RECIPE: Our fail-safe scones

We make a lot of scones here at Cookery School and have honed our recipe over many years to create the perfect scone. Below is our recipe which you can adapt to suit you, by adding herbs, cheese or sultanas as you wish.

INGREDIENTS

300g/2 cups flour – use organic white or a mixture of white and brown flour if preferred
3 teaspoons baking powder
pinch salt
1 egg beaten with sufficient milk to make up about ¾ cup liquid
3 tablespoons rapeseed oil or butter
(If butter is used then it must be rubbed into the dry ingredients  – this is the traditional way of making scones)

METHOD

Makes approx. 10 scones.

1. Place the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add the milk to the beaten egg mixture and then add the oil. Mix well.
3. Using a fork, gently mix all but a tablespoon of the milk mixture into the dry ingredients until they are just blended together. If using butter, use your fingers to crumble the butter together with the flour then add the egg and milk mixture (omit oil).
4. Topple the contents of the bowl onto a dry, floured surface and knead very little until the mixture only just holds together.
5. Pat the dough out and then fold in half and pat the two halves together lightly (this gives the traditional two tier look to the scones). The dough be at a thickness of 3.5cm.
6. Cut scones with a floured cutter or glass and place on baking sheet and glaze with remaining egg mixture.
7. Bake in oven 450ºF (230ºC) for 10 -12 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Serve hot with jam and cream.

VARIATIONS

BUTTERMILK SCONES
Substitute buttermilk for the milk but add ½ teaspoon of sifted bicarbonate of soda to the dry ingredients.

SULTANA SCONES
Add 30g/2 ozs caster sugar and 30g/sultanas to the dry ingredients.

CHEESE SCONES
Add ¾ cup grated cheese to the dry ingredients and then proceed as above. Use a sharp, well flavoured
cheddar cheese or parmesan. Any cheese of choice can be used successfully. Add a half a cup of finely
chopped chives or parsley for colour. Sprinkle the top of the glazed scone with paprika before baking.

HERB SCONES
Add a few tablespoons each of chopped parsley, spring onions and any other herb of your choice to the dry ingredients. Also use ½ cup cheese for extra flavour.

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See how our founder, Ros, and baking extraordinare, Ghalid, bring scones to life.

We would love to see your creations so do share with us on Twitter or Facebook. Alternatively, why not book in to one of our baking classes to learn a whole raft of new baking skills?

Category
Recipes