We might enjoy certain desserts at any time of the year but sometimes, they seem to be attached to a seasonal recipe. That is the case with strawberry shortcake and when many of us enjoy having some great strawberries, it makes us think about the warm days of summer.
If your family loves strawberry shortcake, this parfait recipe is going to be a new family favorite. They may be dainty but they are packed full of flavor and loads of fun to eat. You can impress your guests by whipping up a few of these for after dinner. At that point, all you need to do is sit back and accept the gratitude.
Ingredients:
For the shortcakes
1 2⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
3⁄4 tsp. salt
8 Tbs. (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into
small pieces
3⁄4 cup buttermilk
1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract
For the strawberries
4 cups strawberries, hulled and cut into slices
1/4 inch thick
1⁄4 cup sugar
For the whipped cream
3/4 cup heavy cream, well chilled
2 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
To make the shortcakes, preheat an oven to 400°F.In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest and salt until well blended.
Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the pieces are no larger than peas. Add the buttermilk and vanilla and gently toss with a fork or rubber spatula until the flour is just moistened and the ingredients are blended.
Turn the shaggy dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently press the dough into a thick rectangle about 6 by 4 inches. Using a large sharp knife, trim the edges even, then cut the dough into 6 equal squares.
Place the squares on an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them well apart. Bake until they are puffed and golden, 15 to 18 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly or completely.
Meanwhile, prepare the strawberries: In a bowl, toss together the strawberries and sugar with a fork, lightly crushing some of the berries. Cover the berries and refrigerate until well chilled or until ready to serve.
To make the whipped cream, in a deep bowl, combine the cream, sugar and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form and the cream is billowy, about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve or for up to 2 hours.
To serve, crumble the shortcakes into the bottom of a mini mason jar. Spoon some of the strawberries, including the juices, over the top with a dollop of the whipped cream. Top with the remaining shortcake pieces, a few strawberry pieces and more whipped cream. Serve immediately. Enjoy!