Let's Bake Together: English Tea Scones
Ann Marie Craig • April 9, 2020
Welcome to my kitchen!Scones are some of the easiest quick breads to make and some of the most delicious to eat, and eat, and eat, probably because there are endless ways to make them special, from the jam or honey you top them with to the fruits and chocolate bits that make them chewy and sweet.Often here in the States we think of scones as crumbly, creamy breads that are overly sweet and rich. More traditional scones are a little less rich and a little more like biscuits and our recipe, whether made with wheat flour or gluten-free flour, makes scones that are wonderfully fluffy. While the rise of the dough while baking is a little less, the flavor and texture of the gluten free scones are nearly the same as those made with wheat. Especially when they are just baked and warm from the oven.
If you'd like a glimpse into Century Farmhouse's kitchen and a blooper or three to entertain you, pull up a chair, fill your cup of tea, and watch our how-to video before you make your first batch. The ingredients and the recipe are below. Happy Baking!
English Tea Scones
A hundred-gazillion years ago, my sister studied in the UK and brought this recipe back. I adjusted it to the US standard of measurements and have made at least a hundred-gazillion scones since then. This recipe is easily adjusted to be gluten-free and I have included those instructions below. Bake a batch. Put your feet up. Enjoy a scone with that cup of tea you deserve.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose or bread flour OR gluten-free flour
(1:1 gf flour works the best with this recipe)
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
(only if using gluten-free flour)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick or 4 ounces) butter, chilled
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk or substitute milk + 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
a little extra buttermilk or milk
1/2 - 1 cup dried fruit such as raisins, currants, cranberries, chopped apricots, etc., chocolate chips, or any combination
Here's how they're made:
1. Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl and quickly cut in the chilled butter with a pastry cutter, knives, or work it in with your hands as if making pastry.
2. Beat the egg and mix with the buttermilk.
3. Make a well in the flour mixture. Pour in the egg and buttermilk and mix lightly with a fork until blended.
4. Stir in the fruit and/or chocolate chips.
5. Knead the dough with a touch until smooth (about 4-5 times).
6. Pat the dough to about 1 inch thick and cut with a knife, or a glass dipped in flour.
7. Place on a buttered cookie sheet or line the cookie sheet with parchment before placing the scones on it, leaving about 1 inch between the scones.
8. Bake about 18-20 minutes at 420 degrees F. Check the scones at about 15 minutes. If they appear to be browning, cover lightly with foil for the remaining baking time.
9. Remove from the pan immediately to a cooling rack and keep your hands off of them until they cool to at least a warm, not hot, temperature.
10. Enjoy a warm scone with that cup of tea. You can also open the scone and top it with honey or your favorite jam and/or cream. Mmmmmm.
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