Monday, August 6, 2012

Delicious Homemade Scones à la Julia Child

These are the easiest and yummiest scones ever and I just had to share. They are a Julia Child recipe and once you try these you will never go back to store bought again! They are super easy to make and quick too.

Here is the recipe and I'll type it out below as well...



Buttermilk Scones

Makes 12 Triangular or 24 Rolled Scones

3 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon grated orange or lemon zest

1/2 stick unsalted butter, melted for brushing
1/4 cup sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 425° F

In a medium bowl stir the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together with a fork. Add the cold butter pieces and using your fingertips (first choice) a pastry blender, or two knives work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. It's okay if some largish pieces of butter remain-they'll add to the sconces' flakiness.
Pour in 1 cup buttermilk, toss in the zest, and mix with the fork only until the ingredients are just moistened. You'll have a soft dough with a rough look. (If the dough looks dry, add another tbsp of buttermilk) Gather the dough into a ball, pressing it gently so that it holds together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead it very briefly-a dozen turns should do it. Cut the dough in half...

In the picture above Julia describes the way that she does it but I rolled it out to a thickness of about 1/2 an inch and then used a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut them into hearts. Put them on a ungreased cookie sheet, brush with the butter and bake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes until tops are lightly golden. Transfer the scones to a rack to cool slightly. There are best served warm but are fine at room temperature.

before baking

after baking

I served them with butter, jam, fresh fruit, yogurt and strong hot coffee. Yummy!!!!


xox