19/07/2022
SCONES TIPS
1. USE COLD INGREDIENTS AND UTENSILS
For a better rise, use cold butter or even frozen butter. The colder the better, and that extends beyond just ingredients, too. It's ideal to have a chilled bowl and pastry cutter as well.
2. FRUITS
If you're adding fruit don't use super juicy fruits and make sure you rinse and dry them well. If you're using frozen fruit, you don't have to thaw it if the fruit is individually frozen. If the fruit is in one big chunk, however, thaw, rinse and drain it as well as you can.
3. PLACE THE SCONES CLOSE TOGETHER
Place the scones, side by side and just touching, on a lightly greased baking tray that has been dusted with flour. Having the scones close together will help them rise, rather than spread, and will keep the sides straight and even.
4. PICK YOUR TOP
If you like your scones with a crispy brown top, try brushing them with a little milk before adding to the oven. However, if floury tops are more your thing, dust with a little plain flour before adding to the heat.
5. CONSISTENCY OF THE DOUGH
Make a sticky, wettish dough, it will give a better rise.
6. BE GENTLE
When handling the dough, be very very very gentle. If you interfere with the dough too much the scones will not be soft.
7. AVOID MIXING WITH YOUR HANDS
Use cold utensils instead of mixing with your hands, place the utensils in the freezer for a few minutes before use. The temperature of your hands is enough to start melting the cold butter so if you are using your hands the butter could melt too much and change the consistency of your scones once baked.
8. WORK QUICKLY
When combining the ingredients, work as if you are being timed ! As soon as you start mixing everything together the butter will start melting so be quick so that your scones have a better rise but remember to be gentle.
9. PREPARE IN ADVANCE
Measure out the dry ingredients beforehand so that you don’t stop to measure in between. Place the wet ingredients like eggs and buttermilk/amasi in the fridge so that they don’t melt the butter once you start mixing. Place your utensils in the fridge/freezer beforehand as well.
10. CUTTERS
If you use a biscuit cutter/glass to shape the scones do not twist it around as you press down. Press down straight so that your scones rise properly. If you twist when using a cutter the scones will not rise as they should.
Before starting please pray or ask God/ your ancestors for assistance. Making good scones is a fight so you need all the help you can get because there is so much science behind it and so many rules. Lets bake ❤️