Description
Ina Garten’s buttermilk scones blend British baking tradition with American comfort. Crumbly, buttery pastries emerge from your oven, promising a delightful breakfast or afternoon treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (360 g) flour
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks)
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- ⅓ cup (67 g) sugar
- ½ cup (75 g) currants
- 2 ½ tsps (12.5 g) baking powder
- 1 tsp (6 g) salt
- ½ tsp (2.5 g) baking soda
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) heavy cream (for brushing)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), establishing the optimal thermal environment for scone baking.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Sift flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda into a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry foundation.
- Butter Integration: Cube cold unsalted butter and delicately incorporate into the dry mixture, massaging with fingertips until the texture resembles coarse, sandy crumbs.
- Liquid Incorporation: Form a central well in the flour mixture, gently pour buttermilk, and fold with minimal manipulation to preserve the dough’s delicate structure. Carefully distribute currants throughout the mixture.
- Dough Shaping: Transfer the soft dough onto a floured surface, dividing into two equal rounds approximately 3/4-inch thick. Slice each round into eight precise triangular wedges.
- Baking Preparation: Arrange scone wedges on a lightly greased baking sheet, ensuring slight separation for even browning. Generously brush tops with heavy cream to achieve a lustrous, golden finish.
- Baking Process: Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven, baking for 15-18 minutes until the scones develop a light golden-brown complexion.
- Serving: Transfer scones to a wire rack for brief cooling, then present warm with softened butter and complementary marmalade for an exquisite teatime experience.
Notes
- Butter Handling: Cut cold butter into tiny cubes and work quickly to keep it chilled, preventing a tough scone texture.
- Minimal Mixing Matters: Stir ingredients just until combined to ensure tender, flaky scones with delicate crumb structure.
- Cream Brushing Technique: Generously coat scone tops with heavy cream for a glossy, beautifully caramelized golden finish.
- Serving Suggestion: Enjoy warm within 2-3 hours of baking for peak freshness and optimal taste experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg