Name: Blackberry Shortcake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: Blackberries: -; 2 to 2 1/2 pounds blackberries (6 to 8 cups), gently rinsed if fresh, defrosted if frozen (save any juices that come from defrosting!) -; 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup sugar (to taste, depending on the tartness of the berries) -; 1 teaspoon lemon juice -; 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest -; Biscuits: -; 3 cups flour -; 3 tablespoons sugar -; 4 teaspoons baking powder -; 3/4 teaspoon salt -; 8 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small cubes -; 1 1/2 cups heavy cream -; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract -; Whipped cream: -; 1 cup heavy whipping cream -; 2 teaspoons powdered sugar -; A few drops vanilla extract -

Ingredients for - Blackberry Shortcake

1. Blackberries:

2. 2 to 2 1/2 pounds blackberries (6 to 8 cups), gently rinsed if fresh, defrosted if frozen (save any juices that come from defrosting!)

3. 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup sugar (to taste, depending on the tartness of the berries)

4. 1 teaspoon lemon juice

5. 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

6. Biscuits:

7. 3 cups flour

8. 3 tablespoons sugar

9. 4 teaspoons baking powder

10. 3/4 teaspoon salt

11. 8 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small cubes

12. 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

13. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

14. Whipped cream:

15. 1 cup heavy whipping cream

16. 2 teaspoons powdered sugar

17. A few drops vanilla extract

How to cook deliciously - Blackberry Shortcake

1 . Stage

Macerate the berries with sugar: Put the blackberries into a large bowl, sprinkle with sugar, and toss to coat all the berries with sugar. Use a potato masher to gently mash about half of the berries, releasing their juices. Stir in lemon juice and zest. Let sit for 20 minutes to an hour to macerate, allowing the sugar to help release more of the juices from the blackberries.

2 . Stage

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder salt. Cut in butter: In a large bowl vigorously whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the chilled butter cubes and use your fingers (or a fork, pastry cutter, or food processor) to break up the butter and mix with the flour until the largest pieces of butter are the size of peas.

3 . Stage

Add cream and vanilla: Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the cream and vanilla. Use a fork to mix the flour and the cream until the dough just comes together. It should have a rather shaggy appearance. Empty on to a clean surface and knead a few times to form a loose ball. Do not over mix or over-knead!

4 . Stage

Form into square shape and chill: Place ball on a small tray or baking sheet and form into an 8-inch by 8-inch square. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to chill for 15 to 20 minutes.

5 . Stage

Cut into squares, arrange on baking sheet: Preheat oven to 425°F. Once the dough has chilled sufficiently, remove it from the refrigerator and cut it into 9 even squares. Arrange them on a baking sheet with an inch or two between each square.

6 . Stage

Bake: Bake at 425°F until the biscuits are nicely browned, about 18 minutes.

7 . Stage

Make whipped cream: While the biscuits are baking place the heavy whipping cream into a large chilled bowl (I usually put a metal mixing bowl into the freezer for a few minutes if I know I'm going to be making whipped cream.) Sprinkle with powdered sugar and a few drops of vanilla extract. Use a hand mixer to beat until you have peaks that somewhat hold their shape. Chill until ready to serve.

8 . Stage

Assemble shortcakes: When the biscuits are ready, remove them from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes. To serve, place one in a bowl or dessert plate, pull it apart in half. Place a large scoop of berries and the juices from the berries over the bottom half. Top with the other half of the biscuit and a generous dollop of whipped cream.