Description
Sweet summer memories bloom with classic Strawberry Shortcake, blending tender biscuits and luscious berries into a nostalgic dessert. Delicate layers of buttery goodness and fresh fruit invite you to savor each blissful bite of this timeless American treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) baking powder
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) sugar
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
- 1 lemon, zested
Dairy and Butter Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) cold unsalted butter, grated
- ¾ cup (180 ml) buttermilk
- 1 cup (240 ml) mascarpone cheese
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream
Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:
- ⅓ cup (70 g) granulated sugar
- Raw sugar, for sprinkling
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Fresh Ingredients:
- 1 ½ pints fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 egg yolk + 2 teaspoons (10 ml) water (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Gather essential baking equipment including a baking sheet, parchment paper, mixing bowls, and stand mixer.
- Create a delicate dough by combining dry ingredients in a spacious mixing vessel, incorporating finely grated cold butter until texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Gradually introduce buttermilk, gently folding until a shaggy dough emerges, being careful not to overmix.
- Transfer dough onto a generously floured surface, executing a precise lamination technique by rolling, folding, and resting to develop buttery, ethereal layers.
- Carefully slice dough into uniform rectangular portions, positioning them snugly on prepared parchment-lined sheet.
- Apply a delicate brushstroke of buttermilk across biscuit surfaces, then dust with sparkling raw sugar for a crisp, caramelized finish.
- Slide baking sheet into preheated oven, allowing biscuits to transform into golden, puffy delicacies over 12-15 minutes.
- While biscuits cool, macerate strawberries by gently tumbling sliced fruit with sugar and citrus juice, coaxing out their vibrant crimson juices.
- Whip mascarpone and cream into a luxurious cloud-like mixture, incorporating maple syrup, vanilla, and a whisper of salt.
- Construct individual shortcakes by bisecting warm biscuits, layering with billowing cream and jewel-like macerated strawberries.
- Crown each creation with remaining biscuit halves and an additional dollop of whipped cream, serving immediately to preserve textural perfection.
Notes
- Adjust flour measurement precisely for consistent biscuit texture, using a kitchen scale for accuracy.
- Freeze butter before grating to create ultrafine, evenly distributed cold butter pieces that ensure maximum flakiness.
- Handle dough minimally during folding to prevent gluten development, which keeps biscuits tender and light.
- Experiment with alternative sweeteners like honey or agave for different flavor profiles and dietary needs.
- Substitute gluten-
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg