COFFEE SCONE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Mix flour (start with 3 cups), baking powder, salt, sugar and brown sugar, until well incorporated.
• Cut the butter into tiny pieces and mix into the flour mixture. Keep cutting in the butter(or you can use your hands) until you incorporate the butter into the flour and it looks like it's the consistency of cornmeal.
• Add the milk and vanilla extract, and mix to form a dough. If dough is too wet to work with, add a little more flour till you have a moist dough, but it's workable. Add your mix ins and mix till well distributed.
• Cut dough in two (or cut in two before adding the mix-ins if you want two flavors) and shape into 2 rounds, 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle with sugar and then cut into 8 wedges. Separate slightly to help cook. Cook for 15 - 17 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through in the middle.

Steps:

• Make the streusel: Preheat oven to 400°F; set out two cookie sheets or rimmed baking sheets; combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium-size mixing bowl; add the butter, vanilla and pecans; using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it is reduced to small bits; crumble and press the mixture between your fingertips until it adheres to itself and forms moist, sandy-textured lumps; set aside.
• Make the scone dough: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom; drop in the chunks of butter and, using a pastry blender, cut the chunks into the flour until they are reduced to the size of large pearls; stir in the granulated sugar; add the raisins to the flour along with the liquid mixture and stir to form a dough.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead lightly about 10 times; divide the dough in half and form each piece into a 6 1/2- to 7-inch round disc; cut each round into 6 pie-shaped wedges; carefully pick up each scone, brush the top with a little of the milk and press a large handful of the streusel mixture on the top; after it is covered with the topping mixture, carefully transfer the scone to the baking sheet, placing the scones about 2 1/2 inches apart.
• Bake the scones for 17 to 18 minutes, or until golden and set; cool the scones on the baking sheet for a minute, then remove them to a cooling rack.
• Serve warm, or cool thoroughly; store in an airtight container, for up to 3 days (or freeze) and reheat at another time.