Machias Festival Baked Blueberry Shortcake Recipes

MACHIAS FESTIVAL BAKED BLUEBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and 2 tablespoons of the sugar and stir until well mixed. With a pastry cutter or two knives, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk and lemon extract. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Spread half the dough into a lightly buttered 8-inch pie plate. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the blueberries over the dough. Sprinkle the berries with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Dot remaining dough over berries. Sprinkle top with the last tablespoon of sugar.
• Bake until the top of the shortcake is golden brown, about 25 minutes. While the shortcake is still warm, cut into 6 wedges. Top each serving with whipped cream or ice cream and sprinkle with a few of the remaining berries.

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.