Cream Scones with Currants

(272)
Prep Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
25 mins
Yield:
6

These classic bakery treats couldn't be easier to make at home. Simple swaps take them in new directions, so try Chocolate-Coconut Scones, Cherry-Hazelnut Scones, Lemon-Ginger Scones, or Blueberry-Almond Scones.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy cream

  • 1 large egg

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for work surface

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon fine salt

  • 6 tablespoons (¾ stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

  • cup dried currants

  • Sanding sugar (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk together 3/4 cup cream and egg. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt.

  2. With a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Stir in currants. With a fork, stir in cream mixture until just combined. (The dough should be crumbly; do not overwork.)

  3. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and pat into a 6-inch circle. Cut into 6 wedges and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush tops with 1 tablespoon cream and sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired. Bake until golden, 16 to 18 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through.

    cream-scones-med108399.jpg
    Andrew Purcell

Cook's Notes

Scones are best eaten the day they're baked. To work ahead, freeze unbaked scones in a single layer, then store in a zip-top bag, up to 2 months; brush frozen scones with cream, sprinkle with sugar, and bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Originally appeared: Everyday Food, May 2012

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