Berry Chocolate Shortcake

Description

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 cups hulled and sliced strawberries
• 2 cups blackberries
• 2 cups blueberries
• 2 cups frozen sweetened raspberries

Procedures

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Grease 8 to 10 muffin cups, or line with paper liners.
2. Whisk together flour, 3/4 cup Sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, oil, melted butter, egg and vanilla.
4. Make well in center of dry ingredients, add buttermilk mixture and stir just to combine. Overmixing makes cake tough.
5. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
6. Sprinkle tops with 1/4 cup Sugar.
7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
8. Remove from oven, and cool.
9. Leave cakes in muffin tin, and, when cool, wrap in plastic bag for transporting to picnic.
10. Mix cleaned Berries gently.
11. Put thawed raspberries in blender or food processor, and process until smooth.
12. Add remaining 1/2 cup Sugar, and process until dissolved.
13. Strain to remove seeds, if desired.
14. Pour over Berries. Mix and chill.
15. To serve, break each cake in half horizontally, and place bottom in bowl.
16. Spoon about 1 cup of Berries over bottom of cake, and cover with cake top.