Plain Scones Recipes

HOW TO MAKE PLAIN SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220ºC (200ºC fan oven) mark 7. Sift the flour into a bowl, add a pinch of salt and mix. Add the butter, cut into small cubes, then lightly rub in with fingertips until mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Add sugar and stir in.
• Put the egg into a jug, add 2tbsp of the buttermilk or milk and beat together. Make a well in the centre of the crumble and add the egg mixture. Using a round-bladed knife, mix the egg gradually into the crumble. As the dough forms, bring it together with your hands; it should be soft but not sticky. If it feels dry, add extra buttermilk or milk, 1tsp at a time. Shape the dough into a rough ball, then pat into a round.
• Lightly flour a clean worksurface and a rolling pin. Gently roll out the dough to at least 2.5cm thick. Dip a 5cm cutter in flour. Cut out each scone by placing the cutter on the dough and giving it a quick push down-wards. Don't twist the cutter; just lift it and ease the dough out. You'll get five or six scones out of the round. Gather the trimmings, re-roll to the same thickness and cut more, repeating until you have a total of eight.
• Dust a large baking tray with flour and arrange the scones on it. Lightly brush each one with buttermilk or milk, then dust with a little more flour. Bake on the top shelf of the oven for 10-12min, or until well risen and golden. Transfer scones to a wire rack to cool for 5min or until just warm. Slice them in half and serve with unsalted butter or with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

BASIC BRITISH SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sift the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt into a bowl.
• Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and enough milk to mix to a soft dough.
• Turn onto a floured surface, knead lightly and roll out to a 3/4-inch thickness. Cut into 2-inch rounds and place on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with milk to glaze.
• Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 10 minutes then cool on a wire rack. Serve with butter or clotted cream and jam.

SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter. Mix the egg and milk in a small bowl, and stir into flour mixture until moistened.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly. Roll dough out into a 1/2 inch thick round. Cut into 8 wedges, and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

ENGLISH PLAIN SCONES

Steps:

• Put the flour and salt in a bowl then rub in the butter.
• Add the sugar.
• Add the milk and mix to form a dough. You may want to mix with a knife as the dough gets very sticky as you add the milk.
• Flour a board ready for the dough. EXTRA TIP: Using rice flour on your board at this stage will make your scones wonderfully crisp on the outside.
• Knead the dough lightly on the board.
• Roll with floured rolling pin (or press with your hand) the dough to about 2cm thick.
• Cut rounds from the dough with a cutter (or use a glass with edges dipped in flour if you don't have a round cutter).
• Place the rounds on greaseproof paper lightly dusted with flour on a baking sheet/tray. Or use a greased tray.
• Gather up the odd bits of dough and lightly knead them together. Press/roll to 2cm thick again on your floured board, cut rounds and repeat until all the dough is used.
• Optional: Brush the tops of the scones with a little bit of milk.
• Bake in pre-heated oven for 12-15 minutes until they have risen and start to become golden. Gas mark 7, 220c.