This recipe is pretty quick to put together and a lot of fun to eat, because it is a little messy. You can try serving these shortcakes with a spork and knife, but they should be considered finger food. If it’s too hot outside to bake the biscuits, serving the whipped cream and berries as dessert ain’t half bad either. And just a little word of warning: These shortcakes may look cute and innocent, but they’re addictive.

Advance preparation required. Yields 6-7 individual shortcakes

Strawberry Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced, plus more for garnish
• 1/3 cup evaporated cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice, plus grated zest of 1⁄2 lemon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Shortcake Ingredients:

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon non-aluminum baking powder
• 1 tablespoon egg replacer, dry
• 2 tablespoons evaporated cane sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup non-dairy butter
• 3⁄4 cup unsweetened almond or soymilk, plus 1 teaspoon unfiltered apple cider vinegar, curdled
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup, for brushing

Coconut Whipped Cream Ingredients:

• 1 (14-ounce) can regular coconut milk (not light), refrigerated overnight
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Toss together strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, zest and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Set aside.

For the shortcakes:

1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, egg replacer, sugar and sea salt.
2. Use a pastry cutter to incorporate butter until mixture is coarse and crumbly.
3. Create a well in center of dough and add curdled almond or soymilk.
4. Stir until just combined. Do not over-mix.
5. On a floured cutting board, roll out dough, and use a biscuit cutter to cut out rounds.
6. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat (or use cooking spray), and brush with maple syrup.
7. Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

For the coconut whipped cream:

1. Refrigerating the can overnight allows the coconut cream to separate from the coconut water.
2. So when you open it, hold the can steady and be careful not to shake it.
3. With a spatula or spoon, remove only cream from top and discard coconut water.
4. Place coconut cream, maple syrup, sea salt and vanilla extract in a standing mixer and mix on high for about 1 minute, or mix by hand vigorously whisking for 4.5 minutes.
5. Let shortcakes cool partially and slice each in half horizontally, creating two layers, like a hamburger bun.
6. Place a tablespoon of strawberries on bottom layer of biscuit.
7. Dollop with coconut whipped cream and place, “lid” portion of shortcake on top.
8. Garnish with strawberries, if desired.

The Sporkie Scoop

FOR YOUR SMARTS You can make your own vanilla extract— yes, you can! All it takes is a bottle of vodka, some vanilla beans, and a little time! Slice a few beans lengthwise, throw them in that bottle, give it a shake or two, and let it hang out for about a month or longer (depending on the size of the bottle, it may need more time).

FOR YOUR PARTS Our love for coconut milk goes way beyond its incredible flavor. It is an immune-boosting food due to its anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, which help your bod destroy all sorts of disease-causing organisms!