Chef John Scones Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Whisk flour, white sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut in butter with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Stir together 1/2 cup milk, sour cream, and currants in a small bowl; stir into flour mixture with a fork until just moistened and holding together.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and pat into rectangle.
• Fold the rectangle in thirds. Turn dough a half turn, gather any crumbs, flatten back into a rectangle, and repeat. Cut into eight pieces and place each scone on a silicone baking mat.
• Whisk egg and 1 tablespoon milk together in a small bowl; brush mixture on top of each scone.
• Bake scones in the preheated oven until risen and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove and transfer to cooling rack.

CHEF JOHN'S PUMPKIN SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Whisk together 1 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until combined. Mix butter into flour mixture using a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Make a well in the center of the flour-butter mixture. Stir in pumpkin puree, buttermilk, and pine nuts until just combined.
• Sprinkle a work surface with 2 tablespoons flour. Turn out dough onto the floured work surface. Shape into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Fold the rectangle in thirds, sprinkle with more flour as needed, and flatten to about 1 inch thick. Repeat 2 more times. Cut final rectangle into 6 equally-sized squares. Cut each square into triangles and transfer the scones to the prepared baking sheet.
• Whisk egg and milk together in a small bowl. Lightly brush the top of each scone with egg wash. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over scones.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

BLUEBERRY-LEMON SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the cold butter into small cubes and add to the dry ingredients.
• Starting at low speed, beat the butter and dry ingredients. Increase the speed to medium and mix until the butter breaks into small pieces. Then stir in the milk, lemon zest and juice, and vanilla until moistened.
• Place the dough on a floured surface and fold in the blueberries, being careful not to break them. Form the dough into a long rectangle, about 1 inch thick. Cut the dough into 2 squares. Cut each square in half diagonally, and then cut those pieces in half again. You should have 8 triangles total.
• Transfer the scones to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown, 17 to 21 minutes. Let cool. Serve with Honey Butter and Blackberry Jam.
• In a medium bowl, combine the butter and honey and blend thoroughly.
• To serve, transfer to a butter crock.
• You can also roll the butter into a log, chill it and then slice it into individual pieces. Place the blended butter on a piece of plastic wrap, shaping it into a rectangle. Wrap the butter tightly in the plastic wrap, folding the sides in first and then the top and bottom. Roll into a log and refrigerate until firm. To serve, cut 1/4- to 1/2-inch slices and arrange them in a butter dish.
• Place the berries in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat, mashing the berries with a potato masher as they cook. Add the lemon juice and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring and mashing constantly.
• Add the sugar and return the mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to look syrupy and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and test for doneness: a candy thermometer should register 220 degrees F and the mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Run a finger--or a clean object about the width of a finger--through the coat of jam. If the jam does not run and fill the gap, it is done. Otherwise, return the pan to the heat for another 1 to 2 minutes and test again. Be careful not to let the mixture get too thick--it will thicken as it cools. (See Cook's Note)
• When the jam is done, transfer it to a heatproof jar and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate. The jam will keep for up to 2 weeks.