Fruity Shortcake Swirl Food

THE BEST CLASSIC STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• For the shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whisk the heavy cream, sour cream and vanilla in a small bowl; refrigerate until ready to use. Pulse the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter; pulse until the mixture looks like fine meal. Pour in the chilled heavy cream mixture and pulse until just combined.
• Lightly flour a work surface and dump the dough onto it. Pat out the dough 1/2-inch thick. Cut out as many biscuits as you can with a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter. Then pat the remaining dough out to 1/2-inch thick again. Cut more biscuits; you should get 12.
• Put 6 of the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops generously with cream, then top each cream-brushed biscuit with one of the remaining biscuit rounds. (This makes it easier to split once they are baked.) Brush the top of each biscuit stack with more heavy cream and sprinkle 1 teaspoon granulated sugar on each biscuit.
• Bake the biscuits until golden and puffed, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
• Meanwhile, for the topping: Toss the strawberries and 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar in a medium bowl.
• Just before serving, beat the heavy cream, sour cream, the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes.
• Split the shortcakes in half. Spoon half the cream on the bottom of the biscuits, top evenly with the strawberries and top with the remaining cream. Put each biscuit top on and serve.

STRAWBERRY-SWIRL BUNDT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F, with a rack in center. Brush a 10-to-15-cup Bundt pan with butter; dust with flour, tapping out excess. Whisk together egg whites, milk, and vanilla. Beat butter with 1 3/4 teaspoons salt, baking powder, and 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Beat in flour in three additions, alternating with egg-white mixture, and beginning and ending with flour. (You should have about 7 cups batter.) Separate 2 cups batter and stir in freeze-dried strawberries.
• Transfer 1/4 cup strawberry batter to a small bowl; stir in pink gel paste until combined. Stir mixture back into remaining strawberry batter a little at a time, until you achieve desired color.
• Spoon 2 1/2 cups vanilla batter into bottom of pan. Top with all of strawberry batter, then remaining vanilla. Run a butter knife through batter four times to swirl, then use to fold and swoop in a couple of places to further marble.
• Place pan in oven; reduce temperature to 325°F. Bake until top of cake springs back when lightly touched, 1 hour to 1 hour and 5 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes, then turn out onto rack and let cool completely.
• Stir together strawberries, remaining 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt; let stand until sugar dissolves, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, beat cream with confectioners' sugar on high speed to soft peaks. Dust cake with more confectioners' sugar and serve with whipped cream and macerated berries.

TRIPLE BERRY CREAM CHEESE SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• For the cream cheese swirl: Mix together the cream cheese, sugar and egg white in a small bowl until smooth.
• For the berries and cream: Gently toss the mixed berries with the sugar, lemon juice and orange zest in a large bowl. Let stand, gently stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is juicy (some of the raspberries will break down), about 1 hour. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and egg. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until the flour is just incorporated.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth with an offset spatula. Add big dollops of the cream cheese mixture all over the surface and use a small spoon to swirl it in slightly, then smooth the top again.
• Bake the cake until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool the cake in the baking dish for 10 minutes, then remove and cool it completely, cream cheese-side-up.
• Cut the cake into squares and serve topped with the berries. Add a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with the mint.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DIP

Steps:

• Toss the strawberries with 2 teaspoons sugar in a small bowl. Let sit 20 minutes to macerate.
• Meanwhile, put the sour cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Add the heavy cream and continue to beat until thick and fluffy. Swirl in streaks of the strawberry jam. Transfer to a decorative dip bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve. Top with the macerated strawberries and serve with dippers.

