A lot of people seem to be baking the stress away these days—and we totally get it. We are a bakery, after all. If you’re looking for your next baking project, why not try making scones?
Scones are a traditional breakfast food in Scotland, Ireland, and England, and Americans have come to love them as well. Nobody knows exactly who invented the scone, but the first known print reference comes from a Scottish poet in 1513.
The origin of scones
There are also mixed tales about the origin of scones. It is believed that historically scones were round and flat, made or baked on a griddle, then cut into triangular sections for serving. When baking powder became widely available, scones went from the stove top to the oven and became the fluffy quickbreads we know today.
The word “scone” may derive from the Middle Dutch schoonbrood—from schoon (pure or clean) and brood (bread). Other explanations for the origin of the word include that it may be based on the town of Scone, once the ancient capital of Scotland; on the Gaelic word sgonn (rhymes with “gone”), which means “a shapeless mass or large mouthful; or the Middle Low German word schöne.
Scones are actually quite simple to make at home. The basic process looks something like this:
First, you’ll mix your ingredients. Then, you’ll shape them into equal wedges (or whatever shape you prefer). Next, you will freeze the dough for 20-30 minutes. Finally, you’ll brush the tops with cream, sprinkle with sugar, and bake for 15-20 minutes. And then, like magic, you’ll suddenly be everyone’s favorite person!
To make your scones even more special, you can add fruit (currants, dates, cranberries, orange rind, or dried apricots are good), chocolate chips, or savory ingredients such as cheddar cheese and rosemary. You may need to adjust how much liquid you add to your batter depending on the moisture of the ingredients you add.
Ready to get started? Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make your own scones from scratch:
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups (358 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream or milk
- 2 tablespoons coarse sugar.
Read detailed instructions on the Baked By an Introvert blog.
And that’s how to make scones from scratch. Enjoy!