We're looking forward to our Cream Tea Fund Raiser for The Old Ship in Cawsand this weekend. Since we are about to embark on making loads of scones, I thought this would be a good time to share a recipe!
The Old Ship Inn is a local pub that was damaged by fire some years ago. It's been bought by the community and has been partially rebuilt to be used as a community centre. With ambitious plans to build housing for young people above the community centre, we are keen to help; it's our Charity of the Year 2024. As a business we believe in giving back and this charity is working hard to provide great faciliites for our community. We are looking forward to serving heap of cream teas to hungry walkers and local families.
This is my 'go to' recipe for scones!
Our Perfect Scones Recipe
Ingredients:
- 450g plain flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 25g caster sugar
- 75g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 200ml fresh cold milk
- 2 medium sized eggs
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking sheet with baking parchment.
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients and use your fingertips to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs (or use a food processor).
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and egg.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it a few times until it comes together.
- Pat the dough into a circle about 2.5cm (1 inch) thick. Use a round cutter to cut out scones and place them onto the prepared baking sheet. This mix should make about 16 scones at 4cm (1.5 inches) high.
- Brush scones with egg wash or milk and sprinkle with a little sugar
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the scones are golden brown on top.
- Allow the scones to cool slightly before serving with jam and cream
Scones can be tricky, so I've done a bit of googling and chatting to people who make wonderful scones and I've come up with these hints and tips
Hints and Tips for Making Perfect Scones
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Cold Ingredients: Make sure your butter and milk are cold. Cold butter helps create a flaky texture, while cold milk prevents the butter from melting too quickly.
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Go Lightly: Overworking the dough can lead to tough scones. Handle the dough as little as possible, and use a light touch when kneading and shaping it.
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Is Your Baking Powder Fresh? If it's been sitting in your kitchen for a while, it may have lost its potency!
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Uniform Scone Shapes: If your scones are all the same size they are more likely to bake evenly. Using a biscuit cutter or shaping them by hand helps maintain consistency.
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Flour Your Work Surface: Lightly flouring your work surface before patting out the dough will avoid your scones getting stuck
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Don't Twist the Cutter: When cutting out the scones, press the cutter straight down without twisting it. Twisting can seal the edges and prevent the scones from rising properly.
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Brush with Milk: For a golden-brown finish, brush the tops of the scones with a little milk or an egg wash before baking. This also helps the sugar adhere if you're adding a sprinkle on top.
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Cooling Time: Allow the scones to cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. This allows the texture to set and prevents them from becoming too crumbly when sliced.
Ideas to Add Extra Flavour or Texture to Your Scones
Some people love just a plain scone, while others enjoy a fruit version or a savoury cheesy scone Here are some other alternatives you might want to consider:
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Add-ins: Consider adding dried fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, or citrus zest to the dough for extra flavor and texture.
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Glazes: Drizzle your scones with a simple powdered sugar glaze or a flavored icing for a sweet finishing touch.
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Savoury Variations: Experiment with savoury scone flavors by adding herbs or cheese.
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Serve with Accompaniments: Pair your scones with clotted cream, jam, lemon curd, or honey for a classic tea-time treat.
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Shape and Size: Get creative with the shape and size of your scones. Try cutting them into squares, triangles, or even using a biscuit cutter for mini scones.
With these helpful hints, tips, and creative ideas, you'll be well on your way to baking perfect scones that are sure to impress!
Cream First
Over the thorny issue of cream first or jam first on a cream tea, since we are in Cornwall it's definitely jam first, followed by loads of clotted cream.
And remember, scones aren't just for summer, you can eat them all year round!
We hope you have enjoyed hearing about our love of Cream Teas and charity fundraiser. Let me know how you get on with the scones! Find us on Facebook or Instagram.
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