Orange-Currant Scones
A Scottish quick bread, scones may have derived their name from the Stone of Destiny (or Scone), the place where Scottish kings were once crowned. Other sources claim that the word comes from schoonbrot or sconbrot, meaning "fine white bread." Scones were traditionally made with oats and cooked on a griddle, while modern versions are generally prepared with flour and baked in the oven.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 8 Tbs. (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into
small pieces - 1/2 cup currants
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Zest of 1 orange
Directions
Preheat an oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a scone pan, or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until pea-size crumbs form. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the currants.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, cream and orange zest until blended and add to the flour mixture. Using a fork, stir to form large, moist clumps of dough.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and press together with your hands until the dough comes together. Roll out the dough, flouring as needed, into a 10-inch round about 3/4 inch thick. Cut into 8 equal-size wedges. Press each wedge into a well of the prepared scone pan, or place the wedges 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake until the scones are golden, about 25 minutes. Invert the scone pan onto a wire rack and lift off the pan, or transfer the scones from the baking sheet to the rack. Let the scones cool for 10 minutes before serving. Makes 8 scones.
Adapted from a recipe given to Chuck Williams by Judy Rodgers, Executive Chef and Co-Owner, Zuni Café, San Francisco.