Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Strawberry shortcake can be a wonderful treat, especially, during summer, when strawberries are in season. It is a favorite among various dessert recipes, which has a combination of biscuit, strawberries and whipped cream. A lot of people like to use cake, where the biscuit is simply replaced with cake. Though a strawberry shortcake has to be assembled at the time of serving, its individual components can be made in advance and simply reheated for the warm flavor. Presented here are two recipes, the traditional strawberry shortcake recipe, along with a healthy low fat strawberry shortcake recipe for weight watchers. There are also a lot of 'easy' strawberry shortcake recipes, but it is worth going that extra mile for the sake of an authentic and delicious dessert.

Traditional Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Ingredients

Scones:

• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten lightly
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt

Egg Wash:

• 1 tbsp cream
• 1 large beaten egg

Filling:

• ¼ cup granulated white sugar
• 2 pounds fresh sliced strawberries

Topping:

• 1 tbsp granulated white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Procedure

1. Place a rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat it to 400°F or 200°C. On a cookie sheet, place parchment paper to cover it.
2. Mix together the baking powder, flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Using a pastry blender, blend in the butter after cutting it into small pieces, giving the batter a coarse texture.
3. Separately combine the eggs, vanilla extract and cream, and add it to the coarse flour batter, making it a thick dough. Avoid mixing the dough too much.
4. Sprinkle some flour on a flat surface, and lightly knead the dough. Roll the dough into a 7-inch circle that is 1-inch thick.
5. Cut out 3-inch scones with a cookie cutter and place them on the cookie sheet.
6. Mix together the ingredients of the egg wash together, and lightly brush the scones with the mixture. Bake the scones until they are a golden brown color, and until the center has been thoroughly cooked.
7. The strawberry shortcake filling recipe is simple. Take one-third of the washed and sliced strawberries, and mash them in a large bowl. Ensure that they are lightly and not completely mashed. Mix together the remaining strawberries and sugar, and leave them to marinate for about 45 minutes at room temperature.
8. Stir together the ingredients of the whipped cream in a large bowl, and chill the mixture in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Beat the mixture again after 30 minutes. The heavy whipped cream will make the mixture stiff.
9. It's time to serve. Slice each scone centrally to get two halves. Put the marinated strawberry filling on the lower half and cover it with the upper half of the scone. Top it up with the chilled whipped cream. Place a slice of strawberry on top of the whipped cream for effect!

Low Fat Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Yes! The delicious strawberry shortcake can be low fat too. Try out this guilt-free grilled and healthy strawberry shortcake recipe.

Ingredients

• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup fat-free milk
• 2 tbsp sugar substitute (of your choice)
• ¾ cup self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 egg
• Butter flavored cooking spray
• 1 tbsp canola oil

Basting Sauce:

• 1 tsp brandy
• 3 tbsp light margarine
• 2 tbsp honey

Filling:

• 3 cups sliced strawberries
• Cinnamon powder (to sprinkle)
• Sugar substitute (to sprinkle)

Topping:

• Low-fat vanilla ice cream

Procedure

1. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl, mix the oil, milk and egg. Now toss in the dry ingredient mixture to the egg batter while stirring slowly to avoid the formation of any lumps, till it becomes a thick dough.
2. Sprinkle some flour on a flat working surface and knead the dough. Roll the dough into a ¾ inch thick circle. Cut out 2-inch biscuits from the circle, using a cookie cutter.
3. On a perforated grill pan, spray some butter flavored cooking spray and heat it on the grill. Once heated, place the biscuits on the pan, and cook for 5-10 minutes but keep checking on them to avoid burning. Toss them over and cook for another 5-10 minutes.
4. For the basting sauce, on low heat in a small pot, mix together the margarine, brandy and honey. Remove from heat once the margarine melts.
5. You may notice that the biscuits have split, even though they're not thoroughly cooked. At this point, brush the split sides with some basting sauce, and put the split sides facing down back on the grill. Brush the tops with the basting sauce.
6. Every time you flip the biscuits, keep basting them with the sauce, till the grill marks appear on them.
7. The next step has to be delicately balanced, to achieve the right flavors, and to avoid burning. When the biscuits have cooked half way for around 15 minutes, toss in the strawberries to the grill pan and cook with the biscuits. Continue tossing while sprinkling some cinnamon powder and sugar substitute. Do not overcook as the strawberries may become too tender. This strawberry shortcake filling recipe can be tried with the traditional recipe too.
8. Ensure that the strawberries are steaming hot. As soon as the biscuits are ready, place them on the dessert plates, and top them with the steaming hot strawberries, followed by a scoop of the vanilla ice cream. Use a slice of strawberry to garnish the shortcake and pour a few drops of the remaining basting sauce on it for a lasting flavor!

A strawberry shortcake can be a delectable treat only when the ingredients used are right. It is of prime importance to use fresh and not canned strawberries to derive an authentic flavor from the shortcake. Also, the strawberries should be bright red, ripe and firm. Avoid soft strawberries as they will ruin the look as well as the taste of the shortcake. So make yourself and your guests this delectable and easy strawberry shortcake recipe, which will leave a long-lasting flavor in the mouth!