For the Apple Cranberry Topping:
2 tablespoons sweet butter
4 Fuji apples, peeled, cored and diced into 1/2-inch dice
1 cup fresh cranberries
3 tablespoons evaporated cane juice
2 ounces port wine
Directions:
Heat butter in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat. When foaming subsides, add apples and toss to coat. Cook until the apples turn golden in color. Add cranberries and cane juice and toss until well combined. Cook for 5 minutes or until cranberries just start to pop and sugar starts to caramelize. Add port and simmer for 5 minutes. Take off heat and keep warm
For the Cream:
1 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon evaporated cane juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
Chill a mixing bowl and the whipping cream for 30 minutes before starting.
Place cream in bowl and whip on medium speed until foaming. While mixer is going, add cane juice and vanilla. Place mixer on high speed and whip to stiff peaks. Place bowl in refrigerator until service.
For the 5-Spice Shortcake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup evaporated cane juice
1 1/2 teaspoon 5-spice powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup butter, cut in cubes
1 egg lightly beaten
2/3 cup milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Combine flour, cane juice, five-spice powder and salt in a mixer. Mix on low speed and add the butter, one cube at a time. Mix until it resembles coarse bread crumbs. Stop the mixer. In a small bowl mix the egg and milk. Turn the mixer on to low speed and slowly add the milk mixture until all is just moistened.
Spread the mix into an 8-inch cake pan and bake for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the cake pan and cut into 2 layers.
To serve:
Place bottom layer on a cake platter and spoon half of the cranberry mixture and half of the whipped cream over the cake. Place top layer on the cranberry mixture and cover that layer with the remaining cranberry mixture and cream. Let rest for 10 minutes and cut into eight even slices. Place on dessert plates and serve immediately.