Delia Smith Drop Scones Food

DROP SCONES

Steps:

• Sieve the flour into a bowl, and add the baking powder, sugar and ½ tsp of salt. Whisk the egg and milk together in a jug, then pour into the bowl and whisk for a few minutes until you make a smooth thick batter.
• Add a drizzle of oil to a hot plate or large frying pan, and spread using a piece of kitchen paper. Heat the pan over a medium heat, and once hot, drop 2 tbsp of the batter into the pan to make small pancakes. You will be able to make about 4-5 at a time.
• Cook the pancakes for 2-3 mins until the edges are set, and bubbles rise from the middle. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter, keeping the cooked ones warm in a low oven, if you like. Add another drizzle of oil to the pan when needed.
• Top the pancakes with a little butter and a drizzle of maple syrup, alongside some seasonal fruit, if you like.

MARY BERRY'S DROP SCONES

Steps:

• Place the flour, baking powder, sugar and orange zest in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and then add the egg and half of the milk. Beat well with a whisk until you have a smooth, thick batter. Beat in enough of the milk to make a batter the consistency of thick pouring cream - you may not need all the milk.
• Heat a large non-stick frying pan and grease with a little oil. Drop the mixture in dessertspoonfuls onto the hot pan, spacing the mixture well apart to allow for them to spread. When bubbles appear on the surface, turn the scones over with a palette knife or spatula and cook on the other side for a further 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until they are lightly golden brown.
• Lift the pancakes on to a wire rack and cover with a clean teatowel to keep them soft. Continue cooking the batter in the same way.
• Serve at once with butter, maple syrup or honey, yoghurt, blueberries, raspberries or other seasonal fruits.

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.