Since I seem to diss Bill in nearly every post, I’ll start with his most endearing qualities today. He’s a one in a million dad. He rocked our colicky babies so I could sleep, changed their diapers, and brainwashed them into becoming die hard Green Bay Packer fans. He’s also a loyal and caring hubby. He only teases me about my shoe and purse obsessions, never forbids them. He thinks I’m the best wife in the world, folds laundry, and does dishes. A keeper, yes?
So with that, I have to admit that some of his food rules drive me batty. Like the one where he’ll eat peaches cooked, but not raw. Who could resist a sweet, juicy peach at the peak of ripeness? HIM. So when I decided to make peach shortcakes, I knew I’d have to cook the peaches. These are the things that make me a great wife, right?
I sautéed peeled sliced peaches in a little butter and brown sugar. I think some cinnamon would have been nice, too. The resulting peaches were tasty, but we all felt the juicy strawberries of a typical shortcake dessert gave a better result. If I make these again, I’ll mix the slices and sugar in a bowl ahead of time to allow juices to form, then cook only the peaches and add back in the juices. I ended up adding some raw peach slices on the second day to provide some liquid to soak into the biscuits. Much better~
These could also be made with raw peaches using white sugar to sweeten.
Peach Shortcakes…adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
3-4 cups peeled, sliced peaches
1/4 cup brown sugar (or more to taste depending on sweetness of fruit)
1-2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, optional
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) frozen butter
1 egg
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon half and half
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon Demerara sugar (regular sugar may be substituted)
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 425º.
Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a medium bowl. Using the largest holes on a box grater, grate frozen butter into dry ingredients. Toss butter with flour, then using your hands, rub the butter into the dry ingredients till mixture looks like cornmeal.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
That looks delicious! He’s one lucky fella, Bill.
Another winner here! Love it!
Another nice peach dish. Looks like the 20 pounds of peaches you purchased will soon be gone, it will go faster if its cooked:)
So tasty! I like to use a little nutmeg or ginger with peaches, it gives that hard-working cinnamon a bit of a break and brings out the flavor of the peaches in a slightly different way.
Great idea, Jammy Chick~
That looks absolutely delicious! I’m sure your husband couldn’t resist this treat, which is obviously well deserved
I don’t want the biscuit Lizzy, just the peaches and the cream will turn my day up.
Lizzy these look absolutely yummy!!! gloria
What pretty and delicious looking shortcakes! I love the peaches as well.
This looks and sounds delicious. Yummy!
yummy..This looks so delicious…I should try this soon…Thanks for your recipe…
Looks wonderful! How funny that he won’t eat fresh peaches but likes them cooked!
This looks like the old time shortcake my grandmother used to make. Serving it with peaches instead of strawberries is a wonderful change.
Yummy!!!! This looks so delicious, as always another piece of perfection…
Congrats Liz for Top 9 In food buzz for your Peach Upside Down Cake love it.
My initial rating for this recipe has to be a perfect 10, but it might go to an 11 after making it with the peaches staring at me from the kitchen.
Great job.
Yum! Another peach winner – congrats on the Top 9 for your peach upside down cake! Yes, catering to our husband’s odd food rules is only one of the reasons we’re the best wives
What an awesome dish to make for your husband! Mine does dishes and laundry so no matter what his quirky food cravings are, I oblige! I am with you though, I’m not sure who would turn down a fresh peach!
I am loving all things peach! This looks amazing.
Well, I could say about the same for my husband. His food ‘rules’ are crazy too. He can’t eat chunks of onion (they actually make him sick) so I hand grate onion to put in dishes he eats.
On the other hand, if I had the opportunity to custom order a husband… I COULD NOT do any better!
delicious looking shortcake looks wonderful
Sounds like you and Bill make a perfect pair! Sometimes we need to drive eachother batty =)
This shortcake sounds absolutely delicious!
Your biscuits look fabulous with the demerara sugar on top! There are a few things that Paul won’t eat and it can be such a pain in the butt! However, he’s a “keeper,” too, so I guess I’ll let him stay. I’m always glad that we disagree over ridiculously minor things and not the big stuff! We have friends who can’t agree on money or kids–I’ll take not liking all the same foods any day!
This is so easy, yet beautiful and tasty looking! Very well done Lizzy, nothing beats peach aroma!
The best thing about this is the actual shortcake part-it looks rustic and toasty. No doubt pairs wonderfully with the fresh fruit-yum!
These look like the perfect dessert!! Glad you are able to use up all those peaches!
He won’t eat fresh peaches…wow, he does not know what he is missing
This looks fantastic!
Mmmmm… peaches! I think I would prolly like peach shortcake even better than strawberry. This looks great Lizzy!
Your peach shortcakes look so perfect and delicious, Lizzy! What a nice hubby you have. This is the way it should be, sharing and helping each other, especially with small children. Your story is so funny…had to chuckle about Bill brainwashing them into becoming die hard Green Bay Packer fans…LOL
xoxo
Awww keep Bill, okay? There are worse things than liking cooked peaches. And if it sends you to the kitchen to come up with this sweet shortcake – he’s done well.
And thanks Lizzy for the gougeres tips! Very helpful (and very smart).
Hi Lizzy – this looks amazing! My husband won’t eat the peel of a peach, so I have to peel them every time! However, he also a keeper!
Liz! You ARE a good wife! (But who doesn’t love a ripe fresh peach in the peak of season?!) Actually, cooked peaches are just as good! And your shortcakes are perfect!!! : )
Looks good but I’m slightly allergic to peaches.
You are a great wife, cooking those delicious peaches for that hubby of yours! How can he not love a fresh juicy peach?! Your shortcakes look amazing!
Bill is a lucky guy to have you – and vice versa
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!! I’ll be putting my house – and most importantly my kitchen – back together again – wheeee! Kate
WOW! I am peaches just waiting for me to do this to them. I have never had peaches and shortcake, but now that I think about it I feel like you could do it with any fruit really. This looks great though!
LOL. I love your introduction today – it made me smile. It’s interesting your hubby prefers cooked peach because I like fresh one so much that I don’t know why we have to cook. But again I might like cooked apple (for pies etc) better than fresh apple. Hm, I’m just weird too I guess. =P This looks delicious even peach is cooked!
What a beautiful dish. I’m getting hungry just looking at the pics.
I kind of just like any excuse to eat whipped cream;-) These look great!
Alright Lizzy that does it, will you marry me???
Wow!! You had me at peaches and cream.
OK, Kim, I almost snorted my tea with your comment…you are too sweet!!! Thanks, everyone!!
Boyfriend is a big weirdo too, but he won’t eat peaches at all! Crazy man. Fabulous dessert here, the cakes look delicious!
These look beautiful! I love peaches raw and cooked
Too funny, Lizzy.
I never think to make peach shortcakes because my family always wants peach cobbler when we have them in the house. This looks great.
These shortcakes look divine! And with peaches (either cooked or raw) and whipped cream it has to taste great!
mm mmm mmmm, i love peach desserts…so sad to see the summer go. but your shortcakes look amazing!!