Classic Buttermilk Scones Food

BASIC BUTTERMILK SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/gas 7/fan 200C. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a bowl. Add the butter, cut into small pieces and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Tip in the buttermilk and mix lightly and quickly to form a soft dough. Knead very briefly, then roll out to 2cm thickness and cut into sixteen 5cm rounds.
• Put on a baking sheet (no need to grease) a little apart, and bake for 12-15 minutes, until risen and pale golden.

CLASSIC BUTTERMILK SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly grease baking pan (I use 1 large cookie sheet, you may need to use 2 depending on how big your pan is) and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
• Add the 3/4 cup butter and cut with a pastry cutter or a fork until the mixture looks coarse (you should see pieces of butter/flour "balls" about the size of chickpeas).
• Make a well in the middle and add 1 cup buttermilk. Mix until just combined. Don't over mix. Now is the time to add chocolate chips or other goodies, if using.
• Transfer the dough to a floured surface and divide into 2 equal parts. Lightly knead each into 3/4 inch thick, 6-inch diameter rounds. Cut each round into 8 wedges and place on your prepared baking pans. Space them out evenly, about 2 inches apart.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Each oven is different and they brown pretty quickly so watch the oven (don't leave!).
• Take out of the oven and serve warm.

BUTTERMILK SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a large lipped baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Put the flour into a bowl with the baking soda, cream of tartar, and sugar. Chop the butter and the vegetable shortening into pieces and drop them into the flour. Rub the fats into the flour - or just mix any old how - and then pour in the buttermilk, working everything together to form a dough.
• Lightly flour your work surface. Pat the dough into a round-edged oblong about 1 3/4 inches thick and cut out 2-inch scones with a biscuit cutter. (Mine are never a uniform height, as I only pat the dough into its shape without worrying whether it's irregular or not.)
• Arrange the scones fairly close together on your lined baking sheet, and brush with beaten egg (to give golden tops) or not as you wish.
• Bake for 12 minutes, by which time the scones will be dry on the bottom and have a relatively light feel. Remove them to a wire rack to cool, and serve with clotted cream and your favourite jam.
• Make Ahead Note: Scones are best on the day they are made but day-old scones can be revived by warming in oven preheated to 300 degrees F for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Freeze Note: Baked scones can be frozen in airtight containers or resealable bags for up to one month. Thaw for 1 hour at room temperature and warm as above. Unbaked scones can be put on parchment-lined trays and frozen until solid. Transfer to resealable bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake direct from frozen, as directed in recipe, but allowing extra 2 to 3 minutes baking time.

BUTTERMILK SCONES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Put the flour, salt and butter into a food processor and pulse until you can't feel any lumps of butter (or rub in butter with fingers). Pulse in the sugar.
• Gently warm the buttermilk (don't throw away the pot) and vanilla in a microwave or pan. Using your largest bowl, quickly tip in some of the flour mix, followed by some of the buttermilk mix, repeating until everything is in the bowl. Use a knife to quickly mix together to form a dough - don't over-mix it.
• Tip onto a floured surface and lightly bring together with your hands a couple of times. Press out gently to about 4cm thick and stamp out rounds with a 6cm or 7cm cutter. Re-shape trimmings, until all the dough is used. Spread out on a lightly floured baking sheet or two. Add a splash of milk into the buttermilk pot, then use to glaze the top of each scone. Bake for 10-12 mins until golden and well risen.

CLASSIC CREAM SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt in a large bowl. Cut the butter into the dry mixture using a pastry cutter (or very quickly with your fingertips). Add the cream and the eggs, stirring together into a dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat into an 8- to 9-inch-wide, 1/2-inch-thick circle. Cut into 8 triangles. Spread the triangles across the tray. Bake until toasted on the bottom and lightly golden on top, 15 to 20 minutes.

CLASSIC TEA TIME CREAM SCONES

Steps:

• In a big bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. If using vanilla bean add it now.
• Add the butter and rub it in using two knives, a pastry blender or your finger tips. When the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, stop.
• Add the beaten egg and enough cream to make a soft but not sticky dough.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead lightly (not more than 8 times).
• Pat down and cut out scones using a cookie cutter or a glass (I use a glass of 7.5 cm in diameter).
• Place on a paper-lined baking sheet and brush with some cream if you like.
• Bake in the pre-heated oven at 220°C/425°C for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

BUTTERMILK SCONES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the buttermilk, raisins and lemon peel until a soft dough forms. , Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 5-6 times or until no longer sticky. On a lightly greased baking sheet, pat dough into a 5-in. circle about 3/4 in. thick. Score the top, making six wedges. , Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over the top. Bake at 375° for 23-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack. Break into wedges. Serve warm.