Sconehenge

 

Since I'm half Scottish (not a drop of Irish blood, despite what the nuns named me when I was placed with them), scones are "part of this complete breakfast".

Worth the effort for a nice weekend morning. And playing with your food IS allowed. . . .

Cranberry Orange Scones

Makes approximately 8 scones

2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour  (a soft, low protein flour works best such as cake or pastry flour)

1 Tablespoon baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon salt (I use a reduced sodium Himalayan pink salt)

5 Tablespoons (70 grams) cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

1 cup (235 ml) cold heavy cream, plus more for tops of scones

3 tablespoons honey (I used heather honey)

1 Tablespoon grated orange zest

3/4 cup (100 grams) dried cranberries

1 Tablespoon coarse sugar, for tops of scones

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or use a silicon baking mat.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and the salt in a medium bowl. Combine cream, honey, and orange zest in a measuring jug. Stir until the honey is completely incorporated into the cream.

Use a pastry blender to work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles a coarse meal with a few small crumbles of butter the size of peas. 

Transfer the dough including the dry, floury bits to a lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough 3 to 5 times until it just comes together. Form into an 8-inch circle. Cut into 8 triangles.

Place scones onto the baking sheet, brush with extra cream and lightly sprinkle tops with coarse sugar. Bake until light golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

Refrigerate leftovers (they also freeze well). To reheat, bake in a 350 degree F oven until warmed. 

You can also freeze unbaked scone dough. Chill cut scones in the freezer until firm, and then transfer to resealable plastic bags. Keep up to three weeks. Bake in a 425 degree F oven straight from the freezer. (They may take a few extra minutes).