Peach and Blackberry Shortcakes With Blackberry Cream

This is a GREAT summer dessert! I don't bother to strain the berries, but that is my preference. For the cream, I reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup. I have found that using fresh baking powder, not something that has been in my pantry for 6 months, works best. From Bon Appetit, 2006.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• Shortcakes

• 2 1⁄3 cups flour
• 8  tablespoons sugar, divided
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 10  tablespoons  chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3⁄4 cup buttermilk, plus 2 tablespoons
• 1  tablespoon  whipping cream

• Filling

• 2  lbs  peaches, ripe, peeled, pitted, sliced
• 2 (6 ounce) containers blackberries
• 1⁄3 cup sugar
• 1  pinch fine sea salt

• Blackberry cream

• 2 (6 ounce) containers blackberries
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1 3⁄4 cups  whipping cream, chilled
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. For shortcakes:
2. Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F
3. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
4. Whisk flour, 7 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in large bowl to blend.
5. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Gradually add buttermilk, tossing with fork until moist clumps form.
6. Gather dough together; flatten dough on floured work surface to 3/4- to 1-inch-thick round.
7. Using floured 3-inch round biscuit cutter or cookie cutter, cut out rounds. Gather dough scraps and flatten on work surface to 3/4- to 1-inch thickness; cut out additional rounds for a total of 6.
8. Transfer shortcakes to prepared baking sheet.
9. Whisk cream and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in small bowl to blend. Brush cream mixture over tops of shortcakes.
10. Bake shortcakes until tops begin to brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
11. Transfer shortcakes to rack.
12. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 350°F oven 5 minutes before assembling.).
13. For filling:
14. Toss sliced peaches, blackberries, sugar, and salt in medium bowl; let stand while preparing blackberry cream.
15. For blackberry cream:
16. Rinse blackberries; moisture will enhance puree.
17. Place in processor. Add sugar; puree until smooth.
18. Strain mixture through fine strainer set over bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard solids.
19. Using electric mixer, beat cream and vanilla in large bowl until peaks form. Fold 3/4 cup blackberry puree into whipped cream until incorporated. Reserve remaining blackberry puree for sauce.
20. Cut shortcakes horizontally in half. Place 1 bottom half of each shortcake on each of 6 plates.
21. Spoon filling over each, then generous amount of blackberry cream.
22. Drizzle each with reserved blackberry puree.
23. Cover with top halves of shortcakes and serve.
24. Test-kitchen tip: For the most tender shortcakes, don't overwork the dough. Once you add the liquid, stir until just blended.