Thursday, June 9, 2011

Strawberry Shortcake with Homemade Shortcakes


Until recently, my shortcakes were made using that famous brand of store-bought biscuit mix. Those days are over, I'm happy to say! I found a shortcake recipe from Alton Brown that is easy, delicious and economical. I tried this recipe for shortcakes this past weekend when we had company over for steaks on the grill. I increased the amount of sugar from the original recipe based on reviews I had read.


I much prefer these sweetened baking powder biscuit-style shortcakes to sponge cakes.  Evidently, my guests did also since the shortcakes were being eaten off the platter even without berries and whipped cream!


When I prepare the strawberries, I usually add a small splash of Cointreau or Grand Marnier along with about 1/4 cup of sugar.  I allow the berries to sit on the kitchen counter for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally until the berries become juicy and perfect for the shortcakes. You could also add a little Cointreau or Grand Marnier to the heavy cream while you are whipping it but I normally use just vanilla and a little powdered sugar.


Enjoy this classic dessert while strawberries are at their best!

Shortcakes
Recipe adapted from Alton Brown
Printable Recipe

Serves 8

2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons shortening
3/4 cup half and half (I use fat-free)

Melted butter to brush shortcakes

2 pounds fresh strawberries or other berries sliced and mixed with 1/4-1/2 cup granulated sugar and a splash of orange-flavored liqueur to taste and allowed to sit for one hour, stirring occasionally

Heavy cream beaten with a little powdered sugar and vanilla until loosely whipped and not overly beaten until stiff and dry

Heat oven 400F

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Cut in butter and shortening. Mix in half-and-half. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown. Cool and eat with berries and sweetened whipped cream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be joining Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum and Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper.

43 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great shortcake recipe. The strawberries are so sweet this year! Enjoy your weekend:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh yum-these sound great and look very pretty Susan! I think AB is the best! I'm sure everyone loved them:@)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Susan absolutely lovely!! love strawberries and love your plates! nice! gloria

    ReplyDelete
  4. yummy!!!I love strawberries...have a lovely weekend Susan, a warm hug...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow Susan che meraviglia deliziosa!!!!bravissima!un abbraccio!

    ReplyDelete
  6. They go so well w...your MCK Child's passoire.. Oh que c'est beau..
    I have those green plates:) From a long long time ago..is that possible?:)
    Looks great Susan.June is the month .

    ReplyDelete
  7. They do look fantastic. I love strawberry short cakes, and berries macerated with Cointreau is a nice thing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is really a great treat Susan. I love strawberries and I know what I'm going to do next time I get them.

    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That looks so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such a great summer dessert! And your shortcake looks great...a bit of booze in the berries sounds like a plan to me. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Looks so refreshing! Will give it a try...

    ReplyDelete
  12. wow looks amazing and all from scratch bravo

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'll to try with the beautiful berries that are available right now! What a picture perfect photo~

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh YUM! This recipe looks wonderful. I love the size and shape of the biscuits. You pictures are good enough to eat!
    Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  15. It looks delicious, Susan!
    My mom used to use the Bisquick biscuits as a base too, I didn't like strawberries as a kid, but I love them now.
    I use a recipe similar to Alton's, or make individual pound cakes in those pans I have. I freeze them and can pull them out for a quick dessert.
    I use oj to macerate the strawberries if the kids will be eating it rather than Cointreau.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Perfect timing Susan..I was just looking at all the strawberry fields that have opened in our area. I am printing out the shortcake recipe now!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I absolutely LOVE strawberry shortcake!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Strawberry shortcakes are one of my absolute favorites. I just went out and put netting over my strawberry patch so that Mr. and Mrs. Bird and all of their lovely babies don't eat them all. I can't believe what doing that did for my strawberries last year!

    The shortcake sounds wonderful.

    It is so nice to be home and have a fast computer that will upload pics and to be able to open Blogger comments. I brought my own but it wouldn't work with her internet and it wouldn't let me open blogger comments.

    I always use powdered sugar and it juices so much quicker! You have me in the mood and I will have to try this recipe.
    Jacqueline

    ReplyDelete
  19. When I was growing up, strawberry shortcake was always those little sponge dessert cups and I thought that was the way it was supposed to be. That is until I had my first real short cake and I've never looked back - your's looks delicious and I want some.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oo, oo, it is baked and has strawberries. Please would you link this Bake with Bizzy? It looks delicious.

    http://bizzybakesb.blogspot.com/2011/06/baking-with-bizzy-4.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. Susan excellent baked cookies I loved it, are exquisitely beautiful with a filling, the love and hugs

    ReplyDelete
  22. Does anything say summer better than strawberry shortcake? Great berries, cream... and that biscuit is just lovely. My mouth is soooo watering right now!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Susan, way to go! What a great dessert or breakfast or lunch! Your photos are great too with the colorful plates. Growing up my mother made strawberry shortcake about every day through the season.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have never tried this dessert, i am sorry to admit! Yours with that fluffy cream looks just irresistible!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Nothing says summer is here like strawberry shortcake. I agree with you, Susan, biscuits are the best because they soak up all that luscious strawberry juice.

    ReplyDelete
  26. These shortcakes look amazing. I'm sure your guests were happy you served them. I'm going to try out the recipe cos I'll have parties coming up. Thanks for sharing.

    Amy
    http://utry.it

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is beautiful Susan; I have company tomorrow and this dessert would be perfect. I bet that splash of cointreau really gives a tasty highlight.
    Rita

    ReplyDelete
  28. That's a beautiful dessert! Looks really delicious! A rewarding plate of yummy after a hard day's work in the garden!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Susan - this recipe looks very similar to the one my mother made when I was growing up. I just checked my strawberry patch and discovered that...THEY'RE ALMOST RIPE! I'm going to try out this recipe.
    it's been a strange spring - either hot or cold it seems and no real in-between. have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is exactly what we're having tonight, crazy! Steak night and strawberry shortcakes! I grew up having strawberry shortcake with leftover southern biscuits from the previous days big breakfast. So I don't like it with the poundcake or spongecakes either. And I also love the orange liquer and sugar in my strawberries :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is my favorite dessert and I'm embarrased to say I've never made my own shortcakes. You've insired me! Thanks for the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I like this! Looks so pretty too...thanks for sharing.

    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like this! Looks so pretty too...thanks for sharing.

    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  34. This is a wonderful classic dessert that brings smiles to my face. I like that you add a splash of Grand Marnier, which must be a good complement to strawberries.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi lovely lady. I love this sweet lady. This is my favoirte dessert all time classic for the the summer strawberries yummy. I hope you have a Great Week.
    XXOO
    Diane

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love strawberries and your receipe sounds delicious. I wish I had one to eat right now.

    ReplyDelete
  37. This is one of my favorite desserts of all time! Your photos are wonderful ..I wish i could reach into my computer and help myself to a stack!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I like to make this type of 'shortbread' for strawberry shortcake! I can't eat sugar so this is perfect for me! And everyone else can just add more sugar to their strawberries! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  39. This brings back so many memories. Strawberry short cake was my Dad's favorite. Thanks for bringing thm to Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescapre

    ReplyDelete
  40. How lovely. Looks just like a classic southern strawberry shortcake! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comment!