For the Strawberry Mixture:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the sliced strawberries with 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir well, cover, and set aside to let the strawberries macerate.

For the Sweet Biscuits:

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C)
2. In another large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ¼ cup sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the cubed cold butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Pour in heavy cream and vanilla in to the flour mixture. Stir gently until just combined and the dough comes together. Do not overmix.
5. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead it gently a few times until it holds it shape in a dough ball. Pat or roll the dough into a rectangle about 1 inch thick.
6. Use a biscuit cutter, cut out biscuit rounds or cut the dough into squares with knife from the dough. Place the rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle the tops of the biscuits with a little sugar for added sweetness.
7. Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 12-15 mins or until golden brown. Remove the biscuits from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack.

To Assemble 8 Classic Shortcakes:

1. To assemble the strawberry shortcakes, split the biscuits in half horizontally. Place a spoonful of macerated strawberries at the bottom of each half of biscuit. Top with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
2. Place the other half of the biscuit on top of the strawberries and cream. Serve the strawberry shortcakes immeditely and enjoy!

To Assemble 6 Strawberry Shortcake in Jars:

1. To assemble the strawberry shortcakes jars, crumble the shortcakes to ¼-½ inch pieces depending on your jar size. Place a spoonful of whipped cream at the bottom of each jar, followed by a layer of crumbled shortcake, then a layer of macerated strawberries. Continue this pattern until each har is filled to the top. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a sliced strawberry, if desired. Serve the strawberry shortcakes immediately, and enjoy!