And where better to eat it than in homemade scones? Warm, right out the oven and filled with just the right amount of something interesting like currents or blueberries and lemon or ginger and dark chocolate. One of my favorite things to do here on the family farm is to sit with a hot cup of tea and a warm scone and watch the sheep and geese wander the pasture in search of their own yummy morsels.
Scones
2.5c AP Flour
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 Tbsp frozen, unsalted butter - shredded
1/4c granulated sugar
2/3c milk at least
1 tsp vanilla
Whisk Flour, Baking powder and Salt together.
Shred butter with a grater or cut into small pieces with a knife taking care not to warm too much.
Add butter to dry ingredients and mix to a fine crumb. Again, careful to avoid melting.
Add sugar and toss gently to mix.
Add vanilla to milk.
Add milk mixture to butter/sugar mix and stir with wooden spoon until rough dough forms.
Place on parchment paper and knead until forms a ball.
Wrap and rest in the refrigerator for two hours.
Make two even balls and on a floured surface form into circles 1.5" thick.
Cut into 8 wedges, pizza style. Brush with milk and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Bake at 425° F for 15min or until the top is slightly brown.
Hints:
Keep your butter as cold as possible. You are looking for it to melt in the oven. That's why grating it quickly into the flour versus using a knife is my go-to action plan.
You are looking for your ingredients to stick together but not be tacky to the touch. You may need more or less milk to accomplish this.
If you are planning on a savory scone, omit the vanilla.
If you are adding a citrus element to your scones, rubbing the zest together with the sugar really brings out the citrus oil. For Blueberry Lemon Scones I use 2 Tbsp Lemon Zest, Juice from a lemon before adding the vanilla milk and 1/4c fresh// 1/2c dried blueberries then dust with powdered sugar.
I'd love to hear your combinations!
Enjoy!!
For you chocoholics, an added bonus!!
My Chocolate scones - yum!
2c AP Flour
1/2c Cocoa Powder -- I prefer dark
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 Tbsp frozen, unsalted butter - shredded
1/3c granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon -- trust me, it's good
6oz chocolate chips
2/3c milk at least
1 tsp vanilla
top with a drizzle of dark chocolate chips melted in a little bit of heavy cream