Scones 101

I've always loved scones, and this is one of those challenges I leave for a lazy quiet day. It's not that scones are hard to make, it's just that in my mind, baking scones signify a better baker than what I am.

So today is the day.

According to all the literature I read on the Internet and in various baking guides, scones are best made with your bare hands.

So this is what I did:

Modified from http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/melt-in-your-mouth-scones-L2237.html

Ingredients

2 cup self raising flour

Pinch of salt

60g chilled butter

1/4 cup brown caster sugar

3/4 cup milk(half buttermilk)

Milk to glaze

Of course I made a few mistakes here, such as using cake flour rather than self raising flour. So I fixed that with a tsp baking powder. Seemed to turn out ok since this recipe doesn't really rise according to the website

After this experiment, I'm trying red bean scones, I'm sure that's gonna be delicious!

Steps:

Set oven to 180 degree celsius, lightly dust the baking try with flour.

1. Sieve flour and salt 

2. Cut cold butter into small pieces and mix into flour. (This is a interesting experience, read the para below)

3. Cut butter into flour and mix well until it resembles loose breadcrumbs 

4. Add sugar 

5. Add mixture of buttermilk/milk

6. Combine until a dough forms

7. Roll it out onto a floured surface and cut into shapes.

Bake for 10-12 mins or until lightly browned.

That's all, doesn't it sound easy?

Now the process of cutting butter through flour was really fun, the butter remained cold, and as you mix with your bare fingers, the crumb starts to form, this light golden yellow flour that really looks like crumbs. It was a warm day when I did this, and still it turned out well.  

I believe that it's important to work rather quickly and once the flour is done, to proceed with the milk and rolling out the dough. Half milk, half buttermilk turned out well, I like the light taste.

The original recipe stated 250 degree for 15 mins but watching the scones bake, it was obvious the oven was too hot, so with adjustments, it worked better.