Clotted Cream And English Scones Food

CLASSIC SCONES WITH JAM & CLOTTED CREAM

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the self-raising flour into a large bowl with ¼ tsp salt and the baking powder, then mix.
• Add the butter, then rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the caster sugar.
• Put the milk into a jug and heat in the microwave for about 30 secs until warm, but not hot. Add the vanilla extract and a squeeze of lemon juice, then set aside for a moment.
• Put a baking tray in the oven. Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a cutlery knife - it will seem pretty wet at first.
• Scatter some flour onto the work surface and tip the dough out. Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it's a little smoother. Pat into a round about 4cm deep. Take a 5cm cutter (smooth-edged cutters tend to cut more cleanly, giving a better rise) and dip it into some flour. Plunge into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. You may need to press what's left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four.
• Brush the tops with a beaten egg, then carefully arrange on the hot baking tray. Bake for 10 mins until risen and golden on the top. Eat just warm or cold on the day of baking, generously topped with jam and clotted cream. If freezing, freeze once cool. Defrost, then put in a low oven (about 160C/140C fan/gas 3) for a few minutes to refresh.

LEMON SCONES WITH CLOTTED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200C, fan 180°C Mix the flour, baking powder, lemon zest and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips. Stir in the sugar, egg, and enough milk to make a soft dough. Handle as little as possible to keep it airy.
• Tip onto a floured surface and pat the dough out to a 2cm (1in) thickness. Stamp out as many scones as you can with a 2.5-3cm (1-1/2in) cutter, then reroll and stamp again (you should get about 20). Put the scones in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until risen and golden. Split while still warm, then cool on wire rack.
• Fill the scones with lemon curd and cream. Press the tops down gently so they stick.

TRADITIONAL ENGLISH TEA TIME SCONES WITH JAM AND CREAM

Steps:

• Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl and add the sugar and butter.
• Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Gradually mix in the egg and milk mixture to make a dough, saving any excess to glaze the tops of the scones. Add your fruit at this stage if using.
• Gently knead the dough on a lightly floured work surface until smooth.
• Roll out the dough to about 1/2" thick, then cut out 2" rounds with a plain or fluted cutter, kneading and re-rolling the dough until it is all used up.
• Arrange scones on baking sheets then brush tops with the milk and egg mixture.
• Bake in the oven at 230°C (450°F) mark 8 for 10 to 15 minutes, until well risen and lightly golden. Cool on a wire rack.
• Whip the fresh cream until stiff. Split the scones and fill with butter, jam and fresh cream.