Strawberry Shortcakes

Now is the time. It’s strawberry season in Oregon which means it’s time to race down to the nearest farmers market, produce stand or grocery store and grab a pint or three of these sweet, sweet berries. Eating them fresh is a true treat and I like this simple shortcake recipe because it highlights the juicy berries and it’s not too rich or too heavy.

The shortcake, in this case, is very much like a biscuit. The dough is quick and easy to mix up.

Serving these individual cakes hot out of the oven with the strawberries and cream on top is the way to go and they’re the perfect dessert for an early summer feast, picnic or barbecue.

If you need to transport these sweet cakes, just wrap the biscuits in foil as soon as they come out of the oven. Take your berries and whipped cream along in portable containers and assemble the cakes on-site.

If the berries are small, there is no need to slice them but if they’re bigger berries you may want to slice them before sprinkling them with sugar. I like to do a mix of both, leaving some berries whole while slicing a few others.

Strawberry Shortcakes

Serves 6

4 cups fresh, ripe strawberries, rinsed, hulled (and sliced if you prefer)
2-6 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, to taste (you can substitute white sugar)
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, softened
1 large egg, beaten
2/3 cup heavy cream, half-and-half or whole milk
Butter for spreading onto hot shortcakes
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Chill a medium-size glass bowl along with mixing beaters in the freezer while preparing the berries and making the shortcakes.

Place clean berries in a bowl and sprinkle with brown sugar, to taste. The amount of brown sugar is truly to taste; start with a couple of tablespoons and add more as desired. Oregon strawberries are so sweet right now that you probably won’t need much sugar at all. Stir and let sit for at least 30 minutes. The sugar will bring out the juiciness of the berries.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; mix well. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or two knives until the mixture is crumbly.

In a small bowl, combine the egg and cream until well blended. Add the egg/cream mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until completely moist.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Pat dough to ¼ inch thickness or thereabouts. Using a floured 3-inch biscuit cutter or a sharp knife to cut out six biscuits or cakes. Place the biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake on the upper oven rack for about 10 minutes or until lightly brown on top.

While the cakes are baking you can whip the cream for serving. Remove the chilled bowl and beaters from the freezer and add cold whipping cream to the bowl. Begin beating on medium speed, slowly adding powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Turn the mixer to high and beat until peaks are stiff, but still soft.

While the cakes are still hot, split them open and butter each side. Spoon the berries and whipped cream onto the split cakes. Best served warm.