Over the years, I became addicted to these rich, tender and satisfyingly sweet (but not overly so) scones. The preparation is extremely easy and the recipe below is a true classic, made tender and rich with cream, butter and eggs.
STRAWBERRY SCONE RECIPE
Adapted from Fine Cooking’s Holiday Baking special issue, Winter 2004
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1/2 cup dried strawberries
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 large egg yolks, lights beaten
For finishing:
- 1 large egg lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon milk for glazing
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar for sprinkling
Method
- Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and heat the oven to 400 F (205 C). Line a heavy baking sheet with parchment. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the dried strawberries, tossing until evenly distributed and coated with flour (this allows the dried fruit to be evenly distributed among each wedge). Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two table knives until the largest pieces of butter are about the size of peas.
- In a small bowl, stir the cream and egg yolks just to blend. Add this all at once to the flour mixture. Stir with a fork to begin combining the wet and dry ingredients and then use your hands to gently knead the mixture together until all the dry indredients are absorbed into the dough and it can be gathered into a moist, shaggy ball.
- Do not overknead: This dough is sticky but benefits from minimal handling. Set the rough ball in the center of the prepared baking sheet and pat it gently into a round about 1 inch thick and 7 inches in diameter. Don’t be tempted to make the round any flatter.
- With a sharp knife or pastry scraper, cut the round into eight wedges; separate the wedges.
- Brush the scones with the egg-milk glaze and sprinkle with the sugar. Bake until the scones are deep golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of a wedge comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Slide the parchment onto a rack and let cool for 10-15 minutes.
- Best served fresh, these scones will keep for up to a month, wrapped well and frozen. Thaw at room temperature and then warm in a 325 F oven.