Orange and Currant Cream Scones (small batch)

Friday 10 February 2023

 

Orange and Currant Cream Scones 





I felt like having a scone today with my mid-morning break.  Call it a late brunch as you will, as I didn't really have time for breakfast this morning and I was famished.


I didn't necessarily want to bake a full batch of scones, however. Especially where there is just me in the house.


Oh, I know you can always freeze the extras.  I am a fan of fresh scones, but not so much frozen thawed out scones. You cannot beat fresh when it comes to baked goods.



Orange and Currant Cream Scones 




I really love cream scones best of all. There is no having to cut or rub in butter. You just stir in the cream and go.  Easy peasy.

I found a recipe for a small batch of cream scones on One Dish Kitchen.  It looked quite reasonable and so I decided to adapt it with a few ideas of my own.


Orange and Currant Cream Scones 




First of all I don't think vanilla has a place in scones, not cream scones anyways, so I left that out completely.  I also didn't feel like raisin/sultana scones.


I did, however, have a nice fresh bag of Zante currants and so I decided to go with them. I also decided that nothing goes better with currants than orange zest and so I added some freshly grated orange zest.


Orange and Currant Cream Scones





I also decided to cut my scones into squares, rather than use a biscuit cutter to cut them into rounds.  I like square scones.  There is no re-patting of the dough or waste. You just pat them once into a square and cut.

I pat the dough into an even square and then trim the edges slightly with a sharp knife and then use that same sharp knife to cut the square into evenly sized scones. Press straight down and up for a nice straight rise and even rise.  No slanted lop-sides.



Orange and Currant Cream Scones 




I also think a good scone deserves a bit of a glaze, especially a cream scone. I added a brush of cream on top of the scones prior to baking and a tiny sprinkle of coarse Demerara sugar to give it just a bit of a sweet crust on top. 

It really makes a nice finish. You could use milk as well, or even a beaten egg yolk, but I already had the cream out, so I went with the cream. 

Yummy!



Orange and Currant Cream Scones 





Look at how nice and tall they rose. This is largely due to making sure my egg and my cream were both very cold, as well as cutting them straight.

Also, I like to handle the dough as little as possible. Over-handling the dough makes for a tough scone that doesn't rise as high.

Just stir your ingredients together to form a slightly tacky dough, dump onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently 2 or 3 times and then lightly pat into your square shape.




Orange and Currant Cream Scones





WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE ORANGE AND CURRANT CREAM SCONES

One thing I love about these is that you need only a very few ingredients. 


  • 1 cup (140g) all-purpose plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp finely grated orange zest
  • ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
  • 1 large free-range egg yolk
  • ¼ cup (40g) dried currants
  • more cream to brush on top
  • Demerara (turbinado) sugar to sprinkle on top


Orange and Currant Cream Scones 




Orange zest really helps to bring out the sweetness of the dried currants. In the U.K. I had my own currant bush and would dry my own currants in my dehydrator. 


Today I used Zante Currants that I had bought from Amazon. I buy a lot of my things like that on Amazon. The prices are usually quite reasonable in price, and they come right to my door.



Orange and Currant Cream Scones 





HOW TO MAKE ORANGE AND CURRANT CREAM SCONES

Remember a light touch is key to getting a perfect result!!


Preheat oven to 425* F /220* C/ gas mark 7. Line a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper or use a silicone liner.


In a medium sized mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, orange zest and salt. Stir in the dried currants.


In a separate small bowl, whisk together cream, and egg yolk. Pour into the flour mixture and stir together until combined. You should have a soft slightly tacky dough.


Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead very lightly a few times and then shape into a 4-inch square 1-inch thick.




Orange and Currant Cream Scones 



Using a sharp knife, cut into 4 even squares and place on the baking sheet. Brush the tops lightly with cream and sprinkle with some demerara (turbinado) sugar.


Bake 12-14 minutes until golden brown.


Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Serve with butter, jam, and clotted cream, if you have it.



Orange and Currant Cream Scones 




Boy oh boy do I ever miss clotted cream. I have never tried to make any here at home. When you have had the real thing, nothing else quite comes up to it.



These scones were lovely split and spread with some softened butter and strawberry jam. I was really pleased with the end result.  Flaky and light.  Little bits of sticky sweet currant, a slight hint of orange and then the butter and the jam. 



Washed down with a hot cup of herbal tea.  This was the perfect mid-morning treat! Simply lovely.



Orange and Currant Cream Scones 





If you are a fan of the scone, you are in for a real treat. I have loads of scone recipes here on The English Kitchen.  Here are just a few of my favorites!


CARROT CAKE DROP SCONES - These are everything a great drop scone should be. Light and fluffy, no fuss, no muss. Simply mix and drop.  Filled with sweet carrots, warm baking spices and sticky raisins.  Sweetly glazed. These are a real favorite. 


MAPLE GLAZED BLACK PEPPER SCONES - This is a small batch recipe which makes two very large scones. They have that sweet and savory thing going on.  Short and buttery, studded with the heat of black pepper and sweetly glazed. Who know that maple and pepper got along so well!  Simply fabulous. 


Yield: 4
Author: Marie Rayner
Small Batch Orange and Currant Cream Scones

Small Batch Orange and Currant Cream Scones

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 14 MinTotal time: 24 Min
Tender and Flaky, these lovely scones are flavored with zingy orange zest and studded with plenty of dried currants.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (140g) all-purpose plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp finely grated orange zest
  • ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
  • 1 large free-range egg yolk
  • ¼ cup (40g) dried currants
  • more cream to brush on top
  • Demerara (turbinado) sugar to sprinkle on top

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425* F /220* C/ gas mark 7. Line a quarter sheet pan with parchment paper or use a silicone liner.
  2. In a medium sized mixing bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, orange zest and salt. Stir in the dried currants.
  3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together cream, and egg yolk. Pour into the flour mixture and stir together until combined. You should have a soft slightly tacky dough.
  4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead very lightly a few times and then shape into a 4-inch square 1-inch thick.
  5. Using a sharp knife, cut into 4 even squares and place on the baking sheet.
  6. Brush the tops lightly with cream and sprinkle with some demerara (turbinado) sugar.
  7. Bake 12-14 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
  9. Serve with butter, jam, and clotted cream, if you have it.

Notes

One of the secrets to flaky scones with a high rise is to make sure your cream and egg are cold. Also try not to handle the dough overly much as this will toughen the dough.

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Orange and Currant Cream Scones
 





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7 comments

  1. They look amazing!! Actually everything you make looks terrific.
    Have a nice weekend. Bun

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, Marie, I am so sorry to hear about Pumpkin. Kudos to Cindy for all her love and care. It's obvious how much Pumpkin was loved. I'd like to think she is back with your Mom now. I'm definitely going to make these scones as soon as I buy some cream. I love how high they have risen. Your presentation is very appealing. Cute use of those little Bonne Maman jam jars. I have a few of those, too. Love and hugs, Elaine (in Toronto)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Elaine. I like to think of her being back with mom. It is a comfort. I hope you make the scones! They are fabulous! Love and hugs, xoxo

      Delete
  3. These are delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
    I really like scones freshly baked so I prep them and store them in the fridge ready to bake. Then I bake them in my toaster oven while I make my coffee--delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. I am so pleased you enjoyed them! Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and share your experience with us! xo

      Delete
  4. I love these but I use dried cranberrys in place of the currants. So good with a cup of tea!

    ReplyDelete

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