The Culinary Connoisseur
Short and Sweet
14
Jun
Jun
Today is National Strawberry Shortcake Day—a very good
day to celebrate!
day to celebrate!
What most of us refer to as Strawberry Shortcake is
actually Strawberry Sponge cake; a soft cake layered with macerated
strawberries and whipped cream.
actually Strawberry Sponge cake; a soft cake layered with macerated
strawberries and whipped cream.
The original Strawberry Shortcake is made with biscuits
or a type of crumbly bread that has been leavened with baking powder. Shortcake is made with flour, sugar,
baking powder or soda, salt, butter, milk or cream. The
dry ingredients are blended, and then the butter is cut in until the
mixture resembles large crumbs. The liquid ingredients are then mixed in just
until moistened, resulting in “short dough.” The dough is then dropped in spoonfuls onto a
baking sheet or rolled slightly and cut with a round cookie cutter, being
careful not to overwork the dough.
or a type of crumbly bread that has been leavened with baking powder. Shortcake is made with flour, sugar,
baking powder or soda, salt, butter, milk or cream. The
dry ingredients are blended, and then the butter is cut in until the
mixture resembles large crumbs. The liquid ingredients are then mixed in just
until moistened, resulting in “short dough.” The dough is then dropped in spoonfuls onto a
baking sheet or rolled slightly and cut with a round cookie cutter, being
careful not to overwork the dough.
Sliced strawberries
are mixed with sugar and allowed to sit an hour or so, until they have released
a great deal of their juices.
are mixed with sugar and allowed to sit an hour or so, until they have released
a great deal of their juices.
Once the biscuits are baked they are split open, sort of
like a sandwich roll. The bottoms are
covered with a layer of strawberries, juice, and whipped cream, sometimes
flavored with sugar and vanilla. The top is replaced, and more
strawberries and whipped cream are added onto the top.
like a sandwich roll. The bottoms are
covered with a layer of strawberries, juice, and whipped cream, sometimes
flavored with sugar and vanilla. The top is replaced, and more
strawberries and whipped cream are added onto the top.
The first strawberry shortcake recipe appeared in an
English cookbook as early as 1588, according to Driscoll’s berry
growers—the largest berry growing company. By 1850, strawberry shortcake was a
well-known biscuit and fruit dessert served throughout the United States. Strawberry
shortcake parties were held as celebrations of the summer fruit harvest. This
tradition is upheld in some parts of the United States on June 14, which is National
Strawberry Shortcake Day.
English cookbook as early as 1588, according to Driscoll’s berry
growers—the largest berry growing company. By 1850, strawberry shortcake was a
well-known biscuit and fruit dessert served throughout the United States. Strawberry
shortcake parties were held as celebrations of the summer fruit harvest. This
tradition is upheld in some parts of the United States on June 14, which is National
Strawberry Shortcake Day.
Today the term Strawberry Shortcake has come to mean any
layered strawberry dessert including the delicious parfaits below.
layered strawberry dessert including the delicious parfaits below.
As many in our community refrain from eating fresh
strawberries due to concerns of infestation, greenhouse-grown strawberries are
available frozen and can be a good stand-in when preparing popular strawberry
recipes.
strawberries due to concerns of infestation, greenhouse-grown strawberries are
available frozen and can be a good stand-in when preparing popular strawberry
recipes.
1 pound strawberries, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 sleeve graham crackers (or 1 1/2 cups graham
cracker crumbs)
cracker crumbs)
1/4 cup butter, melted
1¼ cups heavy cream
1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp. sugar
2 (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Prepare strawberries for use according to your halachic
authority. Slice them into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl with the sugar,
lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir well to combine, then let this sit for 15
minutes. If you are using frozen
strawberries, defrost completely and add the sugar and lemon; mix until
combined.
authority. Slice them into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl with the sugar,
lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir well to combine, then let this sit for 15
minutes. If you are using frozen
strawberries, defrost completely and add the sugar and lemon; mix until
combined.
In the meantime, place the graham crackers into a food
processor, and pulse until ground into fine crumbs. If you don’t have a food
processor, you can crush the graham crackers with a rolling pin instead.
processor, and pulse until ground into fine crumbs. If you don’t have a food
processor, you can crush the graham crackers with a rolling pin instead.
Combine the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter in a
bowl, and stir until the crumbs are moistened. Set aside.
bowl, and stir until the crumbs are moistened. Set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the wire whisk or using
electric beaters, beat heavy cream with 1 tablespoon sugar in a large bowl
until cream is stiff.
electric beaters, beat heavy cream with 1 tablespoon sugar in a large bowl
until cream is stiff.
In a separate mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until
smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Add remaining sugar and continue to beat until
mixture is smooth and fluffy. Beat in milk and vanilla; scrape down sides
of bowl with a spatula and blend until smooth. Gently fold whipped cream
into cream cheese mixture with a spatula.
smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Add remaining sugar and continue to beat until
mixture is smooth and fluffy. Beat in milk and vanilla; scrape down sides
of bowl with a spatula and blend until smooth. Gently fold whipped cream
into cream cheese mixture with a spatula.
To assemble the cheesecake parfaits, place a few
spoonfuls of the cheesecake mixture into the bottom of 6 dessert glasses. Next
add a layer of the graham cracker crumbs. Top that with a layer of the
macerated strawberries, then repeat with one more of each layer. Chill the parfaits
for about an hour in the refrigerator before serving.
spoonfuls of the cheesecake mixture into the bottom of 6 dessert glasses. Next
add a layer of the graham cracker crumbs. Top that with a layer of the
macerated strawberries, then repeat with one more of each layer. Chill the parfaits
for about an hour in the refrigerator before serving.