Grapefruit Brown Sugar Buttermilk Shortcake

After we put away the Christmas decorations, we prepare ourselves for the seasonal avalanche of grapefruit. We have a small orchard here on the ranch, and every year we pick hundreds of pounds of fruit. We give some of it away, but we also eat tons of the buttery sweet citrus, and drink gallons of juice. Fresh grapefruit is one of the loveliest perks of living in South Texas.

Grapefruit Shortcake is Fresh and Light

Another favorite is shortcake of any kind, so I thought I would try combining these two flavors in a Grapefruit Brown Sugar Buttermilk Shortcake. I really loved the way it turned out, so I thought I would share the recipe with you.

The trick to making a tender shortcake is using cake flour. Usually I use a pastry stirrup for making shortcakes. It’s an old-fashioned tool that doesn’t overwork the shortcake dough. But most people these days seem to prefer the food processor, which is quick and efficient. Just be aware that you can over mix the dough, which will make your shortcake tough. Keep the mixing time short.

Another detail of making Grapefruit Brown Sugar Buttermilk Shortcake is to let the grapefruit drain some of their juice before you place them on your baked shortcake. This will give a crisp firm look to the grapefruit. The juice is ladled over at the last minute so your shortcake isn’t soggy and falling apart.  And if you are so inclined, add a spoonful of brandy or sherry to your juice syrup for a little extra flavor.

Extra Topping, please!

As for the cream topping, mascarpone, crème fraiche or whipped cream worked equally well, but I prefer the cheesy thickness of mascarpone. An extra big dollop of cream is always my preference as well.

Grapefruit Brown Sugar Buttermilk Shortcake is a great treat for Valentine’s Day, or really any day when you have too much grapefruit on your hands. Is there really such a thing as too much grapefruit?