I truly believe that the simplest things in life are the best things in life. And when it comes to dessert, nothing really screams simple more than strawberry shortcake. It’s just plain good – especially when all the components are homemade. And although I know that, the truth of the matter is, that most of my life the only strawberry shortcake I knew about was anything but homemade. Sure, it was made a home, but it was usually slapped together with those little 4-pack yellow cakes usually stacked up next to the strawberries in the produce department – and then topped with syrupy frozen strawberries and Cool Whip.
But now that I’ve grown to know the difference, I can’t go back to the old way. By the way, the “old way” was due to the fact that I avoided baking my entire life, ever since my mom rejected the very first cake I made in my Easy Bake Oven when I was eight. It only took about 40 years to get over it. I’m kidding!
So I’ve been experimenting with shortcakes a bit since there are so many variations. I love the texture of the ones I made in this recipe! They’re just perfect – kind of like if a biscuit and a shortbread cookie got together and had a baby. And you don’t have to add it, but I really liked the addition of rosemary.
For me, the best part is the mascarpone that was added to the fresh whipped cream. It added a little more bounce and richness to the cream that seemed to be the perfect balance with the chunky strawberries.
I served a version of these a few nights ago at my brother Darien’s house. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t enjoy them at that time because we all stuffed ourselves on his incredible spaghetti and meatballs – and bread pudding made with croissants. But I made them again the next day and I have to say they tasted pretty darn incredible when we were hungry and even substituted them for dinner! Do yourself a favor and have strawberry shortcake for dinner sometime. It’s a good thing – trust me.
Rosemary Shortcakes with Strawberries and Mascarpone
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh strawberries
- For shortcakes
- 3 cups flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- 1 1/2 sticks butter 1 stick chilled, 1/2 stick at room temp and cut in cubes
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup half n half
- optional - pinch of rosemary if fresh, chop as fine as possible
- For egg wash before baking
- 1 egg white
- a little water
- For whipped topping
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup fresh mascarpone
- about 2 tablespoons or to taste sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Rinse strawberries, slice off stem, chop in small pieces and place in mixing bowl with about 2 tablespoons of sugar. Depending on your taste and the tartness of the berries, you may add more or less sugar. Cover and place in refrigerator until ready to use.
- For the shortcakes, sift dry ingredients and add to food processor. Pulse a couple times and then add the 1/2 stick of butter into the dry mixture. Pulse several times until blended. Now add the cubes of chilled butter and pulse again until you see pea sized chunks of butter.
- Empty mixture into mixing bowl and add the egg and half and half and stir until dough is sticking together.
- Turn out onto floured surface and knead about 5 times and form into round disk. Press gently and form into larger round that is about one inch thick. Cut out small circles with a cooking cutter or cup. Dip cutter in flour beforehand to prevent dough from sticking.
- Place cutout circles on parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Beat egg white with a little water and brush tops of shortcakes with it before baking. Sprinkle a little sugar over the tops if you prefer.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the tops are light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely. Note: you can make these the day before, cool and store covered. I did this for the second batch and I actually liked the texture better.
- For the whipped topping, add whipping cream to a mixing bowl with sugar and beat until stiff peaks form (about 4 minutes). Add the mascarpone and beat for another minute until blended.
- Assembly
- Slice each shortcake in half. Place sliced shortcake on serving plate, spoon strawberries over the bottom half, spoon on the whipped topping, drizzle some more strawberries over that layer and then top with the the other half.
- Enjoy!
Hi Garlic Girl, Fantastic looking recipe. Thanks! Might have to exercise my Father’s Day rights and whip some up 😉
Cheers,
Peter
Hi Peter Claassen! Happy Father’s Day – and you should be sitting back and letting your elskling whip up the strawberry shortcake! 🙂 Give everyone a hug for me!
I think I’m going to try this one over the weekend. That looks so good!!!!
That looks delicious! wish I had some now 🙂
MMMM….can’t wait to try it…. you sound like someone after my own heart… Strawberry Shortcake for Breakfast… Oh Yeah! I also love the line shortbread cookie and the biscuit together and had a baby, too funny. Oh my now I am hungry.
this sounds amazing…I need to try this for myself, as I am a huge Strawberry shortcake fan xoxo !!
I wish I had more family time with my husband and son during the summer, but with hubby away for military & work all the time, its mainly me and lil man. But this summer has been great so far, considering. And makin something that looks this delicious would just make everything even more awesome! 🙂 ♥
Wow-this sounds awesome! must try it soon (as soon as I get an oven, that is). This one, and California strawberries with chocolate shortcake. Strawberries are one of the things I miss the most about Calif.
I would like to win a cookbook. @mecarolks
LOVE strawberry shortcake – brings back some of my favorite childhood summer memories. Now strawberry shortcake for dinner…that’s something I have yet to try, but I’m sure my kids would be in support! : )
So glad that @CAStrawberries sent me here, that looks and sounds so delicious!!!
I would love to win the cookbook! Strawberries are YUMMY
I gotta try this with the strawberries in mygarden
This recipe sounds amazing-can’t wait to try it out!
Thanks for all your comments! Please check to see who won the cookbook “Strawberry Recipes for Everyday” at the California Strawberries FB page at 4:00 p.m. In case you miss it, I’ll mention the winner here later today. The winner just needs to send their mailing address to info@calstrawberry.org and the cookbook will be sent out early next week.
Thanks again for stopping by and feel free to come back any time!!
Oh my goodness, i just found your site with a recipe search. I love it! I use fresh ingredients and make healthy, rustic food and there are just great ideas and recipes here. I think it’s amazing that you put together this site and share all of your hard work!! Thank you so much…
Thanks Christa, how sweet of you to say that!