Cakey Scones Recipes

CAKEY SCONES

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Sift first 5 ingredients into large bowl, or measure into workbowl of a food processor fitted with steel blade; pulse until blended. With pastry blender, 2 knives, or steel blade of a food processor, cut or process butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse meal with a few slightly larger butter lumps.
• If making by hand, make a well in the center of mixture and pour in heavy cream and eggs. Working quickly, add currants and blend ingredients together with a rubber spatula into a soft, slightly wet dough. If using a food processor, pour cream through feed tupe; pulse until dough just starts to gather into a rough ball (do not overprocess or scones will be tough). Turn dough onto a well-floured work surface.
• Quickly roll dough to 1/2 inch thick. Use a lightly greased and floured 3-inch biscuit cutter to stamp dough with one decisive punch, cutting close together to generate as few scraps as possible. Dip cutter into flour as often as necessary to keep dough from sticking. Pus scraps of dough together so that edges join; firmly pinch edges with fingertips to make a partial seal. Pat this remaining dough to 1/2 inch thick; continue to cut 3-inch rounds. Place dough rounds 1 1/2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Bake until scones are lightly brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve immediately.

TEA SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Sprinkle baking sheet lightly with flour. Combine 2 cups cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Beat egg and 7 tablespoons milk in small bowl. Pour egg mixture over dry ingredients, tossing with fork until moist and adding 1 more tablespoon milk if dry. Gather dough into ball. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Shape dough into 8-inch round about 3/4 inch thick. Transfer round to prepared baking sheet. Using sharp knife, cut round into 8 equal wedges; do not separate wedges.
• Bake scones until tester inserted into center comes out clean and top is golden, about 20 minutes. Recut scones. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SIMPLE SCONES

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, mix flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Grate butter into flour mixture on the large holes of a box grater; use your fingers to work in butter (mixture should resemble coarse meal), then stir in raisins.
• In a small bowl, whisk sour cream and egg until smooth.
• Using a fork, stir sour cream mixture into flour mixture until large dough clumps form. Use your hands to press the dough against the bowl into a ball. (The dough will be sticky in places, and there may not seem to be enough liquid at first, but as you press, the dough will come together.)
• Place on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7- to 8-inch circle about 3/4-inch thick. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp. of sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut into 8 triangles; place on a cookie sheet (preferably lined with parchment paper), about 1 inch apart. Bake until golden, about 15 to 17 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.