Baking is an art, and baking scones is no less than a masterpiece. Scones are a British teatime favorite and have been enjoyed for centuries. A warm and flaky scone with butter, jam and a steaming cup of tea is a perfect way to start your day. Here’s how to bake scones with self-raising flour.
Ingredients:
- Self-raising flour
- Salt
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Unsalted butter
- Egg
- Milk
Method:
Step 1: Preheat oven
Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan-forced. Grease a baking tray lightly with butter or spray with cooking oil.
Step 2: Mix dry ingredients
In a mixing bowl, sift together 3 cups of self-raising flour, a pinch of salt, 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of baking powder.
Step 3: Add butter
Add 75g of unsalted butter, cut into small cubes. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Step 4: Mix wet ingredients
In a jug, whisk 1 egg slightly and then add 1 cup of milk. Mix until well combined.
Step 5: Combine dry and wet mixture
Make a well in the center of flour mixture and pour in the egg and milk mixture. Use a flat-bladed knife to stir until a soft dough forms.
Step 6: Knead the dough
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently until smooth. Be careful not to overwork the dough. To keep the scones light and fluffy, it’s important not to overwork the dough.
Step 7: Cut the dough
Using a floured biscuit cutter, cut the dough into rounds and place them onto the baking tray. Brush the top of the scones with a little milk to give them a golden color.
Step 8: Bake in the oven
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the scones are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the top.
Tips:
- If you want to avoid using your hands to mix the butter into the flour, you can use a food processor.
- For a richer flavor, you can add 1/4 cup of sultanas, currants or chopped dried apricots to the dry ingredients before mixing with the wet ingredients.
- For a savory twist, you can add grated cheese or chopped herbs to the dry ingredients.
Baking scones with self-raising flour is easy and can be a great way to impress your guests or loved ones. With these simple steps, you can enjoy fresh and warm scones at home anytime. Happy baking!