Description
Alton Brown’s strawberry shortcake masterpiece blends sweet berries with buttery biscuits. Summer dessert perfection comes together through precise technique and fresh ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (240 g) flour
- 4 tsps (20 g) baking powder
- 2 oz (56 g) sugar
- ¾ tsp (4 g) kosher salt
- ¼ tsp (1 g) baking soda
- 2 tbsps (28 g) unsalted butter, chilled
- 2 oz (56 g) shortening
- ¾ cup (180 ml) half-and-half
- Additional melted butter for brushing
- Additional sugar for sprinkling
- Macerated strawberries, for serving
- Whipped cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 450°F (232°C) and line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper for effortless cleanup and even baking.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking soda, kosher salt, granulated sugar, and baking powder until uniformly combined, eliminating potential lumps and ensuring consistent texture.
- Fat Integration: Rapidly work chilled butter and vegetable shortening into dry ingredients using fingertips, creating a coarse, sandy mixture resembling small pebbles to maintain optimal temperature and texture.
- Liquid Incorporation: Gently fold half-and-half into crumbly mixture, stirring until a slightly sticky batter forms, being careful not to overmix and compromise the biscuits’ delicate structure.
- Shaping and Seasoning: Drop 8 generously sized batter portions onto prepared pan, ensuring even spacing. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle sugar to create a golden, crisp exterior that promises delectable caramelization.
- Baking Process: Bake for 14-16 minutes, rotating pan midway to guarantee uniform browning. Remove when biscuits achieve a rich, golden-brown color with a slightly puffy appearance.
- Resting and Assembly: Transfer biscuits to a towel-lined basket, allowing 10 minutes of rest to stabilize texture. Split warm biscuits and crown with freshly whipped cream and macerated strawberries for a sublime dessert experience.
Notes
- Keep Butter Cold: Chilled butter is crucial for creating flaky, tender biscuits; work quickly to prevent warming, which can compromise the texture.
- Avoid Overmixing: Stir the batter just until it comes together; excessive mixing develops gluten, resulting in tough, dense shortcake.
- Sugar Sprinkle Technique: Brush with melted butter and sprinkle sugar before baking to create a crisp, golden exterior with a delightful caramelized crunch.
- Resting is Essential: Allow biscuits to rest in a towel-lined basket for 10 minutes after baking to complete the cooking process and ensure perfect texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg