Biscuits + Fruit Compote + Whipped Cream = Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcakes Why are biscuits called shortcakes ? Britishfoodhistory.wordpress.com explains "the large amount of butter is what makes shortbread (or shortcake) short: the term short, when applied to biscuits and pastry, means crumbly, like shortcrust pastry should be." Homemade shortcakes or biscuits provide the  dessert base for