Description
Delightful brandied strawberry shortcakes with malted whipped cream bring summer’s sweet essence to dessert lovers’ tables. Rich layers of buttery biscuits, boozy berries, and cloudlike cream promise a luxurious finale you’ll savor with pure culinary joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberries and Dairy:
- 1 lb (454 grams) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) heavy cream (plus extra for brushing)
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) heavy cream, chilled
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Sugars and Sweeteners:
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Dry Ingredients and Flavorings:
- 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons brandy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons malted milk powder (e.g., Ovaltine or Carnation)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Gently slice strawberries into a medium mixing bowl, ensuring uniform thickness for even maceration.
- Sprinkle sugar over the strawberries, allowing the crystals to begin breaking down the fruit’s cellular structure.
- Pour brandy into the bowl, creating a luxurious liquid that will enhance the strawberries’ natural sweetness.
- Add vanilla extract to complement the brandy’s warmth and deepen the fruit’s aromatic profile.
- Delicately fold the ingredients together, coating each strawberry slice without crushing the delicate flesh.
- Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, letting the mixture rest at ambient temperature.
- Allow the strawberries to macerate for approximately 30-60 minutes, during which time they will release their juices and absorb the elegant liquid infusion.
- Periodically give the mixture a gentle stir to ensure even flavor distribution and liquid absorption.
- The maceration process will transform the strawberries into a glossy, syrup-laden delicacy, intensifying their natural flavor and creating a luscious topping for the shortcakes.
Notes
- Boost the brandy’s flavor by choosing a high-quality, smooth brand that complements the strawberries’ natural sweetness.
- Adjust sugar levels based on the ripeness of strawberries; less ripe fruits might need a touch more sweetness.
- Enhance the maceration process by gently crushing a few strawberry slices to release more juices and intensify the overall flavor profile.
- For a non-alcoholic version, replace brandy with orange juice or apple juice to maintain depth and complexity in the fruit mixture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg