Very Berry Dessert Food

PERFECT BERRY SHORTCAKES

Perfect Berry Shortcakes image

You don't need a food processor, pastry cutter, rolling pin or cookie cutter to make these sweet biscuits. This shortcake recipe I've developed yields a simple, foolproof biscuit that's crisp yet delicate.

Provided by USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson

Categories Desserts Cakes Shortcake Recipes

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose bleached flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
5 tablespoons sugar, divided
½ cup butter, frozen
1 egg, beaten
1 egg white
½ cup cold half-and-half
1 (16 ounce) package unsweetened frozen raspberries, blackberries, blueberries or strawberries, thawed and crushed
12 ounces fresh raspberries, blackberries or blueberries (rinsed and patted dry), or strawberries (hulled and sliced)
7 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 cup chilled heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 425 degrees. Mix flour, salt, baking powder and 3 Tbs. sugar in a medium bowl. Grate 2 Tbs. of the butter on the coarse holes of a box grater into dry ingredients; toss to coat. Repeat grating and tossing with remaining butter. Combine egg and half-and-half; pour into flour mixture. Toss with a fork to form large clumps. Lightly press clumps into a ball; add a teaspoon more half-and-half to the bowl if dough won't come together.
Turn dough onto work surface; press into an 8-by-4- to 5-inch rectangle. Cut into 6 squares, placing them 1 inch apart on a small baking sheet. (Can be refrigerated up to 2 hours before baking.) Before baking, brush tops with optional egg white for a particularly attractive sheen. Sprinkle with remaining 2 Tbs. sugar. Bake until golden brown, about 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool until warm, 5 to 10 minutes.
Mix thawed and fresh berries with sugar in a bowl; let stand until sugar dissolves. With a hand mixer, beat cream to soft peaks, gradually adding 1 Tb. sugar, then vanilla.
Split each cake crosswise; spoon a portion of berries over each cake bottom, then a dollop of whipped cream over berries. Cap with cake top and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 669.4 calories, Carbohydrate 85.6 g, Cholesterol 133.5 mg, Fat 34 g, Fiber 8.2 g, Protein 8.6 g, SaturatedFat 20.6 g, Sodium 592.4 mg, Sugar 44.3 g

VERY BERRY RHUBARB BARS

Very Berry Rhubarb Bars image

These bars feature a cinnamon-shortbread crust, a fruity sweet-tart filling, and a crunchy oat crumb topping. The best early summer has to offer!

Provided by Dianne

Categories Desserts Cookies Fruit Cookie Recipes Blueberry

Time 1h20m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter
4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
½ cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
4 cups diced rhubarb
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup blueberries
½ cup flour
½ cup brown sugar, packed
½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup butter, melted
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 13x9-inch baking dish.
Mix 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a bowl. Cut 1 cup unsalted butter into the flour mixture until crumbs form; press into bottom of prepared baking dish.
Bake crust in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
Blend eggs, white sugar, 1/2 cup flour, and salt in a blender until smooth; pour into a large bowl. Fold rhubarb, strawberries, and blueberries into the blended egg mixture. Spread the fruit mixture onto the baked crust.
Mix 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, oats, melted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon together in a bowl; sprinkle over the fruit mixture.
Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned on top and the filling has set, 45 to 50 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 271.7 calories, Carbohydrate 41.7 g, Cholesterol 56.4 mg, Fat 10.8 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 3.3 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 78.8 mg, Sugar 27.2 g