Scone of Destiny

By Hilarybee • March 17, 2011 • 0 Comments

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Author Notes: I was trying to make Irish Soda bread with candied orange peel. I gave up on the soda bread when the idea of scones with currants, raisins, candied orange peel, and lemon zest popped into my mind. - Hilarybee

Serves 8 large scones, 12 round scones

2 cups All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
Pinch of Salt
3 tablespoons Granulated Sugar, plus more for dusting
Zest of One Lemon
1/4 cup Dried Currants
1/4 cup Sultanas (Thompson's Seedless)
1/2 cup Candied Orange Peel, finely diced
8 tablespoons Butter, chilled
1 Egg
1/2 cup Buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
1/2 teaspoon Orange Essence

Preheat the oven to 350. Soak the sultanas and currants in hot water or hot apple juice. This will plump them, and make them juicy in the scones.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and lemon zest. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk, vanilla, orange essence, and egg.
Cut the butter into the flour mixture, using your fingers or a dough cutter. (I use a cutter). Work the mixture until the butter is about the size of large peas.
Drain the sultanas and currants very well. Add to the dough.
Combine the liquid and dry ingredients, stirring gently with a fork or your fingers. The dough will form a very shaggy ball.
Dump the dough onto a clean work surface. Form into a large circle. You can cut the dough in eighths, making triangular scones. I like to gently roll out the dough and use a biscuit cutter to make 12 round scones (about the size of a hockey puck). Sprinkle with sugar if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes, until the tops are lightly golden. I try to serve these immediately, but they will keep in an airtight container for up to two days.

Tags: breakfast