Raspberry Apricot Shortcakes Food

RASPBERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and butter and process until mixture resembles coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Transfer to a bowl and stir in cream, buttermilk, and raspberries until just combined. Do not overmix.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Divide dough into 8 portions and shape into rounds. Place, 1 1/2 inches apart, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired, and freeze 15 minutes. Bake until golden brown and set, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely on sheet on a wire rack. To serve, halve and fill with whipped cream and berries.

RASPBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, toss the raspberries with 1 tablespoon of the sugar and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the flour, salt, the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar, baking powder, and lemon zest. Mix in the whipped cream until the mixture is moistened and just forms a ball. Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead briefly just to bring the dough together.
• Form the dough into a log then use a rolling pin to roll it out into a long rectangle about 1-inch thick and 3 inches wide. Making diagonal strokes with a sharp knife, cut into 4 or 6 large triangular biscuits. Arrange on a sheet pan and bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
• When ready to serve, split the biscuits in half horizontally. Place the bottoms on serving plates. On each, place a spoonful of raspberries with the syrup that has collected in the bowl, a dollop of sour cream, and a sprinkling of brown sugar. Place the top halves of the biscuits on top. Serve immediately.

RASPBERRY-APRICOT SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Place apricots in large bowl. Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in small saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Mix sugar syrup into apricots. Cool completely.
• Place 1 tablespoon water in small cup. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin over. Let stand until gelatin softens, about 5 minutes. Set cup in 1-inch-deep simmering water in medium saucepan; stir until gelatin dissolves, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Using electric mixer, beat whipping cream and powdered sugar in large bowl just until mixture thickens. Gradually add warm gelatin mixture, beating until cream forms medium-firm peaks. (Apricots and whipped cream can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.)
• Cut biscuits horizontally in half. Place 1 biscuit bottom in each of 10 shallow bowls. Spoon apricots with some syrup over bottoms. Top with whipped cream, raspberries and biscuit tops. Drizzle remaining syrup from apricots around shortcakes and serve.

STRAWBERRY-RASPBERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• For the fruit: In a large bowl, toss together the strawberries, raspberries, sugar, orange zest, and orange juice. Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes to allow the fruit to release some of its juice.
• For the shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. In a food processor, combine the flour, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pulse to combine. Toss in the butter, heavy cream, and vanilla and pulse, pulse, pulse until the mixture comes together to form a rough ball; it should look fairly crumbly.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. With lightly floured hands, form the dough into craggy-looking balls, a bit larger than golf balls. They should look a little like toads and DEFINITELY not be perfect. Place the balls on the baking sheet and squish each ball to flatten it some; sprinkle the balls with the remaining tablespoon of sugar.
• Put the cakes in the oven and bake for 11 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove and let cool.
• To assemble: Toss the mint with the fruit and stir to combine. Cut the shortcakes in half equatorially, place the bottom halves on individual plates, and divide the fruit and juice among them. Place a scoop of ice cream on top of the fruit, replace the tops, and serve immediately.