Orange Almond Shortcakes With Cranberry Parfait Food

ALMOND SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Whisk 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 cups almond meal, 1 tablespoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk 2/3 cup milk, 1 egg and 1/3 cup vegetable oil, then stir in the flour mixture. Drop scoops of the dough on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, sprinkle with sugar and bake at 475 degrees F until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Split the shortcakes and fill with whipped cream and blackberries.

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.

CRANBERRY-ALMOND POUND CAKE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine dried cranberries and amaretto. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool., In a large bowl, beat almond paste, half of the butter, and 1/4 cup sugar until well blended. Add remaining butter and remaining sugar; cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in almond extract., Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition. Fold in fresh cranberries and dried cranberry mixture. Transfer to a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan., Bake at 325° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55-65 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., Combine glaze ingredients; beat until smooth. Drizzle over cake. If desired, top with sugared cranberries and sliced almonds.

CRANBERRY ORANGE PARFAIT

Steps:

• Add the yogurt to a coffee filter or doubled paper towels lined in a fine sieve. Let drain over a bowl for at least 1 hour or up to overnight in the refrigerator. Discard the accumulated liquid on the bottom of the bowl. Add the drained yogurt to the bowl and stir in the marmalade. In a separate bowl, whip the cream with a beater until it begins to thicken. Add the vanilla and sugar and continue to whip until soft peaks just begin to form. Add the cranberry sauce to a medium bowl. Stir half of the cream into the cranberry sauce along with the orange juice and orange zest and mix gently. Add the other half of the cream to the bowl with the yogurt mixture. Layer the yogurt and the cranberry mixtures in 4 parfait glasses or wine glasses, and top with a sprinkle of chopped pecans. Chill before serving.

ORANGE CRANBERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• Heat cranberry sauce, orange liqueur and orange peel in a medium saucepan over medium heat until cranberry sauce is melted; cool. Spoon one-third of the ice cream into eight parfait or dessert glasses to make first layer.
• Add orange segments, dividing equally. Add another ice cream layer, using one-third of the ice cream; then spoon on cranberry sauce, dividing equally. Finish with a layer of the remaining ice cream. Freeze up to 30 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with walnuts.

CRANBERRY ORANGE ALMOND QUICK BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, whisk together first 4 ingredients; stir in cranberries and almonds. In another bowl, whisk together egg, milk, oil, zest and extract. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moistened., Transfer to a 9x5-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40-50 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.