{Be Nourished} Dairy Free Shortcake with Whipped Topping

Did you know that there’s an average of 2 people in every classroom with food allergies?  It’s crazy.  When I was growing up, I didn’t know one person with a food allergy.  Not one.

Now I know so many, it would be easier to count the people I know not affected.

I asked a good friend of mine for a favorite recipe.  Her son has so many food allergies, I can’t remember them all.  He is anaphylactic to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, sesame…those are the worst.

Here’s what she shared.  And the greatest thing about it is its versatility.  It works well for holidays, and can be made with or without dairy, with or without wheat, etc.  It’s also easy to switch out the filling, just switch out the fruit!  Strawberries for blueberries, cherries, raspberries…yum!

Strawberry Shortcake with Dairy Free Whipped Topping

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups strawberries
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup cold dairy-free shortening
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup rice milk
whipped coconut cream

METHOD:

In a small bowl, combine strawberries and sugar. Macerate at room temperature for 30 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt with a wire whisk. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut in cold shortening until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add rice milk, and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.

Preheat oven to 425ºF, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Shape dough into a ball, and transfer to a lightly floured board. Knead ball for about 5 minutes, and roll out into a 1/2-inch-thick disk. Cut out each shortcake with a floured 3-inch round cutter, and place on prepared baking sheet.

Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool slightly, and slice crosswise.

Place one half of each shortcake biscuit on plates.

And top with macerated berries and whipped coconut cream (use the cream at the top of a can of full fat coconut milk, and make just like regular whipped cream) or dairy free ice cream.