Best Southern Shortcake Recipes

SOUTHERN PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9-inch cast iron skillet and set aside. Reserve remaining butter.
• Combine flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup cold butter with a pastry knife until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Pour in milk and stir just until the dough starts to come together.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape into a ball. Divide ball in half and lightly knead each half. Gently roll each half into a 9-inch circle.
• Place 1 dough circle into the prepared skillet, and dot with reserved butter. Place second dough circle on top of the butter pieces, and place the skillet in the center of the preheated oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is lightly browned, 22 to 25 minutes.
• While the shortcake is baking, prepare peaches. Slice 1 peach, toss with 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and set aside. Chop the remaining peaches, yielding about 4 cups, and toss with remaining lemon juice.
• Turn shortcake out onto a rack to slightly cool, about 5 minutes. Slice in half crosswise, using the edge of the second layer as a guide. Place bottom half on a serving plate, cut side up.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup white sugar on a plate and lightly mash 2 cups of peaches into the sugar. Spread out mashed peaches and sugar over the shortcake layer on the serving plate. Cover mashed peaches with the second shortcake layer, cut side up.
• Toss remaining chopped peaches with remaining sugar and distribute on top of the second layer. Toss peach slices in any remaining juice, and place in a decorative pattern on top of the shortcake.

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.

SOUTHERN SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Combine the strawberries and sugar; set aside. , In a large bowl, cut shortening into flour until crumbly. In a small bowl, beat egg; add buttermilk. Stir into flour mixture just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead three to four times. Roll out to 1/2-in. thickness; cut with a 3-in. round biscuit cutter. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. , Bake at 400° for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned; cool slightly. , Split biscuits lengthwise; place the bottom halves on serving plates. Top with about 1/3 cup strawberries and whipped cream. Replace biscuit tops; spoon about 1/3 cup strawberries and more whipped cream on top. Serve immediately.

DIABETIC SOUTHERN PEACH SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Place peaches in bottom of well-greased 8-in.baking dish.
• Sprinkle with 1 tablespoons Equal, the almond extract and cinnamon.
• Combine flour, remaining sugar replacement, baking powder and salt in mixing bowl.
• Add oil, egg and milk, stirring just to mix.
• Spread evenly over peaches, and bake 30 minute at 400 degrees F.

GENUINE SOUTHERN STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and mix well. Add the butter and, using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut the butter into the mixture till crumbly.
• In a small bowl, combine the egg and half-and-half and beat till well blended, then add to the flour mixture and stir till thoroughly moist.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead very briefly. With your hands, pat out the dough to about a 1/2-inch thickness, then, using a floured 3-inch biscuit cutter, cut out 6 biscuits.
• Place the biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake on the upper rack of the oven till slightly brown on top, about 12 minutes.
• While they're still hot, split open the biscuits, spread lightly with butter, and arrange close together on a crystal cake plate.
• Spoon the berries and cream onto the biscuits and serve while still warm. (For attractive individual servings, prop one biscuit half at an angle on the other on small dessert plates and spoon berries and cream over the tops.
• Note: I've used Bisquick Mix for the biscuits when I don't have the time to make the real deal, and in my opinion they are quite acceptable, too. Just be sure to use only the freshest, ripe, sweet strawberries, and serve the biscuits warm with butter.