Peach Shortcake Towers Recipes

PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Combine the first five ingredients in a bowl; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk, stirring only until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead 10 times. , Pat evenly into a greased 8-in. round baking pan. Bake at 425° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to cool on a wire rack., Just before serving, combine peaches, 4 tablespoons brown sugar and ginger. Whip cream with remaining brown sugar until stiff. , Split shortcake into two layers; place bottom layer on a serving platter. Spoon half of the peach mixture over cake; top with half of cream. Cover with second cake layer and remaining peach mixture. Garnish with remaining cream; sprinkle with pecans.

GRILLED PEACH SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• For the shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, stir the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and fine salt to combine. Add the butter and toss, separating the cubes and making sure each is fully coated with flour. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
• Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the buttermilk, egg and vanilla if using. Use a fork or small whisk to gently mix the ingredients together inside the well (focusing on breaking up the egg), then use your hands or a spatula to mix the dough until it is evenly combined.
• Scoop heaping 1/4 cup-size mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, staggering the biscuits to give them at least 1 1/2 inches all around. Brush the surface of each with cream and top with turbinado sugar.
• Transfer to the oven and bake until golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely.
• For filling and finishing: When ready to serve, heat a grill or grill pan until it's smoking hot. Clean and lightly oil the grill grates. Working in batches, place the peaches cut side down on the grill and cook until they have dark char marks, 2 to 3 minutes per peach. Remove the peaches from the grill and transfer to a plate. Drizzle each peach half with 1 teaspoon of the honey while it's still hot and sprinkle with flaky salt. Cut 4 of the peach halves up into thin slices.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, whip the cream, powdered sugar and vanilla to medium peaks.
• To serve, tear or cut each shortcake in half horizontally and place on a plate. Spoon a generous spoonful of whipped cream on top, and then top with a peach half. Once plated, divide the sliced peaches among the shortcakes and serve immediately.

PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Butter or line a baking sheet.
• Bake the biscuits for 13 to 15 minutes (add 3 to 4 additional minutes for frozen ones), until golden brown. Cool slightly and serve warm.
• While biscuits are baking, place the peaches or nectarines in a bowl with the orange juice and Triple Sec, if using. Stir and let sit for a while, stirring occasionally.
• If the biscuits aren't straight from the oven, heat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Slice open and butter the top side of each biscuit. Place each bottom on a plate. Place 2 small scoops of the ice cream onto each biscuit. Top with a large spoonful of fruit. Drizzle over some juice and top with other buttered half. If using whipped cream, place peaches on the biscuit first. Serve immediately.

SOUTHERN PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9-inch cast iron skillet and set aside. Reserve remaining butter.
• Combine flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup cold butter with a pastry knife until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Pour in milk and stir just until the dough starts to come together.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a ball. Divide ball in half and lightly knead each half. Gently roll each half into a 9-inch circle.
• Place 1 dough circle into the prepared skillet, and dot with reserved butter. Place second dough circle on top of the butter pieces, and place the skillet in the center of the preheated oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is lightly browned, 22 to 25 minutes.
• While the shortcake is baking, prepare peaches. Slice 1 peach, toss with 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and set aside. Chop the remaining peaches, yielding about 4 cups, and toss with remaining lemon juice.
• Turn shortcake out onto a rack to slightly cool, about 5 minutes. Slice in half crosswise, using the edge of the second layer as a guide. Place bottom half on a serving plate, cut side up.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup white sugar on a plate and lightly mash 2 cups of peaches into the sugar. Spread out mashed peaches and sugar over the shortcake layer on the serving plate. Cover mashed peaches with the second shortcake layer, cut side up.
• Toss remaining chopped peaches with remaining sugar and distribute on top of the second layer. Toss peach slices in any remaining juice, and place in a decorative pattern on top of the shortcake.

