SCONES MIX RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the self-raising flour into a large bowl with ¼ tsp salt and the baking powder, then mix.
• Add the butter, then rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the caster sugar.
• Put the milk into a jug and heat in the microwave for about 30 secs until warm, but not hot. Add the vanilla extract and a squeeze of lemon juice, then set aside for a moment.
• Put a baking tray in the oven. Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a cutlery knife – it will seem pretty wet at first.
• Scatter some flour onto the work surface and tip the dough out. Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it’s a little smoother. Pat into a round about 4cm deep. Take a 5cm cutter (smooth-edged cutters tend to cut more cleanly, giving a better rise) and dip it into some flour. Plunge into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones. You may need to press what’s left of the dough back into a round to cut out another four.
• Brush the tops with a beaten egg, then carefully arrange on the hot baking tray. Bake for 10 mins until risen and golden on the top. Eat just warm or cold on the day of baking, generously topped with jam and clotted cream. If freezing, freeze once cool. Defrost, then put in a low oven (about 160C/140C fan/gas 3) for a few minutes to refresh.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6.
  2. Pulse the flour and butter in a food processor until they start to look like breadcrumbs. Tip into a bowl and make a well in the middle.
  3. In another bowl, beat the eggs and milk with a fork, add a good pinch of salt and pepper and pour into the well. Mix the flour into the eggs and milk, adding a little more milk if needed, until you have a soft, dry dough.
  4. Split the dough evenly into 3 pieces. Press each piece out flat on your work surface and sprinkle 1 piece with mustard powder, 1 with cumin powder and the last with grated cheese. Roll up each piece and knead lightly until the flavouring is just mixed in, trying not to handle the mixture too much.
  5. Press or roll the dough pieces flat again, until they are about 2.5cm thick. Cut out 2 circles from each piece with an 8cm cutter or the rim of a glass, and place upside down on a baking sheet. Brush the top of each scone with the extra milk and bake in the oven for 15 minutes, until risen and brown.