Chocolate Shortcakes With Sour Cherry Topping |
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Prep Time: 25 Minutes Cook Time: 25 Minutes |
Ready In: 50 Minutes Servings: 6 |
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Chocolatey biscuits topped with dollops of whipped cream and drizzled with a sour-sweet cherry topping. Ingredients:
5 cups fresh sour cherries, pitted (water-packed are fine too, drain well) |
3/4 cup honey, plus |
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar |
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon |
2 cups all-purpose flour (approximately) |
2/3 cup sugar |
2/3 cup cocoa |
2 teaspoons baking powder |
1/2 teaspoon baking soda |
1/2 teaspoon salt |
1/4 lb cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces |
2 large egg yolks |
3/4 cup buttermilk |
1 1/2 cups heavy cream |
1 1/2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar (+ additional) |
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract |
Directions:
1. For cherry topping: In small saucepan combine all topping ingredients and cook over medium-high heat, until cherries start to release their juice and the liquid thickens and becomes syrupy, 6-7 minutes; cool and refrigerate until needed (you can make this up to 1 day ahead).
2. For shortcake biscuits: Preheat oven to 350F and set rack in middle of oven; combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl until blended; rub butter into flour mixture with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal; in a small bowl, whisk egg yolks with buttermilk to blend; add to flour mixture and stir just until evenly moistened; turn dough out onto a floured board and, with lightly floured hands, knead just until it comes together (if the dough is very sticky, sprinkle on some additional all purpose flour); pat out to about 1 1/4 inches thick and cut into rounds with a 3 inch cutter; gather dough scraps and pat out again to make remaining shortcake biscuits; set 2 inches apart on a large baking sheet; bake biscuits for approximately 25 minutes, or until golden-brown, and transfer to a rack to cool completely.
3. For whipped cream: Beat cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
4. To assemble: Slice shortcake biscuits in half and set bottoms of biscuits on 6 dessert plates; dollop generously with whipped cream and distribute cherry topping evenly over the cream; place biscuit tops over cherries at a slight angle and sprinkle tops lightly with confectioners' sugar.
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