Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
In a mixing bowl or in a food processor, whisk together the flour, sugar, and baking powder. Cut in the butter until well blended.
Stir in the heavy cream, egg, and vanilla.
Once the dough comes together dump it out on a lightly floured surface and pat it to about ½ inch thick. This dough may be a little sticky. Lightly flouring your fingers may help. Cut out the biscuits with a 2 ½ inch biscuit cutter and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
Brush the tops of the biscuits with the ¼ cup of heavy cream and generously sprinkle the top of the cream with the sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes. The bottom edges should be golden brown.
Cool completely and serve.