Raisin and Cherry Scones

English meals are unique in the way that they comprise of signature recipes and wonderfully aromatic food items to satiate your taste buds.The European Continent is very famous for its diary products and milk,cream and cheese are the most used(not to forget their sweetly aromatic butter which goes with the unique great tasting breads defined as per region!

Scones are a very popular tea time item in the UK and a “high tea” comprises of at least 10 delicious items to be had with tea for the adults and milk for children.Scones are a mix of a bread and cake recipe and the taste is not as sweet as a cake and not as salty as any of the popular breads.It is buttered and while serving is split in half and served with Jam and Clotted Cream.I have made Raisin and Cherry Scones and am sharing the great recipe with everyone out there!

Preparation Time : 30 – 45 minutes

Makes : 10 – 12 Scones

INGREDIENTS

225 gms self raising flour(plus extra for dusting)

1 tbsp powdered/castor sugar

A pinch of salt

85 gms soft,unsalted butter(in case of using salted butter,omit the pinch of salt in the recipe)

3 tbsp Glace Cherries – quartered

3 tbsp Golden Raisins

1 egg – beaten

Approximately 6 – 7 tbsp milk to bind

METHOD

Preheat oven to 220°C.Line a baking tray or cookie sheet with parchment paper or grease it generously.Lining it with paper is the best as the Scones slide out easily.

Sieve flour,sugar and salt in a mixing bowl.Add the softened butter and mix with fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add the Cherries and Raisins and combine thoroughly.Add the beaten egg.Reserve 2 tbsp milk and add the rest 1 tbsp at a time and bind to a soft dough.

On a floured countertop,roll to 2 cm thickness and cut out rounds with a cookie cutter.Place the rounds on the prepared parchment paper tray and brush the tops with the reserved milk.

Bake for 8 – 10 minutes till golden brown on top.

Take out from Oven and leave to cool on a wire rack till warm.Brush with melted butter.