Restraint and Blackberry Bourbon Shortcakes with Whiskey Cream.
Restraint. Moderation. Poise. There are times I possess these characteristics. A pebble hurls at my windshield and leaves a mark the size of a bullet hole; although my skin is boiling, I resist the temptation to scream at the pebble. My child sprays air freshener all over the walls so the bathroom smells like oranges for days on end; I take a breath (and choke on citrus fumes) then composed, I deal with my spawn and the bathroom.
Restraint is something most adults practice regularly. There are plenty of things I can resist completely, or at least use judgement to experience in moderation…
Shortcakes are not one of these things.
Truth be told, I am a complete and unabashed shortcake addict. If they are around, I will hoard them like bars of gold. It’s the tender buttery layers, the slight note of sweetness, the crumbly texture that lays somewhere between good shortbread and fluffy biscuits. After all, Shortbread + Cake = Shortcakes. My two favorite thing combined, how could I NOT love them?
I have absolutely no defense against their beguiling aroma and crusty golden top. I will literally eat them until they are gone. Three shortcakes left? Not anymore. Like the “bad boy” that irrational young girls swoon after; shortcakes are dangerous, and I love them for it.
So, I make them and I make them, with very good excuses of course. “Recipe Development” or “Tweaking” are common justifications for such behavior. “I’ve got to perfect this recipe”, I tell myself… lies.
The fact is, shortcakes are where all my restraint, moderation and poise go out the window. And if you’ve never experienced REAL shortcakes or GOOD shortcakes, this may be the recipe that breaks your resolve as well. *smile*
Blackberry Bourbon Shortcakes with Whiskey Cream, words cannot fully describe the wonder of this recipe. Simple blackberry shortcakes would do ME in on their own. Yet with the addition of bourbon to the shortcakes, and then again to the whipped cream, these babies are truly threatening.
This is a dessert I might trade my wedding ring for… and if not supervised, possibly one of my children.
Blackberry Bourbon Shortcakes are down-home buttery, ozzy-boozy, blackberry-lious! The way the deep perky flavor of the blackberries plays with the essence of bourbon is absolutely irresistible. I refuse to tell you how many of these I ate after this photo-shoot; it’s embarrassing.
Just know, I share this recipe with confidence that if you make it, you will want to kiss my face.
Cook’s Notes:
Shortcakes are squatty sweet biscuits that can be cracked in the middle to provide a top and bottom. As a member of the “quick bread” family, it’s best to use very cold ingredients, and to WORK FAST, so the dough goes in the oven cold. This allows the cool butter clumps to work their magic and produce light flaky layers. You can make shortcakes ahead, and put them into the fridge until ready to bake. It’s also important to cut as many shortcakes as possible out of the dough the first time. The more you gather and re-flatten the dough, the tougher it gets.
Macerating (squashing) some of the berries creates a thicker for flavorful sauce for the rest of the berries. Use the back of a large spoon, or simply smash them with your hand–it’s more fun!
Whiskey curdles cream if you’re not careful. For the whiskey whipped cream, make sure to add the whiskey to the heavy cream immediately before whipping. Whip it in the food processor for just a few seconds for loose cream or a little longer for stiff whipped cream. I personally like it loose for this recipe.
Recipe: Blackberry Bourbon Shortcakes with Whiskey Cream
Ingredients
For the Bourbon Shortcakes:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour + extra for cutting
- 1 Tb. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 8 Tb. cold butter, cut into cubes
- 1 egg + 1 egg white
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 3 Tb. bourbon
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
- 1 Tb. Turbinado sugar
For the Blackberries:
- 1 quart fresh blackberries
- 2-3 Tb. sugar
For the Whiskey Cream:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3 Tb. bourbon
- 3 Tb. sugar
Instructions
- For the Bourbon Shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in the food processor. Pulse a few times, then add the butter cubes. Pulse a few more times until the butter in broken into pea-sized chunks.
