Stone Fruit Shortcakes With Mascarpone Cream Recipes

STONE-FRUIT SHORTCAKES WITH MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Add the vanilla extract, sugar, 1 cup water and orange juice to a medium saucepan. Whisk the mixture over medium-high heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the peaches and plums and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the fruit is tender and the syrup has reduced slightly, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer until thick. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla and continue to beat until the cream holds soft peaks. Add the mascarpone cheese and beat until thick and smooth.
• Place the shortcakes on serving plates. Spoon some of the poached fruit on the bottom half of each shortcake and top with a dollop of the whipped cream. Add the top of the shortcake and drizzle with the fruit syrup.

STONE FRUIT POUCHES

Steps:

• Heat coals of grill or fire pit. Cut 8 (18 by 18-inch) squares of aluminum foil. Lay down double thickness of foil and divide gingersnaps evenly among the 4 squares. Divide fruit evenly and place on top of gingersnaps. Dot with butter. In small bowl mix sugar, salt, and lime zest. Sprinkle sugar mixture evenly over fruit, drizzle with juice and brandy and seal packets. Once coals are ash covered, lay packets over them and cover with lid of grill. If cooking in a fire pit carefully try to partially bury packets in hot coals. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and open carefully, as steam inside packet is very hot. Serve on plates as is or spoon into shallow bowls and top with creme fraiche or ice cream.

SUMMER-FRUIT SHORTCAKE WITH MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Whisk buttermilk, egg and vanilla extract in medium bowl to blend; transfer 1 tablespoon mixture to small bowl and reserve for glaze. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into large bowl; add butter. Using electric mixer, beat until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 3 minutes. Add buttermilk mixture and blend just until soft moist dough forms. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Using floured hands, gather dough into ball and knead gently for 6 turns. Transfer dough to ungreased baking sheet. Shape dough into 8-inch round. Brush top with reserved 1 tablespoon buttermilk mixture. Bake cake until top is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cake to rack and cool completely.
• Make filling:
• Toss plums, peaches, raspberries and 1/3 cup sugar in large bowl to blend. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat mascarpone, whipping cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and vanilla in large bowl until firm peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cut off top 1/3 of cake. Using small knife and leaving 1/2-inch border at edge, cut out enough of cake bottom to form 1/2-inch-deep indentation. Spread half of mascarpone cream in indentation. Using slotted spoon, remove fruit from bowl; mound onto cream. Reserve fruit juices in bowl. Spread remaining mascarpone cream over fruit. Cover with top of cake. Refrigerate cake and reserved juices separately, at least 3 hours and up to 6 hours.
• Let cake stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar. Cut into wedges. Drizzle with reserved fruit juices and serve.

LEMON CREPES WITH ALMOND MASCARPONE

Steps:

• For the lemon crepes: Whisk together the milk, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• For the almond mascarpone filling: Combine the heavy cream, mascarpone, sugar and vanilla extract in a separate medium bowl. Using a handheld mixer, beat on medium until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Fold in the chopped almonds.
• Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of the butter and swirl the pan until the butter is melted and coats the pan (you can also use a pastry brush to brush softened butter into the pan). Add 1/4 cup of the batter and swirl the pan to coat the bottom with an even thin coating of batter. Cook for 2 minutes, gently flip the crepe and cook for another minute on the other side. Remove to a plate and continue with the remaining batter, adding more butter as needed.
• To serve, place 1 heaping tablespoon almond mascarpone filling on one quarter of a crepe. Gently fold the crepe in half and then in half again making sort of a triangle. Serve 2 per plate, sprinkle with blueberries and dust with more lemon zest and powdered sugar. Drizzle with chocolate, if desired.

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.

BANANA MUFFINS WITH MASCARPONE CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl to blend. Beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the banana. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended.
• Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake the muffins on the middle rack until the tops are golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out with no crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Transfer the muffins to a rack and cool slightly. The muffins may be eaten warm or cooled completely and frosted.
• To frost the cupcakes: Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the mascarpone cheese and then beat in the honey. Spread the frosting over the muffins. Sprinkle with the walnuts.