PEACH SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• For the marinated peaches: Mix together the granulated sugar, orange liqueur, basil and orange zest in a bowl. Add the peaches and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• For the sweet biscuits: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl, mix together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter until it is incorporated. Mix the buttermilk and vanilla together in a small pitcher. Slowly add the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture, stirring the contents of the bowl as you do so, until just combined.
• Form 6 biscuits and place them into a cast-iron skillet. Sprinkle the tops generously with coarse sugar. Bake until golden brown, 24 to 26 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
• For the whipped cream: Using an electric mixer, whisk together the heavy cream and granulated sugar until soft peaks form.
• To serve, halve the biscuits, then place the bottom halves on serving plates. Top with the whipped cream and marinated peaches. Rest the biscuit tops on the side so the filling is visible. Garnish with torn basil.

INDIVIDUAL PEACH SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• To prepare the shortcakes, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Position the rack in the center of the oven.
• In a medium-size bowl, sift the sugar, flours, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Using a pastry blender, two knives or your fingers, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the cream and milk and stir until the mixture forms a soft dough. Do not overwork.
• Roll out the dough on a floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin. Roll to a thickness of three-quarters of an inch. Using a cookie cutter, cut out four circles about three to three-and-a-half inches in diameter. Gather the scraps into a ball and reroll for the remaining two circles. The dough can also be shaped into circles by patting with floured hands. Place on a cookie sheet.
• Bake until the shortcakes are golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool.
• To make the peach filling, combine the sugar, water and vanilla in a medium-size saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Lower the heat so the liquid is just simmering. Add the whole peaches and cover with a damp cloth to keep the peaches from drying out on top. Simmer until the peaches are just tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the peaches from the syrup and let them cool slightly. Remove the skins with a paring knife or your hands.
• In a chilled bowl, combine the vanilla, heavy cream and confectioners' sugar, and beat into soft peaks.
• Split the shortcakes horizontally. Cut the peaches in half, removing the pit. Cut each peach half into four sections. Moisten the shortcakes with a small amount of the poaching liquid, then arrange the peaches on the bottom half of each shortcake. Spoon on a large dollop of whipped cream and place the lid on top. Garnish with a small dollop of cream.

PEACH SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Slice peaches; sprinkle with kirsch or schnapps, if desired, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the rest of the dry ingredients. Add butter; process with on-off pulses until mixture resembles coarse meal. While pulsing, slowly add enough cream or milk until dough just comes together.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured board, and knead once or twice. Pat into a 3/4-inch-thick square. Trim edges, and cut into four squares. Brush with additional cream or milk; sprinkle with sugar.
• Place on a lightly buttered baking sheet; bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer cakes to a wire rack, and allow to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, whip the cream: In a large bowl, beat the heavy cream and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form; set aside. Split cakes horizontally. Place bottom halves on dessert plates, and top with peaches and vanilla whipped cream. Cover with top halves of shortcakes, and serve.

PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425°F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the peaches, 4 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the Bourbon, and the ginger. Set the mixture aside while you make the cake.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using two forks or your fingertips, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the milk, stirring only until moistened. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead 10 times or until the dough comes together and is smooth.
• Pat the dough evenly into a greased 8-inch round cake pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove the shortcake from the pan and let cool on a wire rack.
• When ready to serve, whip the cream with the remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Split the shortcake into two layers; place the bottom layer on a serving platter. Spoon half of the peach mixture over the cake and top with half of the whipped cream. Cover with the second cake layer and top with the remaining peach mixture and whipped cream. Sprinkle with the pecans and serve.

GINGER-PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine peach slices and 1/4 cup sugar; cover and refrigerate. Line a greased 9-in. square baking pan with waxed paper; set aside. For topping, combine flour and brown sugar in a small bowl; cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in ginger if desired; set aside., For shortcake, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and vanilla; stir into crumb mixture just until moistened. Spread in prepared pan. Sprinkle with reserved topping., Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Gently peel off waxed paper. Cool crumb side up on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature., Just before serving, beat cream in a small mixing bowl until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Cut cake into nine squares. Split each square horizontally. Place bottom half on serving plate; top with 1/4 cup peach slices. Top with top of shortcake, peaches and whipped cream.