Clamtastic!
Combine a warm Chicago evening, two popular Food Network hosts, and a few good friends, and what do you get? An East Coast–style chow fest to remember
(page 4 of 5)
Maple-Soaked Strawberry Shortcake with Blueberry Sorbet and Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream
Shortcake
/ serves 6
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for the work surface
- ½ cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¾ cup plus 3 tbsp. heavy cream
- 2 pounds strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1 cup maple syrup
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Combine the flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add 3/4 cup of the heavy cream and mix just until a dough forms. Put the dough onto a floured surface and pat it into a disk that’s roughly 1 inch high. Using a star-shaped biscuit cutter, punch out as many as possible. Re-form the dough and repeat, placing the stars on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush the pieces with the remaining 3 tbsp. of cream and sprinkle them with the remaining 2 tbsp. of sugar.
Bake the shortcakes in the top half of the oven for 25 minutes, until they are golden and firm to the touch. Remove the shortcakes to a baking rack to cool.
While the shortcakes are baking, put the berries and maple syrup in a bowl. Let macerate until ready to assemble the desserts.
Slice each shortcake in half and place the bottom halves on a platter or on individual dessert plates. Divide the berries among them. Cover with the shortcake tops and serve with blueberry sorbet and whipped cream.
Sorbet
/ makes 1 quart
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 6 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Combine the water, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the syrup and blueberries into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Pour into an ice cream maker and follow manufacturer’s directions or, alternatively, pour into a shallow pan and place in the freezer for one hour. Remove the pan from the freezer and scrape down the sides and mix well with a spoon. Return to the freezer. Repeat this process several times to break up the ice crystals. At this point you can transfer the sorbet to a sealable container. It will be a rough sorbet, like a granita. Run it through a food processor for a smoother texture.
Whipped cream
/ makes 1 quart
- 1 pint heavy cream, well chilled
- 2 tbsp. powdered sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
Pour the cream into a chilled stainless steel bowl and add the vanilla bean seeds. Beat cream until it starts to thicken and add the sugar. Continue to beat until peaks form.
Related: Photo Gallery »
Photograph: Tyllie Barbosa
Styling: Barri Leiner
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