This is a sophisticated strawberry shortcake. The cake is made with graham cracker crumbs. The strawberries are marinated in a Zinfandel syrup spiced with cardamom and cloves. It is a wonderful ending to any elegant dinner!
Ingredients
- cooking spray:
- ½ cups graham cracker crumbs: 1 piece
- eggs at room temperature, separated: 4 piece
- honey: 0.5 cup
- vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- baking soda: 0.5 tsp
- salt: 0.5 tsp
- green cardamom pods: 3 piece (crushed)
- whole clove: 1 piece (crushed)
- white sugar: 1 Tbsp
- red Zinfandel wine: 0.5 cup
- lemon juice: 2 Tbsp
- strawberries, quartered: 1 pound (fresh)
- heavy cream: 1 cup (cold)
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously spray a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray, and line pan with parchment paper.
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In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks, honey, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt together until thoroughly mixed; gently stir in the graham cracker crumbs. In a separate glass or metal bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the whipped egg whites into the crumb mixture until just combined; do not overmix. Spread the batter into the prepared springform pan.
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Bake in the preheated oven until the cake is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen sides. Release the springform pan, and gently remove cake from the bottom; cool completely on a wire rack.
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In a saucepan, combine cardamom pods, clove, sugar, and Zinfandel wine over medium heat, and bring to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until thickened, about 3 minutes; mix in the lemon juice. Place strawberries into a bowl, and pour the hot Zinfandel syrup over the berries; chill 2 to 3 hours to blend flavors.
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Freeze a metal mixing bowl and beaters from an electric mixer until ice cold, about 15 minutes. Pour the cold cream into the mixing bowl, and place the cold beaters into the mixer. Beat the cream with the electric mixer set on High just until the cream forms stiff peaks, about 1 minute. Discard the cardamom pods and clove from the strawberries, and top the cake with the strawberries and syrup. Serve with whipped cream.
