Christmas Scones!

 Dear  friends, I  had  a lot of interest in my cranberry scones from my last post so I found the recipe!

Cranberry Scones

Serves: approximately 13

 

Ingredients

·   3 cups all-purpose flour

·   ¼ cup granulated sugar

·   4 teaspoons baking powder

·   ½ teaspoon salt

·   ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

·   1 cup plus 3 tablespoons cold heavy whipping cream, divided

·   ¾ cup cranberries

·   2 tablespoons sanding sugar

Instructions

1.    Preheat oven to 375°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.    In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Use cold butter and using a pastry blender keeps butter cold  .. works better. 

3.    In a small bowl, stir together 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold cream.  Add to flour mixture, stirring with a fork just until a dough begins to form.  Add cranberries.  Working gently, bring mixture together with hands until a dough forms.

4.    Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead gently until smooth by patting dough and folding it in half 4 to 5 times. Try not to mess with the dough very much.  Bring together easily and lightly pat into a round about  ½ in high.

5.    Using a 2¼-inch fluted round cutter dipped in flour, cut scones from dough, rerolling scraps once. Place scones 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet.

6.    Brush tops of scones with remaining 1 tablespoon cream, and sprinkle with sanding sugar.

7.    Bake until scones are golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

You can always add  some  chopped walnuts  , and orange zest into the  dry mix  after step 2   to  really  jazz  these up!!! 

I like to mix up a topping  made from mascarpone cheese.. like  cream cheese only better..  with    orange  marmalade  until a speadable consistency.  Very good  served on top of  the scones!