1. Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Cut the butter into the flour mixture by smashing the cubes between your fingers with some flour until the mixture resembles grated Parmesan cheese.
2. Add the milk and mix until just combined.
3. Turn out the dough onto a well floured working surface. Using your hands, shape the dough into a rectangle roughly 1 ½ inches thick. Using a floured 3-inch circle cutter, cut biscuits from the dough. You can reshape the dough one more time after the initial cutting.
4. Place the shortcakes on a buttered baking pan and brush off any excess flour before brushing the tops with egg-wash*. Bake at 350 degrees until lightly golden. Remove from the pan immediately.

* - Egg-wash is 1 egg yolk to 3 tbsp of milk or cream.