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I was convinced, however, by abreadaday's Windsor Court Scone recipe to try the dried fruit approach. I even went all out and did the egg wash on top, and they turned out marvelously. Or rather, they were too dry (I used medium eggs instead of large, so that might be why), but instead of squishing my berries when I tried to get the liquid integrated without adding too much, I was able to adjust the amount of cream easily! It was fun and easy compared to my previous attempts at scones!
Maybe I'll try do the dried fruit approach more often, at least until I get a better handle on the Perfect Scone. (Note: After having these scones a few times [and devising a few rules for fresh fruits in this recipe], I decided not to ever look for a different recipe–so good!)
Windsor Court Scones
Adapted from the Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans
via ABreadADay
Makes 8 large wedges
–11 ounces (about 2½ cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
–5 teaspoons baking powder
–4 teaspoons sugar
–1/8 teaspoon salt
–6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, grated
–1/3 to 1/2 cup dried fruit or 3/4 to 1 cup fresh fruit **
–6 ounces (3/4 cup) heavy cream — if using medium eggs, up to 7 oz; if using fresh fruit decrease by 1/2 oz (1 tablespoon is about 1/2 oz)
–2 large eggs, lightly beaten (reserve 1-2 tablespoon(s) for egg wash)
–use reserved egg mixed with a dash of cream to make an egg wash
–additional sugar for sprinkling (a larger sugar granule, e.g., sanding sugar or pearl sugar, is best, but regular granulated sugar is fine too)
1. Preheat the oven to 450° F, and (optionally) line a baking sheet with parchment. (I used to grease the baking sheet, but this has proven unnecessary/counterproductive with my insulated sheet pan.)
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
3. Grate in the cold butter in three increments, tossing the grated butter with the dry mix inbetween.
4. Add the fruit to coat with flour.
5. Add the cream and eggs, and fold together quickly and gently until it just forms a dough; drizzle a little extra cream over any dry spots if needed.
6. Turn the dough out onto the baking sheet. Pat into a 1 inch thick round, and cut into 8 equal wedges. Carefully pull apart on the baking sheet and remove any extra bits that fall off the wedges.
7. Brush the tops with the egg wash, and sprinkle with additional sugar.
8. Bake the scones at 450° F for 13 to 15 minutes, or until lightly golden on top. Let cool briefly on baking sheet before serving, or removing to a rack to cool thoroughly.
** For fresh fruit, there are rather more rules than with dried. What I've learned is as follows:
--Delicate fruits (raspberries, blackberries, etc.) need to be frozen
--Non-delicate small fruits (blueberries, currants, etc.) can be substituted 1-for-1 with dried fruit
--Non-delicate larger fruits (cherries, rhubarb, strawberries, etc.) should be chopped and sprinkled with 1/2 tablespoon of sugar and you'll need the larger amount in the recipe (3/4 to 1 cup)
Makes 8 large wedges
–11 ounces (about 2½ cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
–5 teaspoons baking powder
–4 teaspoons sugar
–1/8 teaspoon salt
–6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, grated
–1/3 to 1/2 cup dried fruit or 3/4 to 1 cup fresh fruit **
–6 ounces (3/4 cup) heavy cream — if using medium eggs, up to 7 oz; if using fresh fruit decrease by 1/2 oz (1 tablespoon is about 1/2 oz)
–2 large eggs, lightly beaten (reserve 1-2 tablespoon(s) for egg wash)
–use reserved egg mixed with a dash of cream to make an egg wash
–additional sugar for sprinkling (a larger sugar granule, e.g., sanding sugar or pearl sugar, is best, but regular granulated sugar is fine too)
1. Preheat the oven to 450° F, and (optionally) line a baking sheet with parchment. (I used to grease the baking sheet, but this has proven unnecessary/counterproductive with my insulated sheet pan.)
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.
3. Grate in the cold butter in three increments, tossing the grated butter with the dry mix inbetween.
4. Add the fruit to coat with flour.
5. Add the cream and eggs, and fold together quickly and gently until it just forms a dough; drizzle a little extra cream over any dry spots if needed.
6. Turn the dough out onto the baking sheet. Pat into a 1 inch thick round, and cut into 8 equal wedges. Carefully pull apart on the baking sheet and remove any extra bits that fall off the wedges.
7. Brush the tops with the egg wash, and sprinkle with additional sugar.
8. Bake the scones at 450° F for 13 to 15 minutes, or until lightly golden on top. Let cool briefly on baking sheet before serving, or removing to a rack to cool thoroughly.
** For fresh fruit, there are rather more rules than with dried. What I've learned is as follows:
--Delicate fruits (raspberries, blackberries, etc.) need to be frozen
--Non-delicate small fruits (blueberries, currants, etc.) can be substituted 1-for-1 with dried fruit
--Non-delicate larger fruits (cherries, rhubarb, strawberries, etc.) should be chopped and sprinkled with 1/2 tablespoon of sugar and you'll need the larger amount in the recipe (3/4 to 1 cup)
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