Banana Berry Shortcake

Serves 4-8

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 pound blueberries
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1 juice of lemon
• 4 ripe bananas, sliced 3/4 inch wheels
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 8 oz. mascarpone, room temperature
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 1/8 tsp. salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. Combine flour, sugar, and shortening in a mixer bowl until crumbly. Add vanilla to the heavy cream and slowly pour into dry mixture while stirring, just until all ingredients are combined and moistened.
3. Turn the dough into a greased 8-inch cake pan, pushing to the edges to create a one-inch thickness. Bake the shortcake for 12 - 15 minutes, until golden brown on top and firm in the middle. Allow to cool.
4. Place blueberries in a sauce pot over medium-high heat. Cook for 4 minutes, until the berries begin to break down. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
5. Add sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice, stirring to dissolve. Allow the sauce to cool.
6. Lay the banana slices on a foil-lined sheet pan. Sprinkle the top of each slice evenly with sugar. Using a kitchen torch or a broiler, bruleè the sugar on each banana slice until golden caramel-colored. Allow to cool.
7. Whip mascarpone and heavy whipping cream in a mixing bowl until fluffy. Add sugar, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt, continuing to whip until smooth and firm.
8. Slice the cooled shortcake into triangular wedges. Slice one wedge horizontally and lay the bottom piece on a serving plate.
9. Ladle spoonfuls of blueberry sauce over the bottom piece and top with bruleèd banana slices. Add the top half of the shortcake and add more blueberry sauce and bruleèd banana slices.
10. Garnish with a generous amount of the mascarpone whipped cream; serve immediately.

Serving this dish in the pineapple shells makes for a really fun and impressive presentation, perfect for a party!