SippitySup

Sugar Rush! Rhubarb & Strawberry Shortcakes

Vanilla Scented Rhubarb and Strawberry Shortcakes with Gingered Crème Fraîche.

I’ve got another dessert for you. That’s two desserts in a row. That can only mean one thing. My traffic is in need of a sugar rush. Sweets bring readers there is no denying this. So whenever I feel like my stats need a little “artificial sweetening” I pull out a dessert like these Rhubarb and Strawberry Shortcakes.

Rhubarb and Strawberry Shortcakes

But I have a reason for this, you see I am leaving town for a couple of weeks. Heck I am leaving the country even, and I’ll be honest I don’t want you to forget me while I am gone. I know that sounds pathetic, and it assumes I must think I am unmemorable. But really it’s just a device I am using to let you know I am going to Norway.

While I am away I have arranged for a couple of weeks of guest posts. These posts are not going to be quite like the typical food posts you might see on Sippity Sup. Because I challenged these writers with a specific creative task. For now I’ll keep the details to myself. But come back tomorrow when I kick this series off with my own answer to this (secret) challenge. I’ll reveal all the details and all the players then.

In the meantime let’s pump up the sugar and the traffic with Vanilla Scented Rhubarb and Strawberry Shortcakes with Ginger Creme Fraiche. Adapted from Seasons in the Wine County.

Rhubarb and Strawberry Shortcakes

Vanilla Scented Rhubarb and Strawberry Shortcakes serves 8 CLICK here for a printable recipe

 

1 lb rhubarb (cut into 1/2‑inch chunks)
3⁄4 c sugar (plus 1 tablespoon for the shortcakes & 2 teaspoons for the cream)
1   two-inch piece ginger (peeled and halved lengthwise)
2   cardamom pods
2 c all-purpose flour
1⁄2 t kosher salt
1 T baking powder
1   vanilla bean
2 c heavy cream (divided, plus more as needed)
3 T butter (melted)
1⁄2 c crème fraîche
1⁄2 c candied ginger (minced, as garnish)
2 c fresh strawberries (cut into 1/2 inch thick slices

Vanilla Scented Rhubarb and Strawberry Shortcakes

For the rhubarb: Toss the rhubarb, 3/4 cups sugar, fresh peeled ginger, and cardamom pods in a glass container. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Turn the mixture once or twice to evenly distribute the sugar.

Place a fine-mesh sieve over a medium saucepan. Gently pour the rhubarb mixture through the sieve into the saucepan to collect the accumulated juices. Remove the sieve with the rhubarb and place over a bowl. Remove and discard the ginger and cardamom.

Bring the liquid and any undissolved sugar in the saucepan to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring gently, until all of the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Add the rhubarb to the saucepan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb just begins to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the rhubarb mixture from the heat and reserve at room temperature. The rhubarb will continue to soften as it sits.

For the vanilla shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Sift flour, salt, baking powder & 1 tablespoon sugar into a large mixing bowl. Slit the vanilla bean and, using a sharp paring knife, scrape the seeds into flour mixture and reserve the pod for another use. Stir the flour mixture to distribute the vanilla seeds.

Add 1 cup cream and mix into the flour with a large wooden spoon or silicone spatula. Add more cream as necessary until the dry ingredients become a firm ball of dough with no dry spots; it should not be sticky.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead about 20 times, until the dough becomes smooth but not shiny, and firm but pliable. Pat the dough into a 9‑inch square.

Using a 3‑inch round cookie cutter, cut 8 rounds of biscuit dough as close to one another as possible, re-rolling the dough gently if necessary.

Brush each shortcake on both sides with the melted butter to lightly coat, and place on an un-greased baking sheet. Place in the oven and bake until puffed and lightly golden, about 15 minutes.

Place the shortcakes on a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

For the whipped cream: Place the stainless-steel bowl and whip attachment for an electric mixer in the freezer 10 minutes before whipping the cream. Place the crème fraîche, 1 cup cream, and 2 teaspoons sugar in the chilled bowl and whip on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Gently stir in most of the candied ginger, reserving just enough as garnish for all 8 servings. Reserve in the refrigerator until needed.

Place the saucepan with the rhubarb mixture back on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the strawberries and cook until the strawberries are just heated through but still firm, about 2 minutes. Tease the shortcakes apart with a fork. Divide the rhubarb and strawberry mixture among the shortcakes (about 1/2 cup per serving) and finish each shortcake with a small dollop of whipped cream, and a sprinkle of reserved candied ginger.

SERIOUS FUN FOOD

Greg Henry

Sippity Sup