Scones are a timeless treat, but achieving the perfect balance of lightness and fluffiness can be challenging. Whether you prefer classic sweet or savoury varieties, these tips will ensure scone success. The charm of scones lies in their simplicity.
A basic scone recipe requires only a handful of ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, baking powder, salt and milk. But achieving the perfect scone – light, fluffy and with a tender crumb – can be elusive. These bready treats, a quintessential component of British teatime, are thought to have originated in Scotland - the first known ones made with oats and baked on a griddle.
They gained popularity throughout Britain and Ireland, evolving into the scones we recognise today, often enjoyed with clotted cream and jam. But there are myriad variations now to sink your teeth into. The first key to making successful scones at home is to use cold ingredients.
Cold butter is crucial and should be cut into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. This creates pockets of steam during baking, resulting in flaky scones. It’s also important not to overwork the dough; gentle handling preserves the delicate texture.
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