11 delicious scone recipes

Scones are similar to their American cousin the biscuit. They both have similar amounts of flour, rising agents, salt, butter, and milk. Even the way they are prepared are similar. Their no-fuss appearance and warmth evokes similar feelings of comfort. So what is the difference? Probably their greatest difference is found in how they are used. Biscuits are thought of as companions to soup and for mopping up gravy from a dinner plate. Scones, which often include a bit of sugar, are associated with British tea time and more as a treat on their own instead of rounding out a meal. To ensure the finest quality of your homemade scones follow three simple rules: (1) use self-rising flour (2) make sure your oven is hot (3) work quickly and lightly with the dough.  

Kitchen Report
Self-rising flour and pumpkin pie filling are the quick tips to make these flaky and delicious scones.

1. Banana lemon scones

In Praise of Leftovers
Add a diced banana to your scone dough for a delicate aroma and flavor.

By Sarah Murphy-KangasIn Praise of Leftovers

Banana Lemon Scones
Adapted from Fine Cooking. I added 1/4 c. brown sugar for two reasons – to make them sweeter and to make them more tender. It had the effect of the scones spreading ever so slightly, but it was worth it. If you want sturdier guys, leave it out. Most scones aren't good the next day, but these are delicious as the banana keeps them moist.

For the scones:
2 cups flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 medium ripe (but not mushy) banana, cut into 1/4-inch dice
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons heavy cream(and more for brushing)
coarse white sanding sugar (optional) 

For the glaze:
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1-1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter, softened
pinch kosher salt

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F., and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, lemon zest, and salt. With your fingers, rub the butter into the flour mixture until a few pea-sized lumps remain. Stir in the banana. Add the cream, and with a fork, gradually stir until the mixture just comes together.

3. Turn the dough onto a lighly floured surface and pat into a 7" circle about 1" high. Using a chef's knife, cut the dough into 8 wedges. Transfer to the baking sheet, spacing the wedges 1-2" apart. Brush the tops with heavy cream and sprinkle liberally with sanding sugar (if using).

4. Bake until tops are golden, about 18-20 minutes, rotating halfway through baking for even browning. Transfer scones to a wire rack and cook slightly, 3 or 4 minutes.

5. In a small bowl, stir the powdered sugar, lemon juice, butter, and salt until smooth. Drizzle the warm scones with the glaze. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Read the full post on Stir It Up!

1 of 11

Dear Reader,

About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review – under the charming heading of “do things that don’t interest you”:

“Many things that end up” being meaningful, writes social scientist Joseph Grenny, “have come from conference workshops, articles, or online videos that began as a chore and ended with an insight. My work in Kenya, for example, was heavily influenced by a Christian Science Monitor article I had forced myself to read 10 years earlier. Sometimes, we call things ‘boring’ simply because they lie outside the box we are currently in.”

If you were to come up with a punchline to a joke about the Monitor, that would probably be it. We’re seen as being global, fair, insightful, and perhaps a bit too earnest. We’re the bran muffin of journalism.

But you know what? We change lives. And I’m going to argue that we change lives precisely because we force open that too-small box that most human beings think they live in.

The Monitor is a peculiar little publication that’s hard for the world to figure out. We’re run by a church, but we’re not only for church members and we’re not about converting people. We’re known as being fair even as the world becomes as polarized as at any time since the newspaper’s founding in 1908.

We have a mission beyond circulation, we want to bridge divides. We’re about kicking down the door of thought everywhere and saying, “You are bigger and more capable than you realize. And we can prove it.”

If you’re looking for bran muffin journalism, you can subscribe to the Monitor for $15. You’ll get the Monitor Weekly magazine, the Monitor Daily email, and unlimited access to CSMonitor.com.

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.