PLUM AND BLACK CHERRY BUTTERMILK SHORTCAKES WITH GINGER CARDAMOM WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the buttermilk shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Chill 2 large mixing bowls, a pastry cutter, the flour and cubed butter in the freezer for 15 minutes before assembling the shortcakes.
• Add the flour to one of the chilled mixing bowls. Working quickly, cut the butter into the flour using the chilled pastry cutter (or your fingers); the goal here is pea-size balls of butter. In batches, add the buttermilk until the dough is cohesive yet still moist. (You may not need all of it.) Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and lightly press into a 1-inch-thick round. Using a 4-inch biscuit cutter or the business end of a dry measuring cup, cut out 8 biscuits.
• Preheat a cast iron skillet in the oven for 5 minutes.
• Swirl the oil in the bottom of the skillet and gently arrange the biscuits in the skillet, making sure they are all nestled up against each other tightly.
• Brush the tops with the melted butter and sprinkle with the sanding sugar. Bake until the tops are just slightly golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• For the plums and cherries: Heat a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the plums, cherries, granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice, ginger and cinnamon. Cook, stirring very gently as the fruit releases its juice, until the fruit is slightly soft, a few minutes. Take off the heat and add the butter. Gently stir until melted.
• For the ginger cardamom whipped cream: In the other cold bowl, mix together the cream, granulated sugar, vanilla, cardamom and ginger. Beat to medium peaks.
• For assembly: Split a warm shortcake with a fork. Place the bottom on a plate or shallow bowl and spoon on some of the warm plum and cherry mixture. Dollop on some whipped cream and sprinkle with some candied walnuts. Top with the top of the shortcake. Spoon on some more of the warm plum and cherry mixture, dollop on more whipped cream and sprinkle with more candied walnuts. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 7 more.

MINI TOASTED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Toss the chopped strawberries, vanilla and 4 tablespoons sugar in a bowl. Set aside until syrupy, about 30 minutes.
• Trim off the tops of the whole strawberries. Cut the cake into 1/2-inch-thick slices, then use a 1 1/2-inch-round cookie cutter to cut out 24 rounds.
• Beat the egg white, marshmallow cream, lemon juice, salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with a mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form (the mixture may separate before coming together), about 5 minutes.
• Dip one side of each cake round about halfway into the strawberry syrup and transfer to a baking sheet, syrup-side up. Spoon some of the chopped berries in the center. Top with a dollop of marshmallow cream.
• Swirl the tip of each whole strawberry in the meringue. Press a strawberry, cut-side down, into the marshmallow cream on top of each cake. Toast the meringue with a kitchen torch or broil until golden, rotating as needed. Serve immediately.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 1 or 2 baking trays with parchment paper and set aside. In a food processor, combine the flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt and pulse to combine. Add the chilled butter and process just until combined. With the motor running, add the cream through the feed tubes, stopping just before the dough forms a ball.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead, forming a smooth ball. Do not overwork. Roll the dough out into a 3/4-inch thick round. Using a 3-inch cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out 7 circles. Knead the scraps together, roll, cut out 3 more circles.
• Arrange the circles on the prepared baking trays, brush the tops with cream and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cakes are golden and firm to the touch. Cool on a rack.
• Meanwhile, rinse and drain the strawberries. Cut each berry into thick slices and toss with sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, kirsch, and orange zest, and gently mix. Set aside.
• When ready to serve, split each shortcake in half and warm slightly. Place the bottom half of the shortcake on a dessert plate. Spoon about 1 cup of ice cream on the cake, arrange a scant cup of strawberries over and around the ice cream, and top with the remaining half of the cake. Serve immediately.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the cream, milk, and vanilla bean to boil. In a large bowl, using a whisk or a rotary beater, whip the egg yolks. Gradually whisk in the sugar until thoroughly combined. Slowly whisk in the hot cream mixture and return to the saucepan. Over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, cook until the mixture heavily coats the back of the spoon. Return to the bowl and cool over ice. Strain into a clean bowl and freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Scrape 1/2 of the ice cream into a large container and swirl 1 cup of the strawberry compote through. Repeat with the remaining half of the ice cream and another 1 cup compote. Freeze, covered, until needed.
• In a 4-quart saucepan, combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Add the vanilla beans and cook over low heat until the liquid begins to thicken, about 45 minutes. Lower the heat and cook for 15 minutes more, stirring. Remove from the heat and cool.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE BITES

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat. Add the sliced strawberries and continue to cook until the syrup thickens slightly and forms small foamy bubbles, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Whisk the heavy cream in a medium mixing bowl until it forms soft peaks. Add 1 tablespoon of the strawberry syrup and whisk to firm peaks. Remove the sliced strawberries from the syrup and discard or save for another use.
• Process the shortbread cookies in a blender or food processor or crush by hand to make fine crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a plate.
• Holding one of the strawberries by the stem, dip it into the syrup, let the excess drain off and then dip it into the cookie crumbs. You may need to pat on the crumbs a bit to make sure they adhere to the strawberry. Place the strawberry on a plate. Repeat with the remaining strawberries.
• Spoon the whipped cream into a piping bag fitted with a small star tip. Pipe a small rosette of whipped cream in the middle of each strawberry. Serve within an hour.

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.