Macaroon Shortcake with Roasted Pineapple

By

Roasting the pineapple caramelizes the sugars and deepens the fruit's flavor. The filling is spooned over a split sponge cake and dolloped with whipped topping.

Kathy Kingsley, Cooking Light

JANUARY 2007

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  • 10

Ingredients

  • Filling:
  • 1 medium pineapple, peeled and cored
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Shortcakes:
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
  • 3/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
  • Remaining ingredients:
  • 1 1/4 cups frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed
  • 2 teaspoons powdered sugar

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 450°.

To prepare filling, cut pineapple lengthwise into quarters. Cut each quarter crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange pineapple in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Combine juice, honey, ginger, and cloves; drizzle over pineapple. Bake at 450° for 20 minutes or until the pineapple is lightly browned. Remove from oven; set aside.

Reduce oven temperature to 325°.

To prepare shortcakes, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, coconut, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add the egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Pour batter into a 9-inch round cake pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 325° for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Place shortcake on a cutting board or work surface. Carefully split shortcake in half horizontally using a serrated knife. Place bottom half of shortcake on a platter; top with pineapple mixture, whipped topping, and top of shortcake. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Shortcake Tips:

When mixing the dough for shortcakes, use a light hand and work quickly for the most tender cakes. If the recipe calls for kneading the dough, knead lightly only a few times so the dough doesn't become overworked.

Use a serrated knife to split the shortcakes. It will cut through the cakes without crumbling them.

You can bake the shortcakes up to a day ahead. Cool completely, and store at room temperature in a large zip-top plastic bag. To reheat, wrap in foil and heat at 350° for 10 minutes.

To freeze shortcakes, cool them completely, place in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag, and freeze up to two months. Thaw at room temperature, then reheat as instructed above.

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