Recipes

Cranberry Walnut Lemon Scones

January 9, 2011

Today I made the best scones ever. I was craving them, but mine always come out dry and bland, so I thought I’d try a new recipe. This one is perfection — dense but moist and so good — so I consider it my moral obligation to share it.

Dried Cranberry, Walnut, and Lemon Scones
Bon Appétit, November 2005
by Jennifer Wickes, Pine Beach, NJ
Yield: Makes 12
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients
2 tablespoons plus 1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, diced
1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup (or more) chilled half and half, divided

Preparation
Position rack in top third of oven; preheat to 375°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in bowl for glaze.

Whisk flour, baking powder, lemon peel, salt, and 1 cup sugar in large bowl. Add chilled butter; using fingertips, rub in until coarse meal forms. Mix in cranberries and walnuts. Add 1/2 cup half and half and1 tablespoon lemon juice. Toss with fork until dough comes together in moist clumps, adding more half and half if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Press out each half on floured surface to 6-inch-diameter (1-inch-high) round. Cut each round into 6 wedges. Transfer to baking sheet; brush with glaze.

Bake scones until golden and tester comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Couple of notes:

  • I used cherry flavored cranberries — equally delicious.
  • These expand quite a bit as they bake. I recommend two sheet pans.
  • I made four rounds for a total of sixteen smaller scones.

These are delicious served with a hot cup of Earl Grey or coffee. Enjoy!

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