Creating a delightful Chocolate Short Cake with Sliced Strawberry is a delectable way to indulge your taste buds. Begin by preparing the chocolate shortcake base:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease and flour a round cake pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the cold, diced butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, incorporate the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Pour in the milk and add the vanilla extract. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the dough.
5. Transfer the dough to the prepared cake pan, spreading it evenly. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Allow the chocolate shortcake to cool completely before moving on to the next step.

For the topping:

Ingredients:

• Fresh strawberries, sliced
• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional)

Instructions:

1. Once the chocolate shortcake has cooled, arrange the sliced strawberries on top.
2. If desired, add a generous dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
3. Serve slices of the Chocolate Short Cake with Sliced Strawberry and enjoy the delightful combination of rich chocolate and sweet, juicy strawberries.