Almond Shortcakes Recipes

ALMOND SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Whisk 1 cup flour, 1 1/2 cups almond meal, 1 tablespoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk 2/3 cup milk, 1 egg and 1/3 cup vegetable oil, then stir in the flour mixture. Drop scoops of the dough on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, sprinkle with sugar and bake at 475 degrees F until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Split the shortcakes and fill with whipped cream and blackberries.

CHERRY-ALMOND CHOCOLATE SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Make the shortcakes: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the all-purpose flour, almond flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until combined. Work in the butter with your fingers until it is in pea-size pieces, then stir in the chopped chocolate. Whisk the heavy cream and egg in a small bowl, then add to the flour mixture and stir until combined. (The dough will be slightly sticky.)
• Scoop 6 balls of dough (about 1/3 cup each) onto the prepared baking sheet using a large ice cream scoop or a measuring cup, spacing the dough 2 to 3 inches apart. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly brush each ball of dough with melted butter and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake until the edges are firm and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Toss the cherries with 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the cornstarch, almond extract and water in a medium saucepan; let sit 30 minutes. Cook over medium heat until the juices are bubbling and syrupy, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the amaretto. Let cool to room temperature, at least 2 hours.
• Beat the heavy cream and the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a medium bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Whisk the mascarpone to loosen, then beat into the whipped cream until medium peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Split each shortcake and fill with the whipped cream and cherries.

ALMOND SHORTCAKE WITH STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray. In 2-quart saucepan, heat rhubarb, 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon water to boiling over medium-high heat. In small bowl, mix cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water; stir into rhubarb mixture. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is tender. Cool sauce about 30 minutes. Stir in strawberries.
• In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 cup milk and the butter until soft dough forms. Press in bottom of pan; brush with milk. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar and the almonds.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from pan; cut into wedges. Split wedges horizontally. Fill and top shortcakes with sauce; top with whipped cream.

ALMOND AND MIXED-BERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Position rack just above center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Whisk egg white and 3 tablespoons sugar in small bowl to blend. Mix in almonds.
• Blend 1/2 cup sugar and almond paste in processor until fine meal forms. Add flour, baking powder, lemon peel, salt, and ginger; blend 5 seconds. Add butter and cut in, using on/off turns, until coarse meal forms; transfer to large bowl. Whisk egg yolk, buttermilk, and vanilla in small bowl. Gradually add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients, tossing until moist clumps form. Using floured hands, gather dough together.
• Divide dough into 8 equal pieces; roll each into 2-inch ball. Place balls on prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 to 3 inches apart. Gently press top of each ball to flatten slightly. Divide almond topping (including egg white) among biscuits; spread to cover. Bake biscuits until golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 26 minutes (biscuits will spread). Cool on sheet 5 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.)
• Combine berries, lemon juice, and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl. Stir in preserves. Let stand until juices form, at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Cut biscuits horizontally in half. Place bottoms on plates. Top with berry mixture, cream, and biscuit tops.
• *Available in specialty foods stores and in the baking products section of most supermarkets.

ALMOND SHORTBREAD I

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter with 1/2 cup sugar and almond extract until light and fluffy. With a wooden spoon, stir in flour until smooth and well combined. Divide dough into 2 parts. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• On lightly sugared surface, roll out dough, one part at a time, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut out cookies with a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Make an indentation in the center of each cookie with the end of a wooden spoon.
• Bake in preheated oven until cookies are light golden brown around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. While still warm, roll in sugar. Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an air-tight container.

ALMOND SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 180C (Gas Mark 4)
• Mix Flour and Caster Sugar in a bowl
• Rub in the Butter/Margarine until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.
• Add the Ground Almond
• Press mixture into a baking tray
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until firm to the touch and very lightly brown
• Cool in the tin

ALMOND-CORNMEAL STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 6 jumbo muffin tins (each 1-cup capacity); set aside.
• In a food processor, blend 1/2 cup sliced almonds with sugar until finely ground. Add butter, eggs, vanilla, and salt; process until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary (mixture may appear curdled at this point). Add flour and cornmeal; pulse just until moistened.
• Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin tins; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup sliced almonds. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cakes 5 minutes in pan; remove from pan, and transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Hull and quarter strawberries. In a medium bowl, combine with 1/3 cup sugar. Let stand until syrupy, tossing occasionally, at least 20 minutes (and up to 6 hours, covered and refrigerated).
• In another medium bowl, using an electric mixer, whip cream with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar until soft peaks form.
• With a serrated knife, split cooled shortcakes horizontally. Place bottom halves on serving plates. Dividing evenly, layer with sweetened strawberries and whipped cream; cover with shortcake tops.

ALMOND SHORTCAKE WITH TRIPLE-BERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, mix 3/4 cup sugar and the cornstarch. Stir in water and food color. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes. Stir in berries. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
• Heat oven to 450°F. Grease bottom and sides of rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches, with shortening. In medium bowl, mix flour, 1/2 cup sugar, the baking powder and salt. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in milk, almond extract and eggs just until blended. Spread in pan. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar and the almonds.
• Bake shortcake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Serve with Triple-Berry Sauce.

ORANGE-ALMOND SHORTCAKES WITH CRANBERRY PARFAIT

Steps:

• For parfait:
• Bring cranberries and cranberry concentrate to simmer in medium saucepan. Cover; cook over medium-low heat until berries are very tender, about 12 minutes. Cool; puree in blender until smooth. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and chill.
• Combine egg yolks, sugar, orange juice, corn syrup, and vodka in large metal bowl. Place over saucepan of boiling water. Using electric mixer, beat until thick and billowy and instant-read thermometer registers 140°F for 3 minutes, about 7 minutes total. Remove bowl from over water. Beat mixture 2 minutes. Add 1 cup cranberry puree; beat until mixture is cool, about 5 minutes. Cover; freeze until firm, about 4 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead; keep frozen. Chill remaining puree.
• For biscuits:
• Set rack in top third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment. Whisk egg white and 1/4 cup sugar in small bowl. Add almonds;toss to coat.
• Grind 1/2 cup sugar and almond paste in processor to fine meal. Add flour and next 4 ingredients; blend 5 seconds. Add shortening; blend until coarse meal forms. Transfer to large bowl. Whisk egg yolk and orange juice in small bowl; add to dry ingredients, tossing until clumps form. Gather dough into 10-inch-long log. Cut crosswise into 10 pieces. Shape each into 2 1/4-inch round, about 1 inch thick. Place on sheet. Spoon almonds over biscuits (some egg white will be left over).
• Bake biscuits until golden and tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 25 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool.
• Swirl 1 cup remaining cranberry puree into cream topping (in about 5 turns; do not overmix) for ribboned look. Halve biscuits horizontally. Let cranberry parfait soften slightly at room temperature 10 minutes before assembling shortcakes. Mound parfait onto biscuit bottoms; cover with tops. Mound cream-cranberry mixture alongside.
• *Almond paste is available in the baking aisle of supermarkets and specialty foods stores.