Sour Cream Shortcakes With Fresh Berries Recipes

RED BERRY SHORTCAKES WITH HONEY YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, the 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, the baking powder and salt. Add the butter and mix at low speed just until the butter is the size of peas. In a 2-cup measuring cup, whisk together the heavy cream, eggs and orange zest. With the mixer on low, add the cream mixture to the flour mixture and mix just until combined. The dough will be very sticky.
• Heavily flour a cutting board. Mix the dough with a rubber spatula to be sure all of the dry ingredients at the bottom of the bowl are incorporated. Transfer to a board and knead lightly into a disk, adding just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking. Roll or pat the dough 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Cut circles of dough with a plain 3-inch round cutter and transfer to the prepared sheet pan. Chill for 30 minutes. Brush the tops with the egg wash and sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the tops are browned and spring back when touched. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the strawberries and the 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes. Carefully fold in the raspberries and set aside for another 15 minutes to macerate. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt and honey, cover and refrigerate.
• To assemble, split each shortcake in half horizontally and place the bottoms on dessert plates. Spoon the yogurt mixture on each cake and spoon the berries and their juices on top. Place the shortcake tops over the berries. Sprinkle with extra grated orange zest, garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.

FRESH CREAM CHEESECAKE WITH SUMMER BERRIES

Steps:

• For the cheesecake: Line a medium (about 8-inches wide) sieve, fine strainer or colander with a double layer of damp cheesecloth and set over a bowl.
• Beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add the sugar, lime zest and juice, and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl and beaters as needed.
• In another bowl, beat the cream just until it holds a stiff peak. Stir about 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to lighten the cream cheese. Gradually fold in the remaining whipped cream to make a light mousse. Transfer mixture into the lined sieve and fold the cheesecloth over top and press gently. Cover and refrigerate to drain for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.
• Just before serving, prepare the berries: Cook about half of the blueberries in a small skillet with the water and sugar, over medium heat until the berries get juicy, about 8 minutes. Toss all the berries together in a large bowl, along with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
• Unwrap the cheesecake and invert onto a platter. (Discard the cheesecloth.) Use a large ladle or spoon to press a well in the center of the cake. Spoon the berries into the well and drizzle the juices over the top or serve on the side. Serve a scoop of summer cheesecake with some of the fresh berries.

CORNMEAL POUNDCAKE WITH FRESH BERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 9x5inch loaf pan. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until top is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, 45 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool cake 10 minutes. Cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto rack and cool completely.
• Combine 1 cup strawberries and 1/2 cup raspberries in processor. Puree until smooth. Strain, if desired. Transfer sauce to medium bowl. Add remaining strawberries and raspberries. Sweeten with sugar, if desired.
• Cut cake into slices. Serve with berries and sauce.

ORANGE AND SOUR-CREAM DROP SHORTCAKES WITH ASSORTED BERRIES

Steps:

• In a bowl with a potato masher mash 2 cups blackberries with 1/3 cup granulated sugar and stir in remaining blackberries. In 2 more bowls mash separately raspberries and blueberries with remaining granulated sugar in same manner. Let berries stand at room temperature 4 hours. Berry mixtures may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring berries to room temperature before serving.
• Make shortcakes:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. and lightly butter 2 baking sheets. In a large bowl whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and blend in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl whisk together zest, sour cream, and milk and add to flour mixture. Stir mixture until it just forms a soft and sticky dough and drop into 12 mounds at 1-inch intervals onto prepared baking sheets. Pat dough to 1/2-inch thickness and bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until pale golden. Transfer shortcakes to a rack and cool. Shortcakes may be made 4 hours ahead and kept in airtight containers.
• In a large bowl beat cream with confectioners' sugar until it holds soft peaks. Whipped cream may be made 1 hour ahead and chilled in a cheesecloth-lined large sieve set over a bowl, its surface covered with plastic wrap. Whisk cream lightly before serving.
• Split shortcakes horizontally with a fork and serve with berries and whipped cream.

PERFECT BERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 425 degrees. Mix flour, salt, baking powder and 3 Tbs. sugar in a medium bowl. Grate 2 Tbs. of the butter on the coarse holes of a box grater into dry ingredients; toss to coat. Repeat grating and tossing with remaining butter. Combine egg and half-and-half; pour into flour mixture. Toss with a fork to form large clumps. Lightly press clumps into a ball; add a teaspoon more half-and-half to the bowl if dough won't come together.
• Turn dough onto work surface; press into an 8-by-4- to 5-inch rectangle. Cut into 6 squares, placing them 1 inch apart on a small baking sheet. (Can be refrigerated up to 2 hours before baking.) Before baking, brush tops with optional egg white for a particularly attractive sheen. Sprinkle with remaining 2 Tbs. sugar. Bake until golden brown, about 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool until warm, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix thawed and fresh berries with sugar in a bowl; let stand until sugar dissolves. With a hand mixer, beat cream to soft peaks, gradually adding 1 Tb. sugar, then vanilla.
• Split each cake crosswise; spoon a portion of berries over each cake bottom, then a dollop of whipped cream over berries. Cap with cake top and serve immediately.

MIXED FRUIT SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the berries, peaches and 2 teaspoons sugar; set aside. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly. Stir in milk just until moistened. Drop by lightly packed 1/3 cupfuls 2 in. apart onto an ungreased baking sheet. Gently flatten into 2-1/2-in. circles. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. , Bake at 425° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Split shortcakes in half horizontally. Spoon fruit onto bottoms; spread whipped cream over fruit or on the shortcake tops.