Carolina Buttermilk Biscuits And Or Southern Shortcake Recipes

CAROLINA BUTTERMILK BISCUITS (AND/OR SOUTHERN SHORTCAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500°. In a bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder, sugar, baking soda and salt. Work the butter or lard in until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the buttermilk and stir until the dough forms a ball.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and fold it over onto itself 10 times. Pat the dough out to an 8-inch square. Using a 2 1/2-inch round cutter, stamp out 12 biscuits; reroll the scraps and stamp out more biscuits.
• Arrange the biscuits on a baking sheet and bake in the center of the oven for 8 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot.

BUTTERMILK STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, 1/3 cup white sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl.
• Cut in cold butter with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (If desired, place flour mixture into the work bowl of a food processor with the butter; pulse several times to cut butter into the flour mixture. Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl, and proceed.)
• Stir in buttermilk until the flour mixture is moistened.
• Drop 1/3-cup scoops of the dough 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Brush biscuits with heavy cream and sprinkle generously with turbinado sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Mix together the sliced strawberries, 1/4 cup white sugar, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Allow berries to rest until juices develop, about 30 minutes.
• Serve the strawberries with juice over the biscuits.

CAROLINA'S BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

Steps:

• Sift dry ingredients together.
• With a pastry blender, cut cold butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles very coarse breadcrumbs (sort of like fresh bread crumbs).
• Stir buttermilk into beaten egg and add mixture to flour mixture.
• Stir quickly, until dough forms a soft ball.
• Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead 5 or 6 times.
• Let dough rest for a minute, then roll out to 1/2 inch thickness.
• Cut out biscuits using a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter.
• Place biscuits, 1 inch apart, on baking sheet that has been sprayed with Pam.
• Bake at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

BUTTERMILK-BISCUIT SHORTCAKES WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Make the saucy berries: Steep the tea bag in boiling water for 5 minutes; pour the tea into a medium pot. Mix in the sugar, zest and berries, and cook, stirring, until the syrup bubbles exuberantly and the berries soften, about 5 minutes. Scrape into a bowl, discard zest and let cool while you make the biscuits.
• Make the biscuits: Heat the oven to 400, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Put the sugar and zest in a large bowl, and rub them between your fingertips until the sugar is moist and aromatic. Add the dry ingredients, and stir with a fork to blend. Drop in the butter, toss it around with your fingers until it's coated with flour and then press and pinch until you've got pea-size pieces of butter and flakes like oatmeal. Make a well in the center, pour in the cold buttermilk and turn and stir with a fork until the dough forms moist curds and clumps. Some dry crumbs may remain in the bottom of the bowl - don't fuss with them now. Reach in with your hands, and knead gently, folding the dough on itself about 8 times, until it forms a ball.
• Dust the counter lightly with flour, turn out the dough, dust the top and roll to a scant 1/2-inch thick. (Size and shape don't matter.) Using a 2-to-2 1/2-inch biscuit or other cutter, cut rounds as close to one another as possible. Cut in a quick up-and-down movement - if you twist the cutter, you'll impede the biscuits' rise and their flakiness. Arrange 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Gather the scraps together, reroll and cut more biscuits, knowing that these scrappers may not rise as high as those in the first round.
• Bake the biscuits for 16-18 minutes, or until they're tall and golden; transfer to a cooling rack. Use the biscuits when they're warm or at room temperature.
• Make the topping: Toss the berries and sugar together; leave on the counter, stirring now and then, while you whip the cream. Using a mixer, beat the cream just until it begins to thicken, then whip in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Don't overbeat - soft cream is good here.
• To assemble: Pull apart each biscuit along a natural flake line, and place the bottoms on plates. Top each with a spoonful of saucy berries, cream and then sugared berries. Decide what to do with the other half of each biscuit: Lean it up against the shortcake; place it at a jaunty angle on top of each shortcake; make another shortcake with it; or tuck it away to toast in the morning.

SOUTHERN-STYLE BISCUIT SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Lightly grease large cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray. In medium bowl, stir together flour and 2 tablespoons sugar. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Add half-and-half; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened.
• On lightly floured surface, knead dough just until smooth. Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut with floured cutter or knife into desired shapes. Place about 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.
• Bake 9 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cool.
• In small bowl, beat whipping cream and 1 tablespoon sugar with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Split shortcakes; place on individual dessert plates. Fill and top each with fruit and whipped cream. Store in refrigerator.