Cherry Short Cakes

I know it sounds un-American, but I don't believe I have ever had a short cake before. I have seen plenty of strawberry shortcakes and, being a nanny and all, heard plenty references to that sweetly named children's cartoon character, but never have I actually had one.

To my surprise, a short cake is simply a biscuit with fruit and whipped cream in the middle. Who knew something so simple would be so irresistible? Or that you could make them with something other than strawberries =P.

Cherry Shortcakes.

Adapted from This Blog

Biscuits:

2 cups all purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bow. Cut in butter until butter is the size of small peas.

Add buttermilk and vanilla, mixing until just moistened.

Form dough into ball and place n well-floured surface (or floured pastry cloth, which is my personal preference.) Flatten into a disk about 3/4 or 1 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes, combine scraps and repeat to make more biscuits Place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden.

Cool on wire rack.

Cherries:

1/3 cup sugar or honey (decide based on how sweet or tart your cherries are and preference)

1 tablespoon cornstarch

scant 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 lb of cherries, pitted and stemmed

Mix sweetener of choice, cornstarch, and cinnamon in a saucepan (do not turn on heat yet). Add cherries and then cook over medium-low heat until mixture bubbles and thickens, about half an hour.

Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Set aside to cool.

Assembly:

Either make your own whip cream (whip heavy cream and confectioners sugar to taste until mixture holds soft peaks) or buy some.

Cut biscuits horizontally in half and place bottoms on serving plates. Spoon the cherries over the biscuit bottoms, top with whipped cream, then cover with the biscuit top.

Yum.