Well Behaved Scones

Are you jam first or cream first?

Tip: *when you cut your scone dough try not to twist the cutter

*if you put the cut out scones in the fridge, for about 10 mins, before putting them in the oven it can help them rise more evenly.

• 500 g light Italian or plain flour, plus extra for dusting

• 1 heaped tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 2 heaped tsp cream of tartar

• 1 tsp sea salt

• 125 g chilled unsalted butter, cubed

• 25 g caster sugar

• 1 egg, beaten

• 275 ml buttermilk or milk, plus extra for the egg wash

• 50 g caster or granulated sugar, (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/gas 7.

2. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, cream of tartar and salt into a large bowl. Using your fingertips, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and mix well.

3. Set aside about a third of the beaten egg and combine the rest with the buttermilk, then add to the flour mixture and mix briefly to combine into a moist dough. Place on a lightly floured work surface and knead ever so slightly to bring together, then press or roll out to a thickness of 2cm.

4. Using a 6cm round cutter, cut out approximately 12 scones and place on a floured baking tray.

5. Add about a teaspoon or so of buttermilk to the remainder of the beaten egg to make an egg wash. Brush the scones with the egg wash (and dip the tops in sugar if you wish) and bake in the oven for 1012 minutes or until golden brown on top. Serve while hot.

Put the kettle on and enjoy.