Strawberry (or Raspberry!) Chocolate Shortcake

Instead of the usual birthday cake, I made something different this year for my husband’s birthday treat.  The only thing I did was change out the strawberry topping for raspberry – his preferred fruit.

Turned out to be a big hit.  Maybe I started a new tradition???

Enjoy this awesome recipe!

Strawberry (or Raspberry!) Chocolate Shortcake
 
• 1 pint strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and sliced
       or 1/2 pint raspberries, rinsed
• 1 cup sugar (reserve ¼ cup for fruit topping)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits and chilled
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup heavy cream or whipped cream
• Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
• Bottled hot fudge sauce (optional)
 

Preheat oven to 425°. Place strawberries or raspberries in medium size bowl. Gently stir in 1/4 cup sugar; toss to coat. Let stand 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
 
Meanwhile, prepare chocolate shortcake: Combine flour, cocoa powder, remaining sugar, the baking powder and salt in large bowl. With pastry blender or 2 knives used scissor fashion, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Slowly add milk and vanilla, toss with fork, until mixture just come together. Add more milk one tablespoon at a time to into dough. Put dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead lightly about 10 times. Pat or roll dough to 3/4-inch thickness. Cut out with 4-inch round fluted cookie cutter or biscuit cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheet, about 1 inch apart. Reroll the scraps and cut out more short cakes. Bake in 425° oven for 12 minutes or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Remove shortcakes to wire rack to cool completely.
 
Cut each shortcake in half horizontally. Place bottom halves on plates. Spoon some juice from strawberry or raspberry mixture over bottoms. Spoon strawberry or raspberry mixture on each bottom half, reserving a few berries for garnish. Spoon about 1/2 cup whipped cream over each. Cover with top half. Garnish with fruit and mint. Drizzle with fudge sauce if desired. Cut in half for two servings.

Bryn Kirk

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