From Denny: What a beautiful dessert! It's tasty, bursting with fresh berries and so easy to make. Shortcake is just a huge sweetened biscuit. Make sure to read through to the end of the recipe before you begin making this dessert as it will give you a great tip for making the perfect shortcake biscuit.
Shortcake is easy to portion for single servings so you can give your guests the amounts of whipped cream or berries they prefer. These shortcakes are light and fluffy and sure to be a bit hit with family and friends. Fresh berries, whipped cream and that perfect bite of cake will explode a fireworks of taste in your mouth! :)
Have a great Fourth of July weekend!
Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes
From: Driscoll’s
Serves: 8
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tbl. grated lemon zest
2 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 tbls. cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup buttermilk
4 tsps. coarse sugar crystals
1 (16-oz.) pkg. strawberries, hulled, sliced
1/2 cup powdered sugar, divided
1 tbl. lemon juice
1 cup cold whipping cream
1 (6-oz.) pkg. blackberries
1 (6-oz.) pkg. blueberries
1 (6-oz.) pkg. raspberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, lemon zest, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl.
2. Cut in butter, using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Stir in buttermilk just until dry ingredients are moistened.
4. Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead gently 4 times. Pat or roll dough on lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness.
5. Cut out 8 stars, using a 3-inch floured star cookie cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Brush tops with water and sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon sugar crystals.
6. Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.
To make strawberry sauce: In a blender or food processor, puree 1 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth.
To make whipped cream: Beat with an electric mixer whipping cream and remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar until thickened and soft peaks form.
To assemble: Toss remaining sliced strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries until blended in a large bowl. Using a serrated knife, cut shortcakes in half horizontally. Place the bottom of each shortcake on each of 8 dessert plates.
Drizzle each shortcake with 1 tablespoon strawberry sauce. Top each with a dollop of whipped cream and about 1/2 cup berries. Place top of shortcake over berries. Serve with remaining strawberry sauce.
Nutritional analysis per serving: 408 calories, 20.3 grams fat, 64.82 milligrams cholesterol, 601.12 milligrams sodium and 3.56 grams fiber.
To lighten: Instead of using whipped cream, dollop with frozen thawed fat-free prepared whipped topping.
Helpful tip: Cutting cold butter into the flour makes little crumbs of fat that produce light, flaky shortcakes. A light stirring and kneading of the dough makes the flakiest shortcakes.
*** Check out more recipe posts: Recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday
*** For more Fourth of July posts see also:
63 Quotes About Freedom and Liberty: Happy Birthday, America!
How Do We Live Freedom and Liberty? Libations Friday - 2 July 2010
Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010
Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon
Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blue Independence Day Cake
*** Photo from Driscoll
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