Ginger Crunch Shortcake Recipes

GINGER SHORTCAKES WITH MANGOES AND STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 425 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to mix. Add the butter pieces and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer to a mixing bowl and stir in the crystallized ginger. Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk and egg; mix with a fork just until mixture is moistened (do not overwork dough).
• With a 1/3 cup measure, scoop dough from bowl and drop onto baking sheet, setting 2 inches apart (do not flatten dough). You should have 6 portions. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes, switching pan positions halfway through if using 1 oven. Remove from oven and transfer with a spatula to baking racks to cool. (Shortcakes can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.)
• To serve, mix together mangoes and strawberries in a bowl. Split each shortcake with a serrated knife. Place bottom halves on each of 6 plates. Top evenly with mangoes and strawberries. Dollop with equal amounts of yogurt, then top with remaining halves of shortcakes. Serve immediately.

CONGRESBURY GINGER SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch cake pan or springform pan.
• Cream the 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup white sugar until smooth. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon ground ginger. Add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar and stir until combined, forming a stiff dough.
• Pat the dough into the prepared pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the shortcake is firm and pale golden on top. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for ten minutes, and then remove it from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack.
• Transfer the cake to a serving plate. Combine the confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup butter, golden syrup and 1 teaspoon ginger in a saucepan; heat over medium-low heat until the butter and sugar have melted. Pour the warm glaze over the shortcake and refrigerate the cake to set the glaze. When cool, cut the cake into 8 wedges.

CARAMELIZED-NECTARINE AND GINGER SHORTCAKES WITH SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• For biscuits:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine first 5 ingredients in processor; blend 10 seconds. Add butter and blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk milk and egg in small bowl. Add milk mixture to processor; blend using 5 on/off turns. Add crystallized ginger. Using on/off turns, blend until dough just comes together. Turn dough out onto work surface; knead gently 5 turns. Shape dough into log; cut crosswise into 8 rounds. Pat each round to 1-inch thickness; place on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake biscuits until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool at least 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• For filling:
• Combine half of nectarines, 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice in heavy large skillet. Cook over high heat until fruit is just tender and juices bubble thickly, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl; repeat with remaining nectarines, sugar, and lemon juice. Set aside at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. for sour cream: Combine sour cream and sugar in bowl; whisk to blend.
• Cut biscuits horizontally in half. Place 1 biscuit bottom in each of 8 bowls. Spoon filling and sour cream onto each; cover each with biscuit top.

GINGER STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Make the biscuits: Beat the cream cheese, butter, granulated sugar, grated ginger and salt in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy; reduce the speed to low and beat in the flour and candied ginger until just incorporated. Turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap; press into a 1-inch-thick disk, tightly wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour or overnight. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a 10-inch circle, about 1/2 inch thick. Use a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter to cut out rounds; arrange about 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. Reroll the scraps and cut out more biscuits (you should have 12). Brush the tops lightly with the heavy cream and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake the biscuits until slightly puffed and golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the toppings: Puree half of the strawberries in a blender with 1/4 cup granulated sugar and the grated ginger until smooth; transfer to a bowl. Dice the remaining strawberries; add to the pureed berries and toss. Beat the sour cream, heavy cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in a separate bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Serve each person 2 biscuits with the whipped cream and strawberry mixture. Photograph by Anna Williams