Author Notes
This is my favorite scone recipe, and I adjust the flavorings based on what's available. I've done ginger-rhubarb in Spring, lemon-blueberry in Summer, and in this particular late-Fall version, cranberry-vanilla. With a short ingredient list to remember and no need to crack open an egg, you'll be assembling them in your sleep. Or, do what I do: freeze the dough ahead, take it out while the oven preheats, bake, adding a little extra time. Then go back to bed for 25 minutes, letting the smell of buttery goodness rouse you to the oven. Or, just get ready for your day...or round up the kids...the choice is yours. The original basic measures stem from a Nancy Silverton recipe. I've reduced the yield greatly and changed up the flavors. Feel free to double if needed. I like to let them cool thoroughly and bake them until their tops get nicely but not overly, browned. —Two Trays Kitchen
Ingredients
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120 grams
flour (unbleached all purpose- OR- I often do 100 grams all purpose, 20 grams spelt flour)
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30 grams
granulated sugar
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1 teaspoon
baking powder
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1/4 teaspoon
baking soda
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1/8 teaspoon
sea salt
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1/2 teaspoon
orange zest
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55 grams
chilled, good butter, unsalted
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60 (1/4 c) grams
well shaken buttermilk
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1/4 teaspoon
good quality vanilla extract
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50 grams
fresh cranberries, large ones chopped
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1 tablespoon
powdered sugar
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1/2 teaspoon
fresh orange juice
Directions
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Rough chop the cranberries and mix pinch of the sugar called for, into them. Let them hang out in a bowl. Measure your butter, slice it into cubes, and set into the freezer. Measure sugar and orange zest, and with your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar. In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together flour(s), orange sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Stir vanilla into buttermilk. Set in the fridge.
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Drop the butter into the flour mix and whisk it up a bit. Use your fingers in a snapping motion to quickly work the butter into the flour until a texture of coarse cornmeal with some pea size chunks, remains. Add the cranberries and give it a stir. Make a well in the center, add the buttermilk all at once, and immediately begin tossing with a spatula to moisten. Clumps should be forming. Continue to toss with the spatula to get the dry bits into the mix. Add another teaspoon of buttermilk to pick up more dry bits if necessary. It does not have to form a ball yet but the mixture should be uniformly moistened and clumped. Dump it onto a work surface (I like to use parchment paper).
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Bring the dough into a rough mound then pat with your palm, into a rough square about a 3/4 inch thick. Using a bench scraper, or the side of the parchment, fold the dough in half over itself, and pat down again. Turn dough 90 degrees then fold over itself again, pat down so the dough is now in a square, about 4 x 5 dimensions, or 1 inch thick, even the edges and make two even, quick cuts with a sharp knife or bench scraper, creating four squares. Place on parchment lined sheet pan and set in freezer. Freeze an hour or so, then store in freezer bag.
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When ready to bake, heat oven to 400, rack in top third. Let scones sit on parchment lined sheet pan while oven preheats. Brush with a little buttermilk, sprinkle with extra sugar if desired.
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Bake about 25-30 minutes, being prepared to add 5-7 minutes if frozen. Look for nicely browned tops and bottoms, no crumbs when you insert a toothpick, and the ability to gently move a scone on the baking sheet without feeling like it's to soft to do so. Cool on a rack on the pan a few minutes, then remove the pan and cool solo on the rack, lightly covered with the parchment (this helps the insides settle). If desired, mix together OJ and powdered sugar, and drizzle on cooled scones (wait about 15 minutes). And/or, just slather them with a little honey-butter once cool enough.
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