English Shortcake
Years ago, at a little tearoom in the English countryside, Sunset reader Carolyn Black fell in love with true English shortcake. Her replica is more like a scone than a sweet biscuit shortcake.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
In a bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Step 2
2
With a pastry blender or your fingers, cut or rub butter into flour mixture until no pieces are larger than 1/4 inch.
Step 3
3
In a small bowl, mix buttermilk and egg yolks; add to flour mixture. Stir with a fork until evenly moistened, then press into a ball.
Step 4
4
On a lightly floured board, knead until dough forms a smooth ball, 5 to 10 turns. Pat dough into a 1-inch-thick oval. With a floured round cutter (2 1/4 to 2 3/4 in. wide), cut dough; place pieces about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet, about 12 by 17 inches. Press scraps together, knead briefly, and repeat to cut more rounds. Sprinkle cut dough evenly with sugar, using about 1 tablespoon total.
Step 5
5
Bake in a 400° oven (or a 375° convection oven) until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to racks.
Step 6
6
In a bowl, mix fruit with sugar to taste. In another bowl, whip cream with a mixer on high speed until it holds soft peaks. Sweeten to taste with sugar.
Step 7
7
Split warm or cool shortcakes in half. Set bottom halves on plates and spoon about half the fruit and juices onto cakes. Top each with a spoonful of cream. Set a cake top on each base and spoon remaining fruit and cream equally over each.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
About 3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine, cut into chunks
2/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large egg yolks
4 cups sliced peeled peaches, plums, or nectarines; or rinsed and drained raspberries, blueberries, or hulled strawberries (1 or more kinds of fruit)
1 cup whipping cream
Directions
Step 1
1
In a bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Step 2
2
With a pastry blender or your fingers, cut or rub butter into flour mixture until no pieces are larger than 1/4 inch.
Step 3
3
In a small bowl, mix buttermilk and egg yolks; add to flour mixture. Stir with a fork until evenly moistened, then press into a ball.
Step 4
4
On a lightly floured board, knead until dough forms a smooth ball, 5 to 10 turns. Pat dough into a 1-inch-thick oval. With a floured round cutter (2 1/4 to 2 3/4 in. wide), cut dough; place pieces about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet, about 12 by 17 inches. Press scraps together, knead briefly, and repeat to cut more rounds. Sprinkle cut dough evenly with sugar, using about 1 tablespoon total.
Step 5
5
Bake in a 400° oven (or a 375° convection oven) until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to racks.
Step 6
6
In a bowl, mix fruit with sugar to taste. In another bowl, whip cream with a mixer on high speed until it holds soft peaks. Sweeten to taste with sugar.
Step 7
7
Split warm or cool shortcakes in half. Set bottom halves on plates and spoon about half the fruit and juices onto cakes. Top each with a spoonful of cream. Set a cake top on each base and spoon remaining fruit and cream equally over each.
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