One spring I received Baking with Julia as a gift. When Christmas morning rolled around we baked scones using the recipe in the book. The next Christmas we bought the ingredients but didn't get around to baking. Around 10 pm Christmas night, toddler Jeremiah asked "When are we having scones?" We made them then and there and our tradition was born. Scones and tea on Christmas morning for more than a decade! These scones are why we will never be vegan.
Buttermilk Scones
a recipe from Baking With Julia
3 cups all-purpose flour1/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter cold and cut into small pieces
1 cup buttermilk
1 Tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/2 stick unsalted butter melted
1/4 cup sugar for dusting
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
In a medium bowl, stir together the first five ingredients with a fork.
Add the cold butter and using fingertips work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
Pour in buttermilk, toss in the zest and mix with the fork only until the ingredients are just moistened. The dough will have a rough look. If dry, add another tablespoon of buttermilk.
Gather the dough into a ball and knead very briefly on a lightly floured surface, about a dozen turns.
Cut the dough in half. Press each half into a seven inch circle about half an inch thick. Brush each circle with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar.
Cut each circle into six pieces.
Place on an un-greased baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden.
Notes: I usually start with cutting up the butter and putting the small pieces in the freezer until I need it. Also, I usually don't end up using the whole amount of sugar for dusting.
Merry Christmas!
