Cranberry Scones

So sure enough, as soon as "recipe writer's block" sets in...Mom comes through! My mom is a wonderful cook and has shared several of her recipes with me. The bonus to all this, my mom also possesses the gift of baking in which I slack a bit in that department :)  Thanks mom for having that special knack of  knowing just when I need you....ALWAYS!

 3 cups flour

 1/3 cup sugar

 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

 1 teaspoon salt

 ½ teaspoon baking soda

 1 tablespoon grated orange peel

1 ½ sticks chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½ inch pieces

 1 cup chilled buttermilk

 ¾ cup craisins

 ¼ cup or less of sugar crystals


Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Line baking sheet with parchment paper

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda into a large bowl

Mix in orange peel

Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal

Mix in craisins

Gradually add buttermilk, tossing with fork until moist clumps form


Turn dough onto lightly floured surface

Knead briefly to bind dough, about 4 turns

Form dough into 1 inch thick round

Cut into 8 wedges

Transfer wedges to baking sheet

Sprinkle sugar on scones

Bake until tops of scones are lightly brown, about 18-24 minutes

Let the scones cool on a rack


Tips…
 I use the large clear sugar crystals you find in the baking isle

 I mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl and then sift them

 The scones freeze well, just wrap in saran wrap, and place in a zip lock bag

 This recipe makes 8 large scones, they are very simple to make and look like you bought them in a fancy bakery

 Keep an eye on them in the oven as oven temperatures vary, mine are usully done in 18 minutes.

(recipe from my mom)