Cranberry Shortcake Food

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Combine flour, coconut and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Set aside 1 cup for topping. Spread remaining mixture into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine sugars and cornstarch. Stir in cranberries and apple juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in walnuts. , Spread over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Drizzle with white chocolate. Cut into bars.

CRANBERRY-APPLE SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, heat cranberries and 1/3 cup apple juice to boiling. Stir in apples; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered about 5 minutes or until apples are softened. In small bowl, mix remaining filling ingredients; stir into cranberry mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. (Filling can be served warm or cool.)
• Heat oven to 425°F. In medium bowl, mix all shortcake ingredients until soft dough forms. On surface lightly dusted with Bisquick mix, gently roll dough in Bisquick mix to coat. Knead 8 to 10 times. Roll 1/2 inch thick. Cut with 3-inch round cutter dipped in Bisquick mix. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Split shortcakes horizontally. Fill and top shortcakes with filling. Top with whipped topping.

CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Stir together flour, sugar & salt, then cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
• Stir in cranberries, then form into a ball & knead until smooth.
• Divide dough in half.
• On a lightly floured surface, pat or roll each dough portion to a 1/2-inch thickness.
• Use a knife & cut into 24 2"x1" strips, then place these strips 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake 20-26 minutes or until bottoms just start to brown.
• Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove & cool completely on wire rack.

SHORTCAKES WITH WARM STRAWBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• For Biscuits:
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Stir together baking mix, melted butter and cranberry juice in a large bowl, until a soft dough forms. Drop in 4 even mounds onto the baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with sugar and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and cool completely.
• For Strawberry Sauce:
• In a medium bowl whisk together sugar, cornstarch and cranberry juice. In a large skillet combine strawberries with cornstarch mixture. Stir together and bring to a simmer over medium heat making sure to stir often. Turn down heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• For Serving:
• In a large mixing bowl that has been chilled, combine the heavy cream and powdered sugar and beat with a hand mixer until soft peaks form.
• To serve, cut each cooled shortcake in half horizontally and place bottoms on serving plates. Spoon a few tablespoons of the warm strawberry sauce over each of the shortcake bottoms. Place shortcake tops on fruit. Spoon on a little more strawberry sauce and top with whipped topping.
• In the bowl of a food processor combine flour, baking powder and salt. Pulse for 15 seconds. Add shortening and pulse until mixture is similar in texture to cornmeal. If you do not have a food processor shift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Cut in the shortening with a fork or pastry blender until mixture is similar in texture to cornmeal.
• Use in recipes that call for Bisquick or all-purpose baking mix.

LOUISIANA STRAWBERRY AND CRANBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• To prepare Cranberry Coulis: In blender container, combine cranberry sauce, confectioners' sugar, and satsuma juice; purée until smooth. Combine coulis and strawberries; toss to mix. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To prepare Drop Biscuits: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; pulse together for 30 seconds. Add butter and pulse two to three times in 10-second intervals until butter is cut into the flour. Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl.
• In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together milk, sour cream, vanilla, and satsuma zest. Fold milk mixture into flour mixture and mix well. Drop tablespoonfuls of the batter onto prepared sheet pan, then sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
• To serve, split biscuits and fill with marinated berries. Top with whipped cream.
• Note: The cranberry coulis can also be used to garnish many Christmas pies and cakes-or to sweeten champagne cocktails (1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons per glass).

ORANGE-ALMOND SHORTCAKES WITH CRANBERRY PARFAIT

Steps:

• For parfait:
• Bring cranberries and cranberry concentrate to simmer in medium saucepan. Cover; cook over medium-low heat until berries are very tender, about 12 minutes. Cool; puree in blender until smooth. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.
• Combine egg yolks, sugar, orange juice, corn syrup, and vodka in large metal bowl. Place over saucepan of boiling water. Using electric mixer, beat until thick and billowy and instant-read thermometer registers 140°F for 3 minutes, about 7 minutes total. Remove bowl from over water. Beat mixture 2 minutes. Add 1 cup cranberry puree; beat until mixture is cool, about 5 minutes. Cover; freeze until firm, about 4 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead; keep frozen. Chill remaining puree.
• For biscuits:
• Set rack in top third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment. Whisk egg white and 1/4 cup sugar in small bowl. Add almonds;toss to coat.
• Grind 1/2 cup sugar and almond paste in processor to fine meal. Add flour and next 4 ingredients; blend 5 seconds. Add shortening; blend until coarse meal forms. Transfer to large bowl. Whisk egg yolk and orange juice in small bowl; add to dry ingredients, tossing until clumps form. Gather dough into 10-inch-long log. Cut crosswise into 10 pieces. Shape each into 2 1/4-inch round, about 1 inch thick. Place on sheet. Spoon almonds over biscuits (some egg white will be left over).
• Bake biscuits until golden and tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 25 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool.
• Swirl 1 cup remaining cranberry puree into cream topping (in about 5 turns; do not overmix) for ribboned look. Halve biscuits horizontally. Let cranberry parfait soften slightly at room temperature 10 minutes before assembling shortcakes. Mound parfait onto biscuit bottoms; cover with tops. Mound cream-cranberry mixture alongside.
• *Almond paste is available in the baking aisle of supermarkets and specialty foods stores.

LEMON--CRANBERRY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F Line a 13x9 metal pan with foil, letting foil extend past edges (for ease of removal later).
• Grate 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon peel from lemons. Then squeeze 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon juice. NOTE: Both the peel and juice will be divided between the shortbread and the glaze.
• In food processor with knife blade attached, blend butter, granulated sugar, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon peel, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice until creamy. (Reserve remaining lemon peel and juice for glaze). Add flour and pulse until dough begins to come together. Add cranberries and pulse until evenly mixed into dough (it's OK if all the cranberries aren't chopped). Press dough evenly into prepared pan with fingertips.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until top is pale golden and edges are very slightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack.
• When shortbread is cool, in small bowl, stir remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel until smooth, adding a little remaining juice if necessary to make a good spreading consistency. Spread glaze over shortbread. Let stand until it sets, about 30 minutes.
• Using foil, transfer shortbread to cutting board. Cut lengthwise into 3 strips, then make diagonal cuts to cut each strip into 12 triangles.
• Before serving, sprinkle with lemon-peel curls if desired.
• Store shortbread in tightly covered container, with waxed paper between layers, at room temperature up to 4 days, or in freezer up to 3 months.

PEAR-CRANBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Lightly grease an 8x8x2-inch square baking pan. Set aside.
• FOR SHORTCAKE:
• In a large bowl, combine flour, the granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
• Using a pastry blender, cut in the 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Stir in currants.
• Combine milk, sour cream and egg; add to flour mixture.
• Stir just to moisten.
• Spread the dough in prepared pan.
• Bake in a 450 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan for 10 minutes.
• Remove from pan.
• FOR THE TOPPING:
• In a large skillet, melt the 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat; stir in the brown sugar and nutmeg until combined.
• Add pears. Cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add cranberries.
• Cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes more or until cranberries pop.
• Remove from heat.
• Let stand for 5 minutes.
• Serve the shortcake warm topped with fruit mixture and whipped dessert topping.