The Best Classic Strawberry Shortcake Food

CLASSIC STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8-inch-round cake pan, then line the bottom with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
• Make the cake: Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl until combined. Whisk the melted butter, vanilla bean paste, eggs, milk and lemon zest in a medium bowl until just smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out of the pan onto the rack and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the toppings and filling: Halve 16 strawberries. Whisk 1 tablespoon water and the strawberry jelly in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the halved strawberries and toss to coat; set aside. Thinly slice the remaining strawberries, then toss with 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar and the lemon juice in another medium bowl; set aside. Beat the heavy cream, the remaining 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar and the vanilla extract in a bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Refrigerate the whipped cream until ready to assemble. Carefully cut the cake in half horizontally with a serrated knife. Place the bottom half cut-side up on a platter. Drizzle the juices from the sliced berries over the cut sides of both cake halves. Fold a few tablespoons of the whipped cream into the sliced berries; spoon over the bottom cake layer. Cover with the other cake layer, then top with the remaining whipped cream. Top with the halved strawberries and their juices. Photograph by Anna Williams

CLASSIC STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the berries: Toss the strawberries with lemon juice and sugar to combine. Let macerate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Make the biscuits: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk to combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix together 1 1/4 cups heavy cream and 1 egg. Add to flour mixture and stir with a fork just until dough starts to come together but is still crumbly.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a 6-by-9-inch rectangle, about 2 inches thick. With a short side facing you, fold the bottom third up as you would a business letter, followed by the remaining third. Pat into a square. With a 2 1/2-inch round cutter dipped in flour, cut biscuits from dough and place them, evenly spaced, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gather dough scraps together, fold once, and gently pat into a square. Cut out remaining biscuits. Whisk remaining egg and 1 tablespoon cream, then brush egg wash over tops of dough rounds. Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon sanding sugar.
• Bake until tops are golden brown brown, rotating sheet halfway through, about 25 minutes. Transfer biscuits to a wire rack and let cool slightly.
• When ready to serve, whip cream in a chilled bowl until soft peaks form. Split biscuits in half and place a bottom half on each plate. Top generously with berries and their juice, then top with dollops of whipped cream followed by remaining biscuit halves. Scatter a few more strawberries on top and around plates.

BEST STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in 1/4 cup butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, combine egg and half-and-half; stir into crumb mixture just until moistened. , Spread batter into a 6-in. round baking pan coated with cooking spray, slightly building up the edges. Bake at 450° until golden, 13-15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. , In a small bowl, beat whipping cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Cut cake horizontally in half. Soften remaining butter. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with butter. Top with half of strawberries and cream mixture. Repeat layers of cake, strawberries and cream.

CLASSIC STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 8 inch round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine flour. 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. With pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter spread until mixture is the size of coarse crumbs. Gently stir in 1 cup cream just until mixture forms soft dough. In bowl, knead lightly, then gently pat into prepared pan.
• Bake 20 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. On wire rack, cool completely.
• Toss berries with one TB sugar. Set aside.
• In large bowl, with electric mixer, beat remaining one cup cream with remaining 1 TB of sugar on high until soft peaks form: reserve 1/4 cup.
• To serve, slice cake in half, horizontally. On serving platter, arrange bottom layer of cake. Evenly top with strawberries, reserving some for garnish, then whipped cream. Top with remaining cake layer, then garnish with reserved cream and strawberries.