Strawberry Shortcake Dirty Cream Soda

Yield: ~8 servings

Ingredients

• Syrup
• 2 lbs. fresh strawberries, trimmed and cut into quarters
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp vanilla
• 2 tsp butter extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1/8 tsp salt
• Soda (each)
• Cream soda
• Strawberry sparkling water
• Strawberry shortcake syrup
• Half and half
• Whipped cream
• Chopped dehydrated strawberries

Directions

1. Combine the strawberries with half the sugar in a large bowl.  Cover and let sit for one hour, tossing occasionally.
2. Stir in the water and transfer to a pot.  Add the remaining sugar and bring to a simmer.  Simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until the strawberries are soft.  Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes.
3. Pass through a fine mesh strainer to remove the solids.  Stir in the extracts and salt.  Cover and refrigerate the syrup until ready to use.
4. To make the soda, fill a glass with ice.  Fill the glass 2/3 with cream soda, and 1/3 with sparkling water.  Add syrup to taste, and stir together.  Splash with half and half (don't stir), top with whipped cream, and sprinkle the dehydrated strawberries.
• For a 10 oz. glass, we used: 3 tbsp syrup & 2 tbsp half and half.  You can adjust to taste.

Adapted from Chef John.