Currant Jelly Scones Food

CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine currants with 1/3 cup water. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until fruit has broken down and released its juices, about 8 minutes. Mash the fruit mixture with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon. Strain through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. You should have about 4 cups juice. Discard solids.
• Place a small plate in the freezer. Return juice to clean saucepan; add sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. When teaspoon of jelly placed on chilled plate ripples if pushed with your finger, it is ready.
• Remove jelly from heat, and skim off any foam from surface. Ladle jelly into sterilized canning jars; wipe rims with a dishtowel. Seal tightly.
• Meanwhile, bring a stockpot of water to a boil over high heat. Using tongs, carefully place filled jars in boiling water, letting them sit 10 minutes. Remove; let cool. If center of jar lids give when pushed with finger, jars have not sealed properly. Jelly in sealed jars will keep up to 1 year. After opening, jelly will keep up to 2 months in the refrigerator.

CURRANT SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cover currants with warm water in a bowl and set aside to moisten.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and baking soda in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment at low speed, mix white sugar and salt into the flour mixture. Add all the unsalted butter to the mixer bowl and mix on low speed until butter cubes reduce to the size of small peas, about 30 seconds.
• Drain currants and discard soaking water; mix currants, buttermilk, and lemon zest into the flour mixture on low speed just until the dough starts to hold together.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently shape into a rectangle 18 inches long, 5 inches wide, and 1 1/2 inches thick. Brush dough with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar crystals.
• Cut the dough in half crosswise with a sharp knife; cut each half into thirds, and cut each third diagonally to make 12 triangular-shaped scones. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until scones are lightly golden brown, about 18 minutes. Eat warm.

CLASSIC CURRANT SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Drain currants and pat dry. Into a large bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add butter and blend with a pastry blender or your fingertips until it forms fine crumbs. Add currants and mix well.
• Add half-and-half, and stir with a fork just until it comes together and forms a dough. Turn out onto lightly floured work surface and knead for 1 minute. Roll out into a 3/4-inch thick round. Use a lightly floured 3-inch cookie or biscuit cutter to stamp out rounds. Pat together scraps and reroll. Place on a greased cookie sheet and brush tops with egg glaze. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until puffed and golden brown.

CURRANT CREAM SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter and work into the flour, using your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the currants and toss.
• Beat the egg and heavy cream together in a small bowl and stir into the flour mixture to make a shaggy, loose dough. Add 1 teaspoon more of cream at a time as needed until the dough comes together. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and pat into a 6-inch round. Cut into
• 8 wedges and space out evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops of the scones with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

JELLY-FILLED EGGNOG SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk the eggnog and egg in a small bowl. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl. Work in the butter with your fingers until it is in pea-size pieces. Stir in the eggnog mixture until a soft dough forms.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the dough in half. Using floured hands, pat 1 piece of dough into a 7-inch round on the prepared pan. Top with the jelly and gently spread almost to the edge. Pat the remaining piece of dough into a 7-inch round on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper and invert onto the jelly layer; discard the parchment. Lightly press the edges of the dough together.
• Score the top of the dough into 8 wedges. Brush with eggnog and sprinkle with sugar and the almonds. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly. Cut the scones along the scored lines. Serve warm or at room temperature.

CREAM SCONES WITH CURRANTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and work it into the flour mixture with your fingers or a pastry blender, until it resembles a coarse meal. Stir in zest and currants.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg and 4 tablespoons of the cream together with a fork. Add to the flour mixture and mix with your hands until the dough just comes together. (If the dough seems dry add the extra tablespoon of cream.) Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Pat the dough into a 6-inch round about 1-inch thick. Cut into 8 equal sized wedges. Space the scones evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

ORANGE-CURRANT SCONES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or baking mat, or use a nonstick pan.
• Toss dry ingredients and zest together in a large bowl. Using your fingertips or a pastry cutter, rub butter and flour mixture together just until butter pieces are the size of peas and covered with flour. Make a well in the center of the bowl and pour in egg and cream. Mix ingredients together by hand until a shaggy dough is formed.
• Turn out onto a floured surface and gently mix in currants, kneading dough and currants together just until incorporated.
• Pat dough into a 3/4- to 1-inch-thick rectangle. Cut rectangle in half lengthwise, then cut across into 8 or 12 smaller rectangles. Place them on the baking sheet, spaced out.
• Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with brown sugar (if using). Bake until light golden brown, about 22 minutes; rotate the pan front to back halfway through. Let scones cool slightly on the baking sheet. Serve warm or at room temperature. Eat within 24 hours.