as close together as possible, so that youre using almost all the dough.
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16
Place the heart shapes at least 1 1/2 inches apart on a baking sheet.
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17
Brush with cream and sprinkle with raw sugar for sparkle.
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18
Reroll the scraps, following the directions until all the dough is used up.
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19
Bake the shortcakes until they are pale, brown, 15 to 18 minutes.
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20
Remove from the oven and use a spatula to place them on a wire cooling rack.
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21
While the shortcakes are cooling, combine all the strawberry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
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22
Let stand for about 30 minutes, until the strawberry juices come out.
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23
(You may need to drain the mixture before placing it on the shortcakes.)
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24
When you are ready to assemble the shortcakes, chill the metal bowl for a standing mixer (or if youre using a hand mixer, a stainless-steel bowl) for about 10 minutes in the freezer.
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25
Pour the cream into the chilled bowl and beat with the whisk attachment on low speed, gradually increasing to high speed as the cream thickened, Slowly pour in the powdered sugar, and when the cream has thickened, add the pinch of salt and the vanilla.
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26
Continue beating until fully whipped.
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27
To assemble, slice the cooled shortcakes in half and arrange them on individual plates.
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28
Spoon 1/4 cup or more of the strawberry-mint mixture onto the shortcake bottoms, and finish with a dollop of Vanilla Whipped Cream.
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29
Place the other halves of the shortcakes on top and devour!
