scones

i bake pastries every weekend.

sometimes it's clafoutis or coffee cake,

but this weekend,

i made a batch of our favorite scones.

scones

ingredients:

3 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tblsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter (one cold stick)

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup sliced almonds

1 1/4 cup half & half

{extra half & half and sugar for tops}

directions:

preheat oven to 450°

combine first 4 ingredients.

cut in cold butter (i chop into tiny cubes first).

add cranberries & almonds.

stir in half & half, mix to combine.

turn dough out onto a floured surface.

gently press into a circle (about 10").

cut into wedges (8 larger or 12 smaller).

arrange wedges on baking sheet (i line mine with parchment) so they are not touching. {wink, mary!}

brush the tops with extra half & half,

then sprinkle with extra sugar.

bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

a note about flour:

i use 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

and 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

to bump up the nutritional value

but keep them from being too heavy.

these scones are incredibly adaptable.

you can swap out the cranberries & almonds
{and even some of the half & half}

for almost any other ingredients.

as in:

your favorite fruit

your favorite chopped nuts

chocolate chips & coffee

cheese & herbs

our favorites are: 

coconut pecan

1 cup coconut & 1 cup chopped pecans

cranberry/orange/pecan

{maybe it's the orange zest, but they taste like christmas}

1 cup cranberries & 1 cup chopped pecans

then add the zest of one orange

and swap 1/4 cup of orange juice

for 1/4 cup of half & half

i have started using

raw or turbinado sugar for the tops.

{bigger & prettier crystals} 

my friend, kelly, made these once

and cut them into hearts.

if you make these, please let me know

what combinations you dream up.

♥