Scones are a British teatime tradition, and the quick breads make a great snack or dessert at any hour of the day. If you’re working toward a culinary arts certificate online, you should try your hand at preparing these tasty treats. Here are three ideas for making your first batch of scones.
1. A sweet scone
Adding some dried or fresh fruit to your scone is a classic way to bring a little sweetness to the mix. Alton Brown provided a recipe that calls for dried currants or cranberries. Start by mixing baking powder, flour, sugar and salt before cutting in shortening and butter.
Use another bowl to beat an egg and combine with cream. Pour the liquid ingredients into the solid ones, stirring in the dried fruit. Place the dough on a flat surface covered with flour and roll it out.
Separate the dough into round pieces, setting them on a baking sheet. Then, cook in an oven set to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. Watch for the scones to brown.
2. Make it cheesy
For a tangier flavor combination, try The Kitchn’s directions for scones that are perfect for enjoying with dinner. This version includes a quarter cup of Parmesan and half a cup of finely chopped chives. Combine these ingredients with flour, baking powder and salt before adding butter, egg and cream.
When you’ve rolled out the dough, cut it into triangles. Place the pieces on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
3. There’s always room for chocolate
If you’d rather have scones for dessert, Serious Eats has you covered. As in the other recipes, you’ll begin forming the dough by mixing flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
Cut in the butter before adding chopped pieces of milk chocolate. What kind of chocolate you use depends on your personal tastes. However, if you select a bar on the darker side, you’re more likely to get just the right level of sweetness.
Combine the dry ingredients with milk and heavy cream. Roll out the dough and cut into pieces. Sprinkle turbinado sugar, or toast some granulated sugar for this purpose. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, looking for the scones to puff up and turn golden.
Anyone attending culinary academy should try preparing scones. These quick breads are a simple dish that you can customize to fit almost any occasion.
