Rhubarb shortcakes

Method

• step 1

  Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. To make the rhubarb filling put the rhubarb in a baking dish in a single layer. Sprinkle over the sugar and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 15 minutes until tender then add a splash of grenadine if using and leave to cool.

• step 2

  Turn up the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Put the flour, a pinch of salt, baking powder and 3 tbsp caster sugar into a food processor. Add the butter and lemon zest. Pulse the butter into the dry ingredients.

• step 3

  Tip into a large bowl, add the beaten egg and 125ml double cream and, using a knife, stir until the dough comes together.

• step 4

  Lightly flour the worksurface and roll the dough out to a thickness of about 3cm. Dip a 7cm cutter into flour and then stamp out as many shortcakes from the dough as you can. If you roll up the scraps you should get about 8.

• step 5

  Put on a lined baking sheet, brush the tops with a little double cream and sprinkle with the remaining caster sugar. Bake for about 15 minutes or until well-risen and golden brown. Leave to cool for 10-15 minutes.

• step 6

  Whip together the double cream, vanilla and icing sugar for the filling. Split the shortcakes in half, add a good dollop of vanilla cream, some rhubarb and put the top back on before serving.