Simple Scones Recipe
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Simple Scones

By: USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson 
"Make a holiday breakfast -- or afternoon tea -- really special with these sweet bakery treats."

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.9 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (1,124)

 

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Original Recipe Yield 8 scones
 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, frozen
  • 1/2 cup raisins (or dried currants)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 large egg

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Grate butter into flour mixture on the large holes of a box grater; use your fingers to work in butter (mixture should resemble coarse meal), then stir in raisins.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk sour cream and egg until smooth.
  4. Using a fork, stir sour cream mixture into flour mixture until large dough clumps form. Use your hands to press the dough against the bowl into a ball. (The dough will be sticky in places, and there may not seem to be enough liquid at first, but as you press, the dough will come together.)
  5. Place on a lightly floured surface and pat into a 7- to 8-inch circle about 3/4-inch thick. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp. of sugar. Use a sharp knife to cut into 8 triangles; place on a cookie sheet (preferably lined with parchment paper), about 1 inch apart. Bake until golden, about 15 to 17 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature.

Footnotes

  • Cranberry-Orange Scones
  • Follow the recipe for Simple Scones, adding a generous teaspoon of finely grated orange rind (zest) to the dry ingredients and substituting dried cranberries for the raisins.
  • Lemon-Blueberry Scones
  • Follow the recipe for Simple Scones, adding a generous teaspoon of finely grated lemon rind (zest) to the dry ingredients and substituting dried blueberries for the raisins.
  • Cherry-Almond Scones
  • Follow the recipe for Simple Scones, adding 1/2 tsp. almond extract to the sour cream mixture and substituting dried cherries for the raisins.
  • Copyright 2006 USA WEEKEND and columnist Pam Anderson. All rights reserved.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 319 | Total Fat: 15.5g | Cholesterol: 63mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

 view all reviews »  

The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on May 15, 2007 by Caljane   view full review
I wouldn't recommend them if you do not have a food processor since making them as here...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 26, 2004 by LITDOC   view full review
I mixed these up using my food processor and the results were fantastic... and so easy.. put...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 12, 2007 by TARADAWN   view full review
What a wonderful scone recipe. These turned out just slightly moist and not dried-out like...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on May 1, 2007 by mn   view full review
Great recipe! I used salted cold butter from the fridge and just cut it into the dough. My...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 19, 2006 by TIFFENY   view full review
I made these tonight for my family and they loved them!!! The alterations I made was to used...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 30, 2007 by SPARKLER8666   view full review
Excellent basic scone recipe. It allowed for substitutions nicely. I used half white and...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 7, 2006 by EDDIEGIRL   view full review
These are the best scones I have ever eaten! I'm a top notch baker but even thought this...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on Mar. 27, 2006 by ArmyMom Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
I used salted butter and they were fine. The hardest part was hand grating the butter and the...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 16, 2006 by ivyguppy   view full review
What a great recipe! I loved the simplicity of the recipe and the tasty results. The texture...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.9 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 29, 2008 by jrbaker Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
These are so good, and extremely versatile. I added dried cranberries and white chocolate...

 

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