Black Pepper Vegan Shortcakes with Blackberry Basil Sauce

When Nicole, one of our Go Dairy Free reviewers and a prolific cook, proclaims “… this cookbook is great. It really, really impressed me!,” I definitely listen. And these were her exact words after trialing the new vegan cookbook by Tal Ronnen (of Oprah fame). In her full review, Nicole professes, “The moment I laid eyes on The Conscious Cook, I was stunned. The design and layout is impeccable.”

Though you can probably trust Nicole’s view (especially after seeing her pictures of the Split Pea Soup and Whole Grain Penne with San Marzano Tomatoes from The Conscious Cook), we thought you might like to try one of the recipes for yourself. This particular recipe is from the dessert section of The Conscious Cook, and it goes well beyond your average vegan shortcakes.

The vegan shortcakes themselves are made with white spelt flour to up the nutritional content (though you could likely substitute another wheat flour if you so desired). They are also infused with a good dose of black pepper, offering warmth and making this traditional summer dessert perfect for the cooler times of year. Not to be outdone, the berry sauce has its own flavor twist (blackberries and basil, who would have thought?) and of course, there is the cashew cream …

Chef Tal Ronnen's Black Pepper Vegan Shortcakes with Blackberry Basil Sauce and Cashew Cream Recipe (vegan, dairy-free)

Special Diet Notes: Blackberry Vegan Shortcakes with Cashew Cream

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, optionally soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.

Black Pepper Vegan Shortcakes with Blackberry Basil Sauce and Cashew Cream

Prep time

45 mins

Cook time

45 mins

Total time

1 hour 30 mins

Recipe reprinted with publisher’s permissions from The Conscious Cook, by author Tal Ronnen. This is a pretty dessert with a vegan version of whipped cream that’s fantastic. If you can find Thai basil or cinnamon basil, use that in the sauce. They’re both incredible with blackberries.

Author: Tal Ronnen

Serves: 8 servings

Ingredients

For the blackberry basil sauce:

6 cups fresh blackberries, or 2 (12-ounce) bags frozen blackberries
½ teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more to taste
Pinch of sea salt
1 sprig fresh basil
1 tablespoon light agave nectar, or to taste

For the black pepper shortcakes:

3 cups white spelt flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
7 tablespoons very cold Earth Balance, cut into ½-inch cubes
1 cup plain unsweetened soy creamer, plus more for brushing (use coconut creamer for soy-free)

Instructions

Make the blackberry basil sauce: Place half of the blackberries, the lemon juice, salt, and basil sprig in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently to break up the berries, for about 8 minutes, until the berries are soft and
broken down.
Remove from the heat and let steep for at least 20 minutes, up to overnight. Remove and discard the basil, then pour the sauce into a blender. Puree, then sweeten to taste with the agave nectar and add more lemon juice if needed.
Push the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve back into the saucepan and gently fold in the remaining whole blackberries. When ready to serve, heat over low heat just until the sauce is warm and the berries are thawed (if using frozen). Alternatively, chill the sauce in the refrigerator, covered, and serve cold.
Make the black pepper shortcakes: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl, then stir in the ½ cup sugar, the salt, and pepper. Scatter the Earth Balance into the flour and, using a pastry cutter, a fork, or—the best tool—your hands, cut the Earth Balance into the flour until the largest chunks are the size of large peas.
Make a well in the center of the mixture and add the creamer; using your hands or a wooden spoon, gently stir to make a soft, somewhat sticky dough, being careful not to overwork. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and pat it out to 1 inch thick. Using a biscuit cutter, cut the dough into 2½-inch rounds and place 1½ inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Gently press the scraps together and cut out more rounds. Brush the tops of the rounds with creamer and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
Bake in the middle of the oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes, rotating the pan 180 degrees halfway through. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Serve the shortcakes with warm or chilled blackberry basil sauce and top with the Whipped Cashew Cream.

Notes

To serve:
Whipped Cashew Cream whisked with ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon