SPIKED SUMMER BERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat it to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• For the biscuits: Place the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt and lemon zest in the food processor. Pulse until well combined, about 5 times. Scatter the butter around the flour mixture and pulse until the butter pieces are about the size of peas, about 10 times. It's okay if there are a few larger chunks.
• Drizzle in the heavy cream while pulsing the machine a few times until the dough appears dry and crumbly with a few large pieces of butter.
• Transfer the dough to a work surface. Work the dough with your hands until it just comes together and no longer appears dry. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to an 8-by-6-inch rectangle. Using a bench scraper or spatula, fold the rectangle into thirds, like a letter, then roll out the dough again to an 8-by-6-inch rectangle. Cut out 6 biscuits with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter. Using the bench scraper or spatula if needed, transfer them to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. You can gather the scraps and repeat the process with the dough to cut 3 or 4 "ugly biscuits" (I call them that because they're usually not as uniform as the first batch). Transfer them to the baking sheet if there's room, otherwise bake them after the first batch.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water. Brush onto each biscuit then bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, for the berry sauce: Place the 1/2 cup raspberries, 1/2 cup strawberries, sugar, and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add 1/4 cup of the orange liqueur. Simmer over medium to medium-low heat until the berries start to break down, about 5 minutes. Pour into a blender (see Disclaimer), add the remaining 1 tablespoon orange liqueur and blend on high until smooth. Strain the sauce through a sieve into another small bowl set in an ice bath to cool.
• When the sauce is cooled, add the mixed berries and stir, then set aside for plating.
• Meanwhile, for the whipped cream topping: Whip the cream, confectioners' sugar, and orange liqueur with a handheld electric mixer in a large bowl.
• To assemble the shortcakes: Open each biscuit and spoon a few tablespoons of berries and sauce onto the biscuit bottom. Add a dollop of whipped cream and cover with the biscuit top. Add a touch more of the berries, sauce, and whipped cream on top. Serve and enjoy.