Scones are a delightful baked good that can be enjoyed with tea or as a breakfast treat. The best ingredients and their ratios for baking scones depend on personal preference, but I'll provide you with a basic and traditional recipe that you can customize to suit your taste. This recipe makes about 8 scones.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup cold heavy cream (or you can use buttermilk or a mixture of both)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Optional: Add-ins such as chocolate chips, dried fruits, or citrus zest for flavor variations.
- Extra cream or milk for brushing the tops of the scones
- Coarse sugar for sprinkling on top (optional, for a crunchy finish)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
Add the cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. You want small pieces of butter distributed throughout the dough for a flaky texture.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the cold heavy cream (or buttermilk), egg, and vanilla extract.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix gently with a fork or spatula until the dough comes together. If you're adding any optional ingredients like chocolate chips or dried fruits, fold them into the dough at this stage.
Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it a few times until it holds together. Be careful not to over-knead, as that can result in tough scones.
Pat the dough into a circle about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. You can also use a rolling pin, but it's okay if the shape isn't perfectly round.
Cut the dough into 8 wedges, like slicing a pizza. Alternatively, you can use a biscuit cutter to create round scones.
Place the scones on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between them.
Brush the tops of the scones with a little extra cream or milk to give them a golden color when baked. Optionally, you can sprinkle some coarse sugar on top for added sweetness and texture.
Bake the scones in the preheated oven for about 15-18 minutes or until they are lightly golden on top. Be sure not to overbake, as scones can become dry.
Remove the scones from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy them warm or at room temperature with your favorite jam, clotted cream, or simply as they are.
Remember that this is a basic recipe, and you can get creative with different flavor variations by adding various fruits, nuts, or spices to the dough. Enjoy your homemade scones!