- Whisk one egg, cream and bourbon together, then pulse into he dry mixture. Until it just comes together.
- Dump the dough onto a floured work surface. Quickly press with your hands until it is 1 ¼- 1 ½ inches thick.
- Using a 3 inch cookie cutter cut out 8 shortcakes—try your best to get them all in one cut. Dough get tougher the more you play with it.
- Lay them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush them with egg white and sprinkle with almonds and turbinado sugar.
- Pop in the oven immediately. The goal is to works fast enough to get them in the oven while the butter is still cold—that’s what creates the light flaky texture.
- Bake for 12 minute, then cool for at least 5 minutes before trying to move.
- For the Blackberries: Smash one handful of blackberries to leash the juices. Toss the smashed berries with the whole berries and sugar. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- For the Whiskey Cream: Wipe out the food processor, then add the cream, bourbon and sugar. Puree into the desired consistency in reached. Stir to make sure the loose cream on the bottom is whipped.
Preparation time: 20 minute(s)
Cooking time: 12 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 8
I’m excited to announce That Villeroy & Boch has graciously offered One Gorgeous Whiskey Carafe and Your Choice of 2 Whiskey Tumblers as a Pre-Father’s Day Giveaway. This heavy crystal bar-ware would make a stunning gift for the man in your life–or for yourself!
How to Enter: ~CLOSED~
Check out the Villeroy & Boch Site and tell me which whiskey glasses you like best!
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*For US residents only–sorry international friends!
Winner selected and announced June 6th. Winner: G Junca
If you’d like to order Villeroy and Boch Bar-ware for your Big Daddy, use this coupon code for Free Shipping.
Heh. Any dessert that could make you consider giving up your firstborn for is one that I MUST try. I’m not a baker so I’ll be printing this and taking it to a friends…with my best puppy dog eyes. ‘Make this for me?’ I’m sure it will be a success. Thanks so much for sharing. I’m an international so I can’t enter your giveaway but I wanted to says ‘awesome!’ none the less
The Highlanders Whiskey Thumbler looks beautiful, and I can’t wait to try the shortcakes. Thanks!
Hello! first of all, this recipe looks decadent and I can’t wait to try it! And it would have to be Tumber #2 for me…Thanks!!
Tumbler #2
This is such a a nice change form the usual strawberry shortcake!
I confess, i’ve nver eaten a blackberry before. I’ve actually only started eating blueberries and raspberries recently….this looks so darn good, I should pop by blackberry…cherry soon
It’s gotta be the Islands Whiskey Tumblers for me. I’m all about the peaty single-malts. I’ve got a bottle of Compass Box Peat Monster that would love to be decanted in a proper vessel.
It looks delicious!! can’t wait until my diet is over to make some at breakfast time!!
I like Tumbler No. 2.
This recipe looks amazing!
Tweet! http://twitter.com/#!/PurpleLarkspur/status/75207818600398848
I follow you via Twitter. I am @purplelarkspur
I had a little chuckle over the air freshener on the bathroom walls. This gorgeous shortcake, however, looks like the best way to calm one’s nerves. Very inventive!
Thias is magnificent Sommer and I love that it makes you loose your poise…ha…we all have our buttons
Stunning pics of a stunning dessert. What a treat for this holiday! And yes scones do the same for me….
chow! Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Sommer,
. Can I come have some?
I’m finding your dessert delightful, fresh and summery, I mean sommery
This is simply stunning. The title alone made me drool, but then your photographs pushed me over the edge! The almonds, the vibrant berries, the cream….just lovely! Thank you for sharing with me today! I hope you are having a lovely holiday. Have a week full of good food, laughter and love!
Oh dear. Oh my god. i had NO idea it was possible to put booze into whipped cream. this made my day. wow.
Absolutely beautiful pictures. I love blackberries and have harvested a total of 7 off the bush I planted last year. Can’t wait until it makes enough for a dessert like this one. I love the lowlands tumbler. Beautiful!! What a great giveaway.
