LEMON-POPPY SEED SCONES

lemon-poppy-seed-scone1.jpg

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup (or more) whole milk

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Position rack in top third of oven.

Mix flour, 1 cup sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Whisk egg and lemon juice in medium bowl to blend. Add to flour mixture. Using on/off turns, process until moist clumps form. Add 1/3 cup milk. Using on/off turns, process just until dough comes together, adding more milk if dough seems dry.

Using floured hands, gather dough into ball. Flatten into 8-inch round. Cut round into 8 wedges. Transfer scones to large baking sheet; brush with milk. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

Bake until scones are golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

Makes 8 scones.

from Bon Appétit | March 2002

GINGER SCONES

ginger-chocolate-scone.jpg

Ingredients:
  • 4 Cups flour
  • 1/2 Cup sugar
  • 1/2 Cup brown sugar — firmly packed
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 Teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 Teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 Cup unsalted butter — chilled and cut into small pieces
  • 1 Cup buttermilk
  • 2 eggs — lightly beaten
  • 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 Teaspoon orange zest — grated
  • 10 Ounces semisweet chocolate — chopped
  • 1/2 Cup crystallized ginger — finely chopped

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375. Combine first 6 ingredients in a food processor or bowl. Add butter and process until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Combine next 4 ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix thoroughly. Add liquid ingredients to flour mixture. Very gently stir until dough is just moistened and begins to cling together. Stir in chocolate and ginger. The less this dough is handled the better the results will be.

Drop dough onto an ungreased baking sheet in 1/3 cup amounts. Leave at least 1 inch between scones. Bake 15-17 minutes or until scones are golden. Cool on wire rack at least 5 minutes before removing from baking sheet.

Serves 12.

NOTE – If you don’t have buttermilk handy, you can substitute as follows:
– take 1 cup of milk (or milk substitute like soy milk);
– add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar;
– allow the soured milk to stand for 10 minutes before adding to recipe.

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Photography by sirbrillig