Classic Scones

Of course, you can put what you like on your scones, but I’ll usually opt for a traditional cream tea. Cream tea etiquette is fiercely disputed in the West Country. The Cornish put strawberry jam on their scones first, then the cream; in Devon and Dorset it is customary to do it the other way round. Well, I live in the East Midlands...  And when homemade warm scones are up for grabs, I throw diplomacy out of the window. Whatever the order my clotted cream and jam goes on, in the wise words of Tabitha Brown, "That's my business!" Lol! I just can't wait to tuck in with a nice cup of tea. Ahhh! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Ingredients:

300g plain white flour, plus extra for dusting

2 tsp baking powder

A good pinch of salt

75g unsalted butter, at cool room temperature (neither fridge-cold nor soft), cut into cubes

50g caster sugar

1 medium free-range egg

1 tsp natural vanilla extract

120ml double cream

A little milk, for brushing

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas Mark 6. Using a food processor, if you have one, whizz together the flour, baking powder, salt, butter and sugar until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs (otherwise, sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a mixing bowl, rub in the butter with your fingers then stir in the sugar).

In a separate bowl, beat the egg, vanilla and cream together, then add to the rubbed in mixture and bring together with your hands to form a soft dough.

Turn the dough out on to a floured surface and knead very briefly, for 10 seconds or so, to make it a little smoother. Now, using a little more flour, pat or gently roll out to a thickness of about 4cm.

Using a 6 or 7cm pastry cutter (or a larger one, if you like), cut out about 8 scones – pressing the cutter straight down, rather than twisting it, as this gives the scones a better chance of rising straight up.

Lay the disks on a lightly greased baking sheet, brush the tops with milk and bake for about 15 minutes, or a little longer if the scones are large. To check that they are cooked, insert a wooden cocktail stick into the middle; it should come out clean.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes, then serve warm.