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Strawberry Shortcake
By
DK
on Jul 16, 2012
One of the best (and an absolute must) desserts to make during summer is Strawberry Shortcake. And if you can get your hands on those luscious, very sweet strawberries, then count yourself blessed. The simplicity of this dessert undermines the fact that it relies heavily on its key ingredient - Strawberries. So if you think Strawberry shortcakes are a "blah", then I would say that you haven't tasted the best strawberries.
On that count, I think myself extremely lucky to feast on the absolutely sweet and fresh Strawberries from our local Farmer's Market. As it happens with most fruits in our house, they get eaten raw in abundance. Wash well and plop it goes into the mouth. But occasionally, I get the cooking bug - to make something (dessert or otherwise) out of them. But this time around, I made these shortcakes that retain the strawberries at its best - raw -- err well almost. Make the biscuits, add some strawberry chunks, pipe some whipped cream and tada - dessert ready.
I have tried few shortcake recipes in my life and this one, to me, tastes the best. I usually tend to tinker with the recipe by cutting down some of the refined ingredients. But since I was making it as a treat for one of my colleagues, I kept it to the original version. Cake'y rich tasting biscuits that are also moist pairs extremely well with in season sweet strawberries. Whipped cream - well what's not to like! In short - a light and refreshing dessert that has gourmet written all over it for being so easy.
References
recipe courtesy the new best recipe cookbook
Basic Information
Prep Time: 30 min to 1 hour
Cook Time: Under 15 min
Serves: 6 people
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 (2-3/4 inch) Shortcakes
Ingredients
- For the Fruit Layer and Topping
- 8 cups (abt 2-1/2 lbs) Strawberries
- 6 tbsp (2-1/2 oz) Sugar
- 2 cups Whipped Cream (see Tips)
- For the Shortcakes
- 2 cups (10 oz) All Purpose flour, plus more for dusting the work surface
- 5 tbsp (abt 2-1/4 oz) Sugar
- 1 tbsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 8 tbsp cold unsalted Butter
- 1 large Egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp Whole Milk (see Tips)
- 1 large Egg white, lightly beaten
Tips
1. Whipped Cream: To make 2 cups, you would need 1 cup chilled (preferably pasteurized instead of ultra-pasteurized), 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract. In a chilled bowl (and the beaters preferably) add all the ingredients together and beat until small bubbles form, around 30 seconds. Increase the speed and continue beating until the cream is doubled in volume, is smooth and thick. It takes around 20 seconds for soft peak and about 30 seconds for a stiff peak. Recipe from the cookbook.2. Whole Milk:Instead of milk you can also use half and half.
If you want to Bake using Microwave pls refer to these articles:
1) How to Bake in Microwave
2) How to Bake in Microwave Convection Oven
For making Substitutions please refer my handy chart:
1) Baking substitutions
2) Egg Substitutions
Method
1
Hull the strawberries.
2
Place 3 cups of the hulled strawberries in a bowl and crush with a potato masher.
3
Crush until it resembles a thick coarse puree. This helps to bind the shortcakes together.
4
Slice the remaining berries.
5
Stir these sliced berries into the crushed berries along with the sugar. Stir to combine and let it macerate for at least 30 minutes or upto 2 hours.
6
While that's happening, adjust the oven rack to lower middle position and heat the oven to 425 F. In a bowl, combine the flour, 3 tbsp of sugar, the baking powder and salt to combine.
7
Grate the butter into the flour. Since I was going to be using my hands, I grated the butter.
Note: But if you have a food processor, then just cut the butter into 1/2 inch cubes, scatter the pieces over the flour and process until it resembles coarse meal.
8
I simply used my whisk to combine the butter into the flour
9
until it resembled the coarse meal.
10
In another bowl/measuring cup, mix the beaten egg with the milk.
11
Pour this mixture into the flour mixture.
12
Combine with a rubber spatula until large clumps form.
13
Turn the mixture onto a floured work surface and lightly knead until it comes together. DO NOT OVERWORK the dough.
14
Use your fingers tips to pat the dough into a 9 X 6 inch rectangle about 3/4 inch thick. Be very gentle with the dough. Flour a 2-3/4 inch biscuit cutter and cut into 6 dough rounds. You might be able to get 1 or 2 more rounds with the remaining scraps though they might look more rustic and a tad tougher than the the first 6 rounds.
Note:I used a smaller cutter and hence got many more biscuits.
15
PLace the rounds 1 inch apart on a small baking sheet, brush the tops with the beaten egg white
16
and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tbsp sugar.
Note:For Advance Prep : Dough rounds can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 hours before baking.
17
Bake until the shortcakes are golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. Place the baking sheet on a wire rack and cool the cakes until warm - about 10 minutes.
18
Meanwhile prepare the whipped cream. Refer to the Tips section on how to's.
19
To assemble, split the cooled shortcakes into halves. Place each cake bottom on individual serving plate and portion of the fruit on top
20
and a dollop of whipped cream (I piped some on top of the fruit) and the cap it with the cake top.
I added a few pieces of strawberries on top of the shortcake and garnished with mint for color.
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when do you add the smashed strawberries?
Step 5
I love these. Will make them when we get strawberries Say december and let you know.
Hi. The recipe is awesome. Your recipe with pictures help a lot. Thanks for posting such good recipes. Keep the good job going.
These shortcakes look delicious and excellent! Wow!
Wow irresistible and droolworthy shortcake.
Looks delicious and tempting. In England those “shortcakes” are known as scones.
but it’s all delicious. I really enjoy your site, thank you.
It’s very confusing with scones, cookies and biscuits (English biscuits being American cookies)
In India, we know them as Biscuits too. But I agree with you about the different connotations. The same goes for cornflour! As if the different forms of corn are not confusing already
. Thank you for the kind word. Seeps in all the positive energy in me 
–DK
At which stage is the pureed strawberry added, is it along with the sliced berries between the shortcake?
pls refer Step 5 –DK
these are simply beauty personified. man, the first two photos are to die for.
When it comes to berries, it the same with me too – Wash and plop it goes into my mouth 
. How are you three. Miss you guys so badly.
Hugs,
Siri
Missing you like crazy Siri
…we are the k2 afterall 
–DK
What’s the replacement for egg in this recipe..wanted to try this recipe.. Thanks
Please refer “Tips” section –DK
the recipe looks fab and easy too. Perfect dessert for the summers. Will surely try this one soon. just one question. Can i use ready whip that you get in stores. Those bottled ones?
Thanks
I dont see why not…it should work with it too..:) –DK
Your pictures are beautiful! I can never wait long enough for the biscuit to cool and so mine are always messy
. Your recipe looks delicious and I will have to try it soon.