Spiced Shortcakes With Sauteed Pears Recipes

GINGER PEAR SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir together Bisquick mix, granulated sugar, milk and molasses until soft dough forms.
• On lightly floured surface, knead dough 3 to 4 times. Pat dough to 1/4-inch thickness; cut out 12 biscuits with 2 3/4-inch round biscuit cutter. Place on cookie sheet. In small bowl, mix walnuts, ginger, melted butter, cinnamon and cloves. Pat mixture on biscuit tops.
• Bake 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack; cool completely.
• In large bowl, toss pears and lemon juice. In 12-inch skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add pear mixture; stir to coat with butter. Cook 2 minutes; sprinkle with brown sugar. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pears are soft and sauce thickens slightly. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and salt.
• To serve, split biscuits in half. Place biscuit bottoms on dessert plates; top with pear mixture and whipped cream. Replace biscuit tops.

WARM PEAR SHORTCAKES WITH BRANDIED CREAM

Steps:

• Make biscuits:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Sift both flours, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda into large bowl. Add butter. Rub in with fingers until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk; stir to blend. Gather dough into ball.
• Gently knead dough on floured surface until dough holds together. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/2-inch thickness. Using 3-inch-diameter star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out biscuits. Gather dough scraps, reroll and cut out additional biscuits, making total of 24. Arrange biscuits on 2 baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
• Brush tops of biscuits with egg. Bake until biscuits puff and are light golden, about 12 minutes. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cool completely. Wrap in foil. Reheat foil-wrapped biscuits in 350°F. oven about 10 minutes before using.)
• Make pears:
• Toss pears with lemon juice in large bowl. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add pear mixture and sauté until crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Remove pear mixture from heat. Add whipping cream and brown sugar, then pear brandy. Bring mixture to boil. Cook until pears are tender and sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Divide pear mixture among 12 bowls. Top with warm biscuits and serve.