Individual Fresh Fruit Shortcakes With Cassis Recipes

INDIVIDUAL STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES BY PAULA DEEN

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, toss the strawberries and 1/4 cup sugar together.
• Set aside until time to serve.
• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together flour, baking powder, salt and 3 tablespoons of sugar.
• Then pulse in the cold butter cubes until a coarse meal is formed.
• Turn the flour mixture out into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center.
• Pour in 2/3 cup half-and-half and gently mix it in with a rubber spatula or fork - be careful not to over mix the dough or the biscuits will be tough.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and fold it over itself a couple of times until it just holds together.
• Pat the dough out to 3/4" thickness and cut out 8 round 3" biscuits.
• Transfer the biscuits to a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
• Brush the tops of each biscuit with the remaining half and half and sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon sugar.
• Bake in a preheated 400° oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the biscuits have risen and are a light golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
• Split each biscuit, spoon some strawberries on the bottom piece, then whipped cream and top with the other biscuit half.
• Garnish with more strawberries.

SUMMER-FRUIT SHORTCAKE WITH MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Whisk buttermilk, egg and vanilla extract in medium bowl to blend; transfer 1 tablespoon mixture to small bowl and reserve for glaze. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into large bowl; add butter. Using electric mixer, beat until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 3 minutes. Add buttermilk mixture and blend just until soft moist dough forms. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Using floured hands, gather dough into ball and knead gently for 6 turns. Transfer dough to ungreased baking sheet. Shape dough into 8-inch round. Brush top with reserved 1 tablespoon buttermilk mixture. Bake cake until top is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer cake to rack and cool completely.
• Make filling:
• Toss plums, peaches, raspberries and 1/3 cup sugar in large bowl to blend. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat mascarpone, whipping cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and vanilla in large bowl until firm peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cut off top 1/3 of cake. Using small knife and leaving 1/2-inch border at edge, cut out enough of cake bottom to form 1/2-inch-deep indentation. Spread half of mascarpone cream in indentation. Using slotted spoon, remove fruit from bowl; mound onto cream. Reserve fruit juices in bowl. Spread remaining mascarpone cream over fruit. Cover with top of cake. Refrigerate cake and reserved juices separately, at least 3 hours and up to 6 hours.
• Let cake stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar. Cut into wedges. Drizzle with reserved fruit juices and serve.

SUMMER FRUIT SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Using a pastry blender or two forks, cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture; pour in the buttermilk and milk, and mix just until the dough gathers together. Do not overwork. Cover the bowl, and allow dough to rest 10 to 15 minutes. Roll or pat the dough into 6 rounds, each about 3 inches in diameter. Place on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until puffed and golden, about 15 minutes. Place on a rack and cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, combine the blueberries, apricots, and cherries in a bowl. Toss to blend and set aside.
• Beat the whipping cream in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form. Stir in 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar; continue beating until stiff peaks form. Split the shortcakes in half and place the bottom halves on 6 serving plates. Spoon whipped cream over each half, top with fruit, and place a shortcake top on each. Dust tops with remaining 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar.