To Be Frank …

With three kids all looking for treats, this comes in quite useful far too often
Fruit scones:

Ingredients : (All measures are approximate)

• 3 Cups (approx 700g) Plain flour
• 1/3 Cup (approx 75g) Caster sugar
• 250ml (1/2 pint) Buttermilk
• 2 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 170g – 200g Butter / Margarine
• 225g (generous cup) Dried Mixed fruit / sultanas etc

Utensils:

• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring cups / spoons / jugs
• Baking tray
• Dough cutter or highball glass
• Sieve
• Ideally – pastry / egg-wash brush

Method :

1. Preheat the oven to approx 180c
2. Sieve Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Salt, Baking soda into a large bowl
3. Mix gently by hand
4. Dice up the butter/marge and drop into the flour
5. Rub in the butter until the entire mix has a breadcrumb like consistency
6. (Use your fingertips and thumbs to rub the flour and butter together, take your time !)
7. Add in the fruit and mix by hand to ensure no clumps remain
8. Form a well and add in most (not quite all, leave a dribble) of the buttermilk
9. Use one hand to turn the bowl, and the second in a ‘claw’ shape to mix the dough to a consistent texture
10. (Keep the bowl turning in one direction only, and mix gently with the clawed hand)
11. (If the mix is too dry, try adding a bit more buttermilk, if it’s too wet, add more flour, you’ll know !)
12. Once the dough has a good texture, spread some flour on a work-surface and lift it out of the bowl onto the floured surface
13. Knead lightly for about 5 mins, and flatten to approx 1″ (2cm) thick
14. Scatter flour lightly and evenly on the baking tray
15. Dip your dough-cutter / glass rim into flour (to at least the depth of the dough) and cut out your scones, re-flouring cutter and re-kneading the dough into a usable shape as necessary.
16. Place cut scones onto floured baking tray
17. Brush small amount of buttermilk onto tops of scones (helps ‘em brown nicely)
18. Optionally sieve some caster-sugar on top
19. Place in oven to bake for 15 – 20 mins depending on the oven (they’re done before they burn, but after they stop being “squishy”)
20. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool
21. Enjoy !