Strawberry Shortcake With Basil
- Comments()
- Prep Time 30 minutes
- Total Time 8 hours 40 minute
- Yield Serves 8
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups cold heavy cream, plus 2 tablespoons, for brushing
- 20 large basil leaves, plus 1/3 cup small or torn basil leaves
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more if needed
- 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
- Salt
- 2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 1/2 cups sliced strawberries (1 pound 4 ounces)
- 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
Directions
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Bring 1 1/2 cups cream to a gentle simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bruise large basil leaves by hitting repeatedly with the dull side of a knife, and stir into cream. Remove from heat, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let steep for 25 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing solids to extract liquid. Refrigerate until very cold, at least 5 hours.
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk together flour, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, the baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter or rub in with your fingers. (The largest pieces should be the size of small peas.)
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Whisk together 3/4 cup heavy cream, the eggs, and vanilla. Stir into flour using a fork until ingredients are moistened but not fully incorporated. (Do not overmix.)
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Turn dough out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and pat into a 9 1/2-inch circle. Brush dough with remaining 2 tablespoons heavy cream, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.
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Bake until light golden brown and just cooked through, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely, about 2 hours.
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Meanwhile, macerate strawberries with remaining 1/4 cup sugar, plus more if needed, depending on sweetness, stirring occasionally, for at least 1 hour.
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Toss berries with small basil leaves. Whisk basil cream with confectioners' sugar in the chilled bowl of a mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Mound basil cream on shortcake. Spoon berries with juice over top.
Cook's Note
Shortcake is best served within 4 hours of baking but can be stored, untopped, at room temperature for up to 8 hours. Basil cream can be refrigerated for up to 1 day; whip just before using. Berries can macerate for up to 3 hours.
This was so ridiculously good. I'm not usually a huge fan of whipped cream on desserts--it just doesn't do enough for me to justify the calories and fat. This basil cream was incredible, though--I ended up scraping the rest of it off the leftover shortcake when our guests left and just eating it and the strawberries with a spoon. Very easy, amazingly delicious--I definitely recommend it!!!