I also posted on facebook and twitter!!
Oh man, Sommer! I already love shortcakes way too much since discovering your strawberry shortcakes with homemade whipped cream a couple of years ago! (We’re having them tonight, as a matter of fact!) This recipe looks amazing and I can’t wait for some big, juicy blackberries so I can try this out! Thanks for all the amazing and addicting recipes!
I like the Highland’s Whiskey Tumbler…………..beautiful goblets and decanter.
I posted on Facebook
I like the highlands whiskey tumbler the best. Blackberries are my favorite fruit so wil definitely try these! Thanks!
Had me at “bourbon”!
I’ve had some success on biscuits, scones, and shortcakes by freezing the butter, then grating it like you would cheese. If you’re using a food processor, then just freezing and cubing buys you a little time.
How did you know we have so many blackberries that we don’t know what to do with them! These shortcakes looks to die for. When can I expect my batch??
I guess we caught you red-handed! The almond topped shortcakes are gorgeous and the whiskey cream is so scrumptious!
No one could resist these amazing looking shortcakes. Love berries any which way – especially in a dessert like this. Beautiful giveaway!
I had to LOL when you said deal with your “spawn” HAHAHAHAHA. This treat is amazing
Good god, those look amazing!! Perfectly summery.
Wow Sommer….that looks beautiful, craving those big time now.
Shortcakes! Beautiful, Sommer. I can imagine the whole flavors mixed together. This goes on my must-try list
Have a wonderful week,
Aldy.
They are all gorgeous but I think the scotch whiskey single malt are my faves!
I am a follower x 3 already~
I will tweet your WONDERFUL give away! PS…those shortcakes are incredible!
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try this–perfect summer dessert! I like the Islands Whiskey Tumblers too.
I am so jealous by the fact that you have fresh fruit like that on hand… note to self: must replenish whiskey! Can I use clotted cream instead of heavy cream?
I’ve never tried whipping clotted cream, but I’m pretty sure you could because it has such a high fat content.
Love that you spiked the whipped cream with booze. It makes whipped cream even better!
Amazing shortcakes! I love the Islands Whisky Tumbler.
I aready follow you on Facebook.
Blackberries shortcakes
) wow…that looks magnificent!
Hi Sommer,
The Whisky Tumbler is my favorite. Another recipe I have to try!!
Thank you!
stunning looking shortcake, good work sommers
Oh, my husband would love this!!! I like the Highland’s Whiskey Tumbler! And I can’t wait to try this recipe. Luckily my children are all grown and safely away, because I’d hate to be tempted to trade one (or two, or three) away for this!
Definitely love the whiskey tumbler! BUT I am mostly commenting because need to make those blackberry cakes ASAP! They are beautiful and I can just sense through the screen how crumbly and delicate and buttery those shortcakes are. Yummmm!
Woah – I need these for dessert tonight!
And I see a new green colander in that picture ; )
I LOVE the Islands Whiskey Tumblers. They have such a fun shape!
stumbled!
Sommer – you did it again! What a wonderful combination of flavors. I’ll save this recipe and try very hard to come up with an excuse to make it soon! Glad all the strawberries are gone or I would have been having strawberry shortcake for breakfast.
Thanks for the opportunity to win – I would love the American Bar – Straight Bourbon glasses – they are beautiful!
I subscribe by email!
I LIKE ASP on Facebook!
Love the Nosing Goblet!
I tweeted!
I shared on FB!
I’m subscribed to your feed
Wow these look mouthwateringly delicious! So picture perfect!
Sommer, you have perfected the ultimate shortcake recipe! What an amazing combination of flavors, the presentation is gorgeous and the cakes look like the taste is to die for! I’m a huge fan of Villeroy and Bach, my favorite tumbler is the Islands Whiskey.
These shortcakes look great! I like the highlands whiskey tumbler. What beautiful glassware!
1) These look unbelievably delicious. The way you are with shortcakes is the way I am with desserts made with booze.
