Today is National Strawberry Shortcake Day and let me share with you one of my favorite sweet treats to prepare for our guests at the Old Parkdale Inn. It's fun! It’s coloring! And it’s Oh So Yummy.
Shortcakes ~ this recipe will make 8 shortcakes. I stretch it a little, making 6 slightly larger cakes, making room for more whipped cream and berries, and perfect for the 6 guests that the Old Parkdale Inn can accommodate.
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup sugar
1 Tbs Grated lemon rind
1 Tbs baking powder
¼ teas salt
¼ cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
¾ cup half and half
melted butter
2 teas sugar
Preheat oven to 450°
Shortcakes: Whisk flour, sugar, lemon rind, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the chilled butter with a pastry blender until the mixture is a coarse meal. Add half and half and stir just until moist. Don’t overwork the dough if you’re looking for tender shortcakes. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown
You’ll want to mix your berries with 3 tablespoons sugar and a splash of lemon juice then refrigerate while juices develop, at least 30 minutes. In Oregon and the Hood River Valley we are blessed with an abundance of berries: Oregon’s child the marionberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries being just a few. Use the freshest ones you can find, mix it up.
Try adding a drop of almond extract to the bowl as you whip up some fresh cream. Slice the Shortcake in half horizontally, spoon the berries with their juice onto each shortcake bottom. Top with a generous dollop of whipped cream and then the shortcake top. Garnish with slivered and whole mint leaves, a little more whipped cream and a few more berries.
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We're your home base for exploring and enjoying the Hood River Valley and beyond. After a full day, you’ll love the peace and tranquility of the Old Parkdale Inn. Relax in the gardens, perhaps with your favorite beverage, by the bonfire, roast some s’mores, weather permitting of course.
What's to do
The Hood River Fruit Loop is located in the beautiful Hood River Valley at the foot of majestic Mt. Hood offering you a variety of wines, fruits, vegetables, flowers, ciders, and food. Outdoor adventures such as kayaking, windsurfing, skiing, snow boarding, and hiking await. Mt. Hood Meadows, Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, and Timberline Ski areas are only a short drive away, as is the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood National Forest where trails and wildlife abound.