shortcake

Shortcake generally refers to a dessert with a crumbly scone-like texture. There are multiple variations of shortcake, most of which are served with fruit and cream. One of the most popular is strawberry shortcake, which is typically served with whipped cream. Other variations common in the UK are blackberry and clotted cream shortcake and lemon berry shortcake, which is served with lemon curd in place of cream. Shortcake is also the name of a popular biscuit available in the UK, and a layered baked good from China (Xiting Shortcake).

Shortcake generally refers to a dessert with a crumbly scone-like texture. There are multiple variations of shortcake, most of which are served with fruit and cream. One of the most popular is strawberry shortcake, which is typically served with whipped cream. Other variations common in the UK are blackberry and clotted cream shortcake and lemon berry shortcake, which is served with lemon curd in place of cream. Shortcake is also the name of a popular biscuit available in the UK, and a layered baked good from China (Xiting Shortcake).

Preparation

Shortcake is typically made with flour, sugar, baking powder or soda, salt, butter, milk or cream, and sometimes eggs. The dry ingredients are blended, and then the butter is cut in until the mixture resembles cornmeal. The liquid ingredients are then mixed in just until moistened, resulting in a shortened dough. The dough is then dropped in spoonfuls onto a baking sheet, rolled and cut like baking powder biscuits, or poured into a cake pan, depending on how wet the dough is and the baker's preferences. Then it is baked at a relatively high temperature until set. Strawberry shortcake is a widely known dessert made with shortcake. The shortcakes are split and filled with sweetened strawberries and whipped cream. In North America and Asia, sponge cakes filled with strawberries and whipped cream are also referred to as "strawberry shortcake" despite not being made with shortcake. Though strawberry is the most widely known shortcake dessert, peach shortcake, blueberry shortcake, chocolate shortcake and other similar desserts are made along similar lines. In some recipes the shortcake itself is flavored; coconut is one addition.

International variations

In the United Kingdom, Shortcake biscuits (North American:Cookies) are a dry sweet biscuit eaten as a snack or served with tea. They are lighter in texture than the similarly named shortbread. Xiting shortcake, also known as Nangting Shortcake, is a Chinese baked good from Jiangsu Province. The shortcake has been made since the Qing dynasty, and is made with high-quality pale wheat flour, premium lard, and sugar, and is made up of 18 layers.

Gallery

See also

List of cakes List of quick breads Strawberry shortcake (dessert) Joanie Cunningham, a Happy Days character nicknamed "Shortcake"

References

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378034161 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.