2) You are hilarious!
3) I like the Islands Whisky Tumbler.
I don’t have much resistant when it comes to berries or shortcakes either. YUM.
And yours sound particularly delicious.
the Highlands Whiskey Glasses are sexy!! love this recipe, have to try it!
I “liked” you on FB
I shared the recipe/giveaway on my FB page!
Wow these look goooood!
Tumbler #2. This recipe looks fantastic. Wonderful pictures.
I love the Highlands Whiskey Tumbler.
I already follow you on Facebook
We love the Lowlands Whiskey Tumbler…but we love the idea of those boozy shortcakes more!!!
Shortcakes are one of my all time favorites, the sweet biscuit, luscious fruit and flavored whipped cream, wow, I’m far away in my own little dream world now;-)
I, too, LOVE shortcake! But there’s booze in these!! YES!
That’s two boozy delicious recipes in a row that you’ve given us – THANK YOU!
Hey! It was great meeting you at BlogHer Food! Can’t wait to stay connected.
Love this recipe and seeing how I live in KY- THE home of Bourbon, I’d love to whip up a batch of these. As for the tumblers- I like #3. This would be a perfect father’s day gift! Thanks for the chance.
Ooooh, more whiskey! My husband and I are both lovin’ your whiskey-infused recipes. Drop dead photos, Sommer!
I Stumbled your post
I already Like you on Facebook, and hubs really likes Kentucky bourbon!
Oh, yea – went to V&B and like Tumbler #2, as well as all their dinnerware you’ve been featuring
Magnificent! I mean just read the name again and you got me salivating!
These are stunning and I can just imagine these beautiful fresh flavors…shortbread is one of the greatest inventions
I don’t think I’d have restraint, moderation, or poise with that whiskey cream around!
Lovely recipe !!!
The Scotch Whisky – Single grain glass would be my choice !!!!
I’m so glad to get this recipe- I’m bookmarking it! I have made COUNTLESS disappointing shortcake recipes, so the last time I made strawberry shortcake, I actually just used shortbread. Flavor was great, but it needed that biscuit-like texture. Love everything about this! Self-restraint, shmelf-restraint
I love the idea of adding bourbon to the shortcakes and the cream, and so delicious with all the blackberries, this is an excellent dessert!
I like the Islands Whiskey Tumbler
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/deniselao/status/76300232060715008
facebook
sweetlife
I am seriously dying to try those shortcakes! Wow!
I’m Canadian, so I can’t qualify for the giveaway — but good luck to everyone else!
I like the ‘Nosing Goblets’…Thanks for this giveaway….
I subscribe via email and by feed….
Being born and bred in Kentucky, I know there is nothing like bourbon for drinking or cooking, and I prefer the Old Fashioned Tumbler
Have to go with the Highlands Whiskey tumbler
Oh, I LOVE the Lowlands Whiskey Tumbler!!!
I was planing to infuse Gin with the blackberries I picked up from the market this morning…not anymore, this recipe looks awesome. P.S. I like the Islands tumblers
These shortcake are so hard to resist. Love berries, especially in a dessert like this.
I pick Tumbler No 1
Like you on Facebook
Following you on Twitter and tweeted about this amazing giveaway
http://twitter.com/#!/GrinGarl/status/77222125471154176
I like the Islands Whisky Tumblers best!
I subscribe via email
What a fantastic recipe and fun giveaway – I like Tumbers #3 the best, although all three are beautiful. I can’t wait to try this recipe out!
No. 3 is my favorite. Thanks Sommer!
well . . . i always did like the ‘bad boys’ in school . . . what can i say? restraint ain’t in my vocabulary . . .
This dessert or breakfast or brunch or snack or lunch or dinner… sounds really good. I could enjoy it for every meal, relentlessly, with no problem. What kind of bourbon do you prefer for this? And would you serve little bourbon cocktails on the side as you see to indicate in the first two pics? I think that I would.