Best Apricot Nectarine Shortcake With Vanilla Whipped Cream Recipes

MOLTEN LAVA CAKE WITH WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Paint the insides of 6 ramekins with the melted butter, then coat with granulated sugar.
• Put the remaining stick of butter and the chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan filled with about 1 inch of boiling water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water). Gently stir the butter and chocolate together until melted and smooth. Turn off the heat.
• Combine the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, eggs and yolks in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whip until doubled in size and very thick and pale. Gently whisk in the chocolate-butter mixture. Gently stir in the flour. Pour the batter into the prepared ramekins. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 14 to 15 minutes. Let rest for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Whip the cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until it holds soft peaks.
• Remove the cakes from the ramekins and place them on individual serving plates. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm with whipped cream.

APRICOT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use a little of the butter to grease a 9-inch round baking pan with a removable bottom. Dust the pan with a little of the flour. Sift the remaining flour with the baking powder and salt and set aside.
• Cream the remaining butter with the brown sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Stir in the flour mixture and the vanilla.
• Spread the batter in the baking pan. Arrange the apricot slices on the top. Put in the oven and bake about 25 minutes, until the top of the cake looks fairly firm and is just beginning to brown.
• Sprinkle with the granulated sugar, return to the oven and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until the cake is nicely browned. Remove from the oven, allow to cool 10 minutes, then remove the sides of the pan. Serve the cake while it is still warm, with creme fraiche, whipped cream or vanilla frozen yogurt on the side.

BUCKWHEAT SHORTCAKES WITH EARL-GREY APRICOT COMPOTE AND WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Make the shortcakes:
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with two layers of parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk the flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center and pour the cream into it (set the measuring cup aside) and add the grated frozen butter. Use a rubber spatula to push the dry ingredients from the sides of the bowl into the well, cutting and turning the mixture just until the dry ingredients are almost entirely moistened and the dough looks rough and shaggy. Gather the dough into a ball and knead it gently against the sides of the bowl five or so times, pressing loose pieces into the dough, until it just holds together (it should not be smooth) and the bowl is fairly clean.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and pat into a circle about 3/4-inch thick. Using the biscuit cutter or an overturned glass, and re-patting the dough as needed, cut the dough into 8 even rounds. Place them at least 1 inch apart on the baking sheet. Brush the tops with the cream left in the bottom of the measuring cup or with a little milk, and sprinkle generously with turbinado sugar.
• Bake the shortcakes until the tops are just barely golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Immediately transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Make the filling:
• Set a medium saucepan with 2 cups water over high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and let steep 3 minutes. Remove tea bags and add apricots, honey, and vanilla bean. Return to stove and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat; cook until the apricots are soft and the liquid has reduced to a thick syrup, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove vanilla bean.
• Meanwhile, in the chilled bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or using a medium mixing bowl and a handheld electric mixer or a whisk, whip the cream, adding the sugar as it begins to thicken. Continue beating until it holds a soft shape-not too stiff. (The cream can be covered and refrigerated for up to several hours. If liquid separates from the cream, whisk briefly before using.)
• Assemble the Dessert:
• To assemble the shortcakes, gently pull each shortcake apart horizontally into two equal halves. Place the bottom halves on serving plates. Top each with a generous scoop of apricot compote (about 2 tablespoons) and a dollop of whipped cream. Cover with the tops of the biscuits and serve.

OLD-FASHIONED SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• 1. FRUIT: Prepare fruit by washing and cutting as needed. Sprinkle with sugar and set aside. (May use any that you like: strawberry, blueberry, peaches, apricot, raspberry, cherry -- even canned if you're in a pinch, but fresh is SO much better)
• 2. SHORTCAKE: Sift the dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until resembles coarse corn meal.
• 3. NOTE: If you use self-rising flour, omit baking powder and salt, and decrease liquid if necessary
• 4. Combine milk and water and add to dry ingredients all at once. Mix with a fork until moistened.
• 5. Turn out on lightly floured surface and knead 10 to 15 times.
• 6. Roll or pat 1/2-inch thick, cut with floured biscuit cutter (or drinking glass)--(should get about 6 individual shortcakes -- form scraps into one more if possible -- can make more with smaller diameter glass for smaller portions)
• 7. Bake 450 F on ungreased baking sheet for 10-12 minutes
• 8. WHIPPED TOPPING: Put milk in a covered mixing bowl and place in freezer for 15-20 minutes (until soft crystals form in the milk)
• 9. Remove from freezer and whip until stiff (about 1 minute) (if you've never done this before, you'll be surprised at how wonderfully well it whips)
• 10. Add lemon juice and continue whipping until VERY stiff. (It will triple in volume)
• 11. Beat in sugar and vanilla.
• 12. ASSEMBLY: Split shortcakes in half with a fork or knife. Place half on plate and cover with fruit. Top with other biscuit half, and more fruit. Spoon the whipped topping over all and serve immediately.
• 13. Some people like to put a little butter on the biscuit before putting the fruit on. Even a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar with the butter -- Up to you!
• 14. For a nice video on whipping evaporated milk watch this: http://www.southernplate.com/2013/10/how-to-make-whipped-cream-with-canned-evaporated-milk.html

APRICOT SNACK CAKE

Steps:

• Set a rack in the middle position of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch metal loaf pan with butter.
• On a rimmed baking sheet, spread almonds into a single layer and toast in the oven until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of a food processor, combine the 6 tablespoons butter, both sugars, the baking powder, baking soda and salt, and pulse until butter is pea-size. Add eggs and vanilla, and pulse until well blended. Add both flours and pulse, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until well incorporated. Add apricots and pulse until fruit is finely chopped and mixture is almost smooth.
• Using a spoon or flexible spatula, stir in toasted almonds. Scrape mixture into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Bake until cake is golden on top and firm in the center, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool for 30 minutes. Slide a paring knife or small offset spatula along the sides of the pan to loosen the cake, then turn out cake and cool completely (or until lukewarm).
• Slice the cake and enjoy it drizzled with honey, topped with whipped cream or ice cream, or as is.

FOURTH OF JULY SHORTCAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 11-by-7-by-1 1/2-inch baking dish. Line pan with parchment paper, allowing paper to extend 1 inch above pan.
• Stir together flour, salt and baking powder; stir in bran.
• Beat cream cheese and butter; add sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in lemon zest, egg and lemon juice. Stir in dry ingredients.
• Spread dough in a very thin layer over bottom of pan and up sides to form a shell. Press a piece of parchment paper down into the shell. Fit close to dough at all points and let extend an inch above the pan. Fill with pie weights or dried beans or rice.
• Bake 20 minutes or until dough is set. Remove top parchment paper and weights. Reduce oven to 350 degrees and bake 15 minutes longer or until golden brown.
• Set pan on wire rack and let cool. Lift out shell. Spread interior of shell with apricot preserves.
• Make the filling: Slice strawberries, and sprinkle them and blueberries with sugar to taste. Arrange fruit in pastry shell in four segments, alternating berries.
• Make the topping: Beat ricotta with milk until smooth. Blend in sugar and vanilla. To serve, drizzle topping on each piece of shortcake.