Scones lie somewhere between a biscuit and a cookie. Not too sweet, yet definitely not without taste. It’s a delight to indulge in a scone and this simple scone recipe will get you started.

You can make numerous kinds of scones. Find your favorite basic scone recipe and you can add any extra flavor to it. For example, almonds, cinnamon bits, chocolate chips or any type of berry add life to scones. There are so many possibilities.

This recipe has currants or raisins. You may substitute these with your pick of flavorings.

The trick to good, soft scones is to handle them as little as possible during baking. This is why most scones are not very pretty.

Basic Scone Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup dried currants or raisins
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large bowl.
3. Cut in butter using a pastry blender until it is in pea-sized lumps.
4. Stir in currants.
5. Mix together 1/2 cup milk and sour cream in a measuring cup. Pour all at once into the dry ingredients and stir gently until well-blended.
6. Press scone dough into a circle and cut with pizza cutter into eight or more wedges, depending on the size you want. Or you can flatten the dough and cut out with a biscuit or round cookie cutter.
7. Place on cookie sheet, making sure they don’t touch. Scones do grow, so you will want to place them at least an inch apart.
8. Whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of milk. Brush the tops of the scones with the egg wash. Let them rest for about 10 minutes.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the tops are golden brown, not deep brown. Break each scone apart or slice in half. Serve with butter or clotted cream and a selection of jams.