Peach Tarragon Shortcake Recipes

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.

PEACH-TARRAGON SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Peaches Using the tip of a paring knife, score an X in the bottom of each peach. Cook in a large pot of boiling water just until skins begin to peel back where cut, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl of ice water; let cool. Peel; cut over a medium bowl into 1/4"-thick wedges, collecting juices.
• Add tarragon and sugar to peaches and toss to combine. Let stand, tossing occasionally, until peaches release their juices and sugar is dissolved, about 1 hour.
• Shortcake and assembly:
• Preheat oven to 425°. Heat butter and tarragon in a small saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted; set aside.
• Whisk cake flour, baking powder, salt, 1 cup all-purpose flour, and 2 teaspoons sugar in a large bowl. Drizzle chilled cream over and mix gently until dough holds together.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead into a shaggy ball, being careful not to overwork. Place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and form into an 8"-diameter disk, about 1/2" thick. Brush with some reserved melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake until shortcake edges are golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Bake until golden brown all over, 8-10 minutes longer.
• Brush shortcake with remaining melted butter. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Cut shortcake into 8 wedges, spoon peaches and their juices over, and top with whipped 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.

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 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.