Strawberry Almond Shortcake

Mention “strawberry shortcake” and my mind will immediately think of a cutesy pie little dolly that my daughters played with endlessly thirty years ago.

However, this is not a strawberry shortcake without substance. It’s buttery, nutty and not too sweet. Add some homemade strawberry jam for sweetness, a thin smear of dripped yoghurt for tang then artfully arrange cut juicy sweet strawberries on top and you’ll gain a reputation as a competent chef patissiere.

250 g butter

2 teaspoons vanilla essence

1/3 cup castor sugar

1/3 cup rice flour

1 cup plain flour (I used spelt)

½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

220g almond meal

Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease a 30cm recessed flan tin.

Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir in the flours and nut meal to a soft dough. Knead lightly to thoroughly combine, then press the dough into the tin

Bake the shortcake for 20 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool. The shortcake can be baked the day before needed.

To finish:

¼ cup strawberry jam

½ cup Greek style natural yoghurt

500g fresh strawberries, washed and hulled

Extra 2 tablespoons strawberry jam plus 2 tablespoon water

Put the shortcake onto a flat serving plate. Smear the jam over the recessed surface then top with the yoghurt. Cut the strawberries into halves and lay them cut side on the yoghurt, then using quarters and sixths, fill in all the gaps.

Combine the jam and water in a small saucepan and warm until well combined. Strain the jam to remove the solids then using a pastry brush glaze the fruit.

Serves 8 – 10

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About ladyredspecs

Led a varied existence cooking, parenting, cooking, teaching, cooking, nursing, cooking , travelling, cooking, photographing, cooking, writing, cooking, loving, laughing and more cooking......... This blog was suggested by my eldest daughter as a means to share family recipes and their adaptations and modernizations.....and I am loving it!! What an excuse to cook, write and photograph.

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