Best Congresbury Ginger Shortcake Recipes

QUEEN ELIZABETH CAKE I

Steps:

• Pour boiling water over dates in a small bowl, and let stand until cool.
• Measure flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and nuts into a small bowl. Stir to mix.
• Cream 1/4 cup butter or margarine and white sugar together in a mixing bowl; beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture in three parts alternately with date mixture in two parts, beginning and ending with dry mixture. Spread batter into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes, or until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean.
• To Make Topping: Mix coconut, brown sugar, 6 tablespoons butter and cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Boil for three minutes. Spread over warm cake, and brown under broiler.

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.

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

ENGLISH WALNUT DATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.
• In a large bowl, combine dates, walnuts, sugar, baking powder and flour. Stir in egg yolks. In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the whites into the fruit/nut mixture until no streaks remain. Spoon into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.