Peach Tarragon Shortcake Recipes

SOUTHERN PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9-inch cast iron skillet and set aside. Reserve remaining butter.
• Combine flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup cold butter with a pastry knife until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Pour in milk and stir just until the dough starts to come together.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a ball. Divide ball in half and lightly knead each half. Gently roll each half into a 9-inch circle.
• Place 1 dough circle into the prepared skillet, and dot with reserved butter. Place second dough circle on top of the butter pieces, and place the skillet in the center of the preheated oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is lightly browned, 22 to 25 minutes.
• While the shortcake is baking, prepare peaches. Slice 1 peach, toss with 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and set aside. Chop the remaining peaches, yielding about 4 cups, and toss with remaining lemon juice.
• Turn shortcake out onto a rack to slightly cool, about 5 minutes. Slice in half crosswise, using the edge of the second layer as a guide. Place bottom half on a serving plate, cut side up.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup white sugar on a plate and lightly mash 2 cups of peaches into the sugar. Spread out mashed peaches and sugar over the shortcake layer on the serving plate. Cover mashed peaches with the second shortcake layer, cut side up.
• Toss remaining chopped peaches with remaining sugar and distribute on top of the second layer. Toss peach slices in any remaining juice, and place in a decorative pattern on top of the shortcake.

FRESH PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Position oven rack in lower one-third of the oven.
• Butter and flour an 8-inch square baking pan.
• In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/8 tsp nutmeg and salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, WHISK together eggs, half and half cream, 6 Tbsp butter, lemon zest and vanilla until combined (butter will stay lumpy).
• Stir in 1 cup sugar until combined.
• Stir in the flour mixture, just until combined.
• Pour the batter into prepared baking pan.
• Bake for 35 minutes, or until cake is light golden, and tests done.
• Cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes.
• Remove from pan; cool completely on a rack.
• In a large non-stick skillet, melt the remaining butter over medium heat.
• Add the peaches, cardamon, remaining sugar, ginger and nutmeg; cook, stirring often until slightly softened (about 5-7 minutes).
• Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate until cooled (about 15-20 minutes).
• In a bowl, beat the whipping cream with the 2 tbsp icing sugar until stiff peaks form.
• To assemble the cake: cut cake into 9 squares.
• Cut each square in half horizontally.
• Top each cake bottom with about 1-1/2 Tbsp whipped cream, and 4 peach wedges.
• Pour some pan juices over.
• Place the cake top over, and garnish each with about 1-1/2 Tbsp whipped cream.

PEACH-TARRAGON SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Peaches Using the tip of a paring knife, score an X in the bottom of each peach. Cook in a large pot of boiling water just until skins begin to peel back where cut, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl of ice water; let cool. Peel; cut over a medium bowl into 1/4"-thick wedges, collecting juices.
• Add tarragon and sugar to peaches and toss to combine. Let stand, tossing occasionally, until peaches release their juices and sugar is dissolved, about 1 hour.
• Shortcake and assembly:
• Preheat oven to 425°. Heat butter and tarragon in a small saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted; set aside.
• Whisk cake flour, baking powder, salt, 1 cup all-purpose flour, and 2 teaspoons sugar in a large bowl. Drizzle chilled cream over and mix gently until dough holds together.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead into a shaggy ball, being careful not to overwork. Place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and form into an 8"-diameter disk, about 1/2" thick. Brush with some reserved melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake until shortcake edges are golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Bake until golden brown all over, 8-10 minutes longer.
• Brush shortcake with remaining melted butter. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Cut shortcake into 8 wedges, spoon peaches and their juices over, and top with whipped cream.

PEACH-BERRY SHORTCAKE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with 12 regular-size cupcake liners.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or a standard hand held mixer and large mixing bowl), mix the sugar, oil, salt and peaches on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the eggs and continue mixing on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula and mix again on medium speed for 10 seconds. Next, in a blender or food processor, combine the corn and whipping cream and blend for 20 seconds until smooth. Add this creamed corn mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on medium speed until incorporated.
• In a medium bowl, sift the flour and baking powder and stir in the cornmeal. Add to the wet ingredient mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated. Now, add the baking soda, followed by the vinegar for an immediate bubbling action. Add 1/4 cup cold water and mix on low speed for 5 seconds. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl one last time to be sure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
• Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full with batter and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Rotate the pan 180 degrees after 9 minutes of baking. Oven heat and times may vary so bake until the tops are no longer wet and spring back upon touching. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• Keep the oven on, but increase the temperature to 400 degrees F.
• For the shortcakes: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or a standard hand held mixer and medium mixing bowl), add the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Next, use your fingers to break the butter into pea-size pieces and add to the dry ingredients. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds until incorporated. Add the milk, cream, tarragon and vanilla and continue mixing on low speed until the flour is fully incorporated.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. With a spoon, drop heaping spoonfuls of batter onto the baking sheet 2 inches apart and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Oven heat and times may vary so bake the shortcakes until they are golden brown. Cool the shortcakes completely. With your fingers, break each shortcake into 3 equal pieces and set aside.
• For the compote: In a small bowl, combine the blackberries, peaches and strawberries. Add the sugar and gently fold into mixture. Set aside.
• For the frosting: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or a standard hand held mixer and medium mixing bowl), whip the heavy cream on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. In a small bowl, sift the powdered sugar. Add the sugar to the whipped cream mixture and mix on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. The frosting should be able to stand on its own.
• To assemble: Begin assembling the cupcakes by placing a spoonful of peach-berry compote on top of each cupcake. Place the frosting in a piping bag with a round tip or in a gallon-size plastic baggy and snip 1/2-inch off the corner. Next, pipe frosting onto the compote. Place a piece of the tarragon shortcake on top of the frosting. Finally, top with another small spoonful of peach-berry compote. With a tweezer or small tong, delicately place a tarragon leaf on top.

THE LADY'S PEACH SHORTCAKE - PAULA DEEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• To make shortcakes, mix together bisquick, sugar, milk, butter and almond flavoring.
• Pour into 12 well greased muffin tins and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Cool for 5 minutes and remove from pan.
• Peel, core and slice peaches and immediately sprinkle with Fruit Fresh to prevent peaches from turning brown.
• Add a splash of warm water to the peaches to moisten.
• Stir sugar into peaches, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To serve, split biscuit in half and place bottom on plate.
• Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and place top half of biscuit over ice cream and fruit.
• Top with more peaches and then a bit of whipped cream.

PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425°F.
• In a medium bowl, combine the peaches, 4 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the Bourbon, and the ginger. Set the mixture aside while you make the cake.
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using two forks or your fingertips, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the milk, stirring only until moistened. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead 10 times or until the dough comes together and is smooth.
• Pat the dough evenly into a greased 8-inch round cake pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove the shortcake from the pan and let cool on a wire rack.
• When ready to serve, whip the cream with the remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Split the shortcake into two layers; place the bottom layer on a serving platter. Spoon half of the peach mixture over the cake and top with half of the whipped cream. Cover with the second cake layer and top with the remaining peach mixture and whipped cream. Sprinkle with the pecans and serve.