Cookbook:Basic Scones

Ingredients

 * 1 cup (100 g) flour
 * 1 tsp (5 g) baking powder
 * 1 pinch salt
 * 2 tbsp (30 g) butter
 * 1 tbsp (15 g) granulated sugar
 * &frac12; cup (125 ml) milk + extra milk for glazing

Procedure

 * 1) Preheat the oven to 450° F (225° C).
 * 2) Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Rub in butter. Add sugar. Add the milk and mix with a knife until obtaining a soft, not sticky, dough.
 * 3) Turn the dough on to a lightly floured board and knead it quickly until it is smooth.
 * 4) Roll out the dough to about ½ inch (12 mm) thickness. Cut 16 rounds with a 2-inch fluted cookie cutter and transfer them to a buttered cookie sheet. Brush the tops with milk.
 * 5) Bake towards top of the hot oven for 8–10 minutes or until well risen and golden brown.
 * 6) Cool on a wire rack.
 * 7) Serve tea scones with butter, whipped cream, and jam.

Notes, tips, and variations

 * Raisin scones: add 1–2 tbsp raisins with the sugar.
 * Lemon and raisin scones: add 1 tsp finely-grated lemon peel and 1–2 tbsp raisins with the sugar.
 * Orange and cherry scones: add 1 tsp finely-grated orange peel and 1–2 tbsp finely chopped candied cherries, washed and dried, with the sugar.
 * Date and walnut scones: add 1 tbsp finely-chopped dates and 1 tbsp finely-chopped shelled walnuts with the sugar.
 * Cinnamon scones: sift 1 tsp cinnamon with the flour.
 * Ginger scones: sift ½ tsp ground ginger with flour.
 * Honey scones: use 1 tbsp honey and reduce the ½ cup milk to 7 tbsp.
 * Chocolate chip: mix in 2 tbsp chocolate chips