Strawberry Shortcake Muffins with Homemade Honey Whipped Cream

It is time for me to rethink breakfast. Last weekend, Greg and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary at the Ledge House Bed and Breakfast in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. Harper's Ferry is just under 2 hours from Annapolis, and once you get there, you know you have escaped the hustle and bustle of the city. We arrived at the Ledge House and we were blown away by the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Potomac River, and Shenandoah River. It was gorgeous! We met Chad, the owner of the B & B when we arrived, and we asked him when breakfast was served. He told us 9 AM, and he let us know that we would not go hungry. Boy, was he right! On Saturday morning, we woke up early and we jogged 3 miles along the canal and we also did some hiking. We got back for breakfast and we were impressed with the spread. Our breakfast plate had a slice of frittata, hash browns, fresh fruit, breakfast sausage links, and an awesome fruit popover filled with fresh cream. I told Brittany, who made the breakfast, that this was three times the breakfast that I normally eat! I thought I would be too full, but I wasn't. I felt recharged and energized and ready to face the adventures of the day. During the day, we did some more walking, biked 5 miles, and white water kayaked down the Potomac River. We weren't hungry for a meal again until we ate dinner at 7:30 PM! We had a healthy and satisfying dinner at the Canal House Cafe, and for dessert, we had strawberry shortcake. Strawberry shortcake is something my mom made when I was growing up, and I always enjoyed this lighter and refreshing treat.

So, this is why I'm rethinking breakfast. Do I really only need to eat a bowl of cereal or a couple eggs for breakfast? When I do this, I snack all day long and probably consume more calories. Now I'm thinking that perhaps a breakfast with some meat, eggs, fruit, and a yummy treat such as strawberry shortcake would help to keep me charged throughout the day so in the end, I eat less. What do you think?

I made strawberry shortcake for the first time yesterday, and guess what? It is SO easy to make. I had no idea it was so easy. I decided to make them into muffins, because that way it is smaller servings and they are easier to cut. I also made the whipped cream with honey rather than powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) since I was out. It tasted great. You can make it however you want, either way, it will be delicious! Enjoy.

*Strawberry shortcake is totally a patriotic treat for the Fourth of July!*

Recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Muffins with Homemade Honey Whipped Cream

INGREDIENTS:
For the shortcake muffins
2 cups of all-purpose flour
2 tsp. of baking powder
1/4 tsp. of baking soda
1/2 tsp. of salt
3 Tbsp. of granulated sugar
1 2/3 cup of heavy whipping cream
1/4 tsp. of pure vanilla extract
For the strawberries
3 cups of thinly sliced strawberries
3 Tbsp. of granulated sugar
Beans scraped out from 1/2 of a vanilla bean (optional)
For the honey whipped cream
1 cup of heavy whipping cream, well chilled
2 Tbsp. of honey (or 2 Tbsp. of confectioners sugar)
Beans scraped out from 1/2 of a vanilla bean (or 1 tsp. of pure vanilla extract)

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly butter each cup in a 12-cup muffin pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Pour in the heavy whipped cream, add the vanilla extract, and mix together until well combined. Divide the batter into the muffin cups (you might be able to make more than 12, it is quite possible that I ate a generous amount of the dough while making). Put the muffin pan into the oven and cook for 13 - 15 minutes. Remove from oven and put pan on a wire rack to cool.

While the shortcake muffins are baking, prepare the berries. Place the sliced berries into a medium bowl and toss with the sugar and vanilla beans. Gently stir until all the berries are coated. Let sit at room temperature until ready to use.

Make the honey whipped cream. It is best to whip the cream in a bowl that has been well-chilled. I usually put a metal bowl and beater in the freezer for about 10 minutes before I whip the cream.
Put the cream into the chilled bowl. Use an electric hand mixer set on medium to medium high speed to whip the cream until soft peaks form (about 3 - 5 minutes). Add in the honey (or confectioners sugar) and vanilla beans. Continue to whip the cream for about another 30 seconds. Cover the bowl and put in fridge until ready to use.

Once shortcake muffins have cooled, cut each serving in half. Spoon strawberries onto the bottom half and top with whipped cream. Put the top half on and top with more whipped cream and berries. Mmmm, delicious!

Store any extra shortcake muffins in an airtight container at room temperature. The berries and cream should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and they will only keep for a couple days. But it probably shouldn't take that long for it to be gone anyways...

*Each serving of strawberry shortcake has approximately 300 calories. Recipe makes 12 servings.*

Strawberry Shortcake Recipe Adapted from the Food Network 

Blueberry Buckle would make a nice addition to breakfast!
Top with strawberries & cream and call it Red, White & Blueberry Buckle!

Rethinking Breakfast - Try these foods with breakfast!

Carrot Pancakes with Raisins
Simply Delicious Homemade Granola
Sausage, Spinach & Bell Pepper Frittata 
Peach Kuchen
Blackberry Cobbler
Blueberry Buckle 
Fresh Apricot Pie Bars
Crustless Quiche with Quinoa, Kale & Peppers
Potato Latkes (potato pancakes)
Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal with Caramelized Bananas
Carrot and Steel Cut Oat Rolls
Juice Pulp Muffins

If you live in the Maryland-DC-Virginia area and you are looking for a nice getaway, I highly recommend visiting Harper's Ferry, West Virginia for the weekend. Harper's Ferry is just 60 miles from Washington DC. Stay at the Ledge House Bed and Breakfast - it's affordable, cozy, beautiful, and centrally located. After enjoying biking, hiking, and/or kayaking, eat at the Canal House Cafe for a healthy and satisfying meal!

Harper's Ferry, West Virginia