David Lees Biscuits Perfect For Shortcakes Recipe 465

PERFECT SHORTCAKE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl.
• Add shortening, and cut into dry ingredients.
• Add milk and egg yolk together, and mix just until all dry ingredients are moistened.
• Dump out onto a lightly floured surface and knead about 4-5 times (very lightly!) and pat dough into a 1/3 inch thickness.
• Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
• Bake on lightly greased cookie sheet for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Serve with berries or other cut fresh fruit and sweetened whipped cream.
• Yum!

DAVID LEE'S BISCUITS, PERFECT FOR SHORTCAKES RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Steps:

• If you use unbleached all-purpose flour, substitute 1/4 cup (1 3/8 ounces) cornstarch for 1/4 cup of the flour. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar. Stir in enough heavy cream to moisten the dough thoroughly. You'll probably use about 1 cup in the summer, 1 1/4 cups in the winter, and 1 cup + 2 tablespoons at the turn of the seasons. You want to be able to gather the dough together, squeeze it, and have it hang together, without dry bits falling off. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and very gently pat it into an 8" circle about 3/4" thick. Use a sharp biscuit cutter (we use a 2 1/4" cutter) to cut rounds. Dip the rounds into melted butter, and place them on a lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired; this is a nice touch if you're going to use the biscuits for shortcake. Bake the biscuits in a preheated 425°F oven for 15 to 18 minutes, till they're golden brown. If you have any melted butter left over, brush it on the baked biscuits. "Serve hot!," says David. Yield: 10 large (about 2 1/2"), ultra-tender biscuits. To make Maine-style strawberry shortcake: Trim and slice 1 quart fresh strawberries. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar, stir, and set aside at room temperature for several hours; or refrigerate overnight. Whip 1 cup (8 ounces) heavy cream till it barely holds its shape. Sweeten to taste with granulated sugar. Split oven-warm biscuits in half. Top the bottom half of each with whipped cream, strawberries, more whipped cream, then the top half of the biscuit. Add a dollop of whipped cream and a slice of strawberry on top, as a garnish. Yield: 8 to 10 shortcakes.

CHOCOLATE CHIP STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE RECIPE - (4.5/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease baking sheets. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in morsels. Stir in buttermilk with a fork just until moistened. Knead 2 or 3 times on floured surface. Pat to 3/4-inch thickness. Cut into sixteen 2 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch diamonds; place on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Cut one shortcake in half horizontally. Spread bottom half with whipped topping; top with strawberries. Cover with shortcake top; layer with more whipped topping and strawberries. Repeat with remaining shortcakes. Serve immediately.

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.

PERFECT BERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat to 425 degrees. Mix flour, salt, baking powder and 3 Tbs. sugar in a medium bowl. Grate 2 Tbs. of the butter on the coarse holes of a box grater into dry ingredients; toss to coat. Repeat grating and tossing with remaining butter. Combine egg and half-and-half; pour into flour mixture. Toss with a fork to form large clumps. Lightly press clumps into a ball; add a teaspoon more half-and-half to the bowl if dough won't come together.
• Turn dough onto work surface; press into an 8-by-4- to 5-inch rectangle. Cut into 6 squares, placing them 1 inch apart on a small baking sheet. (Can be refrigerated up to 2 hours before baking.) Before baking, brush tops with optional egg white for a particularly attractive sheen. Sprinkle with remaining 2 Tbs. sugar. Bake until golden brown, about 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool until warm, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Mix thawed and fresh berries with sugar in a bowl; let stand until sugar dissolves. With a hand mixer, beat cream to soft peaks, gradually adding 1 Tb. sugar, then vanilla.
• Split each cake crosswise; spoon a portion of berries over each cake bottom, then a dollop of whipped cream over berries. Cap with cake top and serve immediately.