Rich Butter Plain Scones
Easy Recipe for Making Classic Plain Scones
Let’s make incredibly flavorful plain scones using premium Goutme butter. These scones boast a rich buttery aroma and a wonderfully tender crumb, perfect for enjoying at home with ease.
Ingredients
- 140g Cake flour
- 30g Sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 3g Baking powder
- 45g Cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 30g Cold egg (approx. 1/2 small egg)
- 40g Cold milk
- Egg wash (for brushing), as needed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a food processor, combine 140g of cake flour and 3g of baking powder. Pulse a few times to mix the dry ingredients.
Step 2
Add 45g of cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes, to the food processor. Ensure the butter remains cold to achieve a flaky texture in your scones.
Step 3
Using the ‘pulse’ function, process the mixture in short bursts of 1-2 seconds. Continue until the butter is broken down into pieces about the size of coarse breadcrumbs or peas. Be careful not to over-process, as this can melt the butter and result in dense scones.
Step 4
Add 30g of sugar and a pinch of salt to the food processor.
Step 5
Pulse about 5 more times to incorporate the sugar and salt and to briefly mix everything. The mixture should still look somewhat crumbly with visible pieces of butter.
Step 6
Pour in 30g of cold egg and 40g of cold milk. It’s important that these liquid ingredients are also chilled.
Step 7
Process again using the ‘pulse’ function, in 2-3 second bursts, just until the ingredients barely come together to form a dough. Avoid overmixing; the dough should just be starting to clump. Stop as soon as it forms a cohesive mass. You’ve now created your delicious scone dough!
Step 8
Gently turn the scone dough out onto a clean silicone mat or lightly floured work surface. It might seem a bit shaggy at first.
Step 9
Lightly and quickly bring the dough together into a single mass with your hands. Handle the dough as little as possible to prevent developing too much gluten, which can make scones tough.
Step 10
Using a bench scraper or knife, gently fold the dough in half horizontally. Then, scrape the dough together and lightly press down to create layers. Repeat this folding and pressing motion vertically. Aim to repeat this ‘letter fold’ process about 3 times. This layering is key to achieving a beautiful, flaky texture in your scones. Work quickly to avoid overworking the dough.
Step 11
Wrap the layered dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 40 minutes. You can also freeze it for 20 minutes. This chilling step allows the butter to firm up again and the dough to rest, ensuring a better rise and flakier texture when baked.
Step 12
Once chilled, unwrap the dough and divide it into equal portions, approximately 67g each. Ensuring uniform size will help the scones bake evenly.
Step 13
Place the divided dough portions onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave some space between each scone so they don’t bake into each other.
Step 14
Gently press down each dough portion with the palm of your hand to form the classic scone shape. Don’t flatten them too much; you want some height.
Step 15
Arrange the shaped scone doughs neatly on the prepared baking sheet. This step ensures an even bake and presentation.
Step 16
Using a pastry brush, lightly and evenly apply egg wash to the tops of the scones. This will give them a beautiful golden-brown color and a lovely sheen when baked.
Step 17
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) for 10 minutes. Once preheated, bake the scones for 20 minutes at 180°C (top heat) / 175°C (bottom heat), then reduce the temperature to 180°C (top heat) / 180°C (bottom heat) for the final 10 minutes, for a total baking time of approximately 30 minutes. Adjust the time and temperature based on your oven’s performance. They are ready when they turn a beautiful golden brown. (Note: In some regions, oven temperatures are listed as Celsius/Fahrenheit for convection/conventional, so 180°C/175°C may mean 180°C fan-assisted and 175°C conventional, or vice versa. The second setting 180°C/180°C suggests more balanced heat.)
Step 18
Remove the perfectly baked scones from the oven. Let them cool slightly on a wire rack before arranging them attractively on a serving plate. They are best enjoyed warm.
Step 19
Congratulations! Your delicious, rich butter plain scones are ready! Serve them with your favorite jam, clotted cream, or whipped cream for an extra special treat.
