Strawberry Shortcakes

Submitted by evelynathens

"There's good reason this dessert is a classic - tart/sweet fresh fruit, billowy whipped cream and not-too-sweet shortcake biscuit base. Perfection! This version rocks!"

 

• Ready In: 44mins
• Ingredients: 19
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 pints strawberries, hulled and halved if large
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon grated orange zest

• Biscuits

• 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons well-chilled butter, cut into 6 pieces
• 2⁄3 - 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg yolk
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄8 teaspoon almond extract
• whipping cream
• 1⁄3 cup sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1⁄2 cups well-chilled heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

directions

1. Combine berries, sugar and orange zest in medium bowl.
2. Crush some of berries into sugar using back of wooden spoon.
3. Let stand at room temperature until syrup forms, stirring occasionally, at least 1 hour.
4. Chill while making biscuits.
5. For biscuits: Preheat oven to 425°F.
6. Butter baking sheet.
7. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl.
8. Rub in butter with fingertips until coarse meal forms.
9. Mix 2/3s cup buttermilk, yolk, ½ tsp vanilla and almond extract in measuring cup.
10. Dribble buttermilk into flour mixture, working it all the time, until a sticky dough forms.
11. Transfer dough to floured sheet of wax paper.
12. Using floured fingertips, gently pat dough out to thickness of ¾ inch.
13. Cut into 3 – 3 ¼ inch rounds, using fluted cutter or glass.
14. Transfer to prepared sheet.
15. Gather dough scraps and reroll.
16. Cut additional biscuits.
17. Brush tops with cream.
18. Top with almonds and sprinkle with 1 tbsp sugar.
19. Bake until biscuits are light golden-brown, 11-14 minutes.
20. Cool on rack 3 minutes.
21. Whip 1 ¼ cups cream with icing sugar and vanilla to soft peaks.
22. Halve warm biscuits horizontally, using serrated knife.
23. Arrange bottoms on plates.
24. Ladle berries and juices over.
25. Spoon some of whipped cream over.
26. Replace tops and serve immediately, passing remaining cream separately.

Reviews

[ROCHELLEMADRID49]

Best shortcake recipe ever! I don't follow the instructions for the berries or cream as I prefer to omit zest and I like my cream sweeter, but the biscuit is absolutely heavenly. You can substitute regular flour for white whole wheat and it still tastes great. This is the only shortcake recipe I use now. Thank you for submitting this fabulous recipe.

 

[rpoplask]

Thank you so much for this fabulous recipe evelyn! I made this for easter and it was a big hit. The strawberries were just perfect and the shortcakes were tender and flavorfull. I will be making this again and again.

 

[Baby Kato]

Thank you so much Evelyn/athens for posting this incredible recipe. The shortcake was crisp and tender, flavorful and moist. I omitted the almonds because of DH's allergy and used lemon zest instead of orange. We enjoyed this recipe very much. It certainly does rock