20 Minute Scones

As much as having guests is great, not everyone has time to whip up a 5 course feast with an intricate multilayer pastry/cake/custard creation all the time and for everyone, this is where this simple recipe comes in handy. These scones are light, fluffy and devilishly quick to assemble, all you need is a tad of time and only one bowl. It's great for surprise guests if you don't have time to bake something up and don't want to run down to the store to pick up icky overpriced pastries. Not only does this make a not too sweet dessert but it also doubles as a breakfast or of course, as the traditional accompaniment to afternoon tea. Serve fresh and piping hot, right out of the oven with jam, butter, whipped cream, clotted cream (if you can get your hands on it/make it), fruit or any combination of the above.

Time: 20 minutes
Makes 6 scones

2 cups minus 2 tbsp. flour

1/3 tsp salt

1/4 c. cold butter

2 tbsp. sugar

3/4c. buttermilk or acidified non-dairy

2 tsp baking powder

1) preheat oven to 400

2) Combine dry ingredients and sugar, mix thoroughly

3) Cut butter into flour until it is shaped into pea size balls using a pastry knife or fork (do NOT over-mix)

4) Add buttermilk, mix until it hang in a rough mass, portion out into 6 balls on a baking sheet

5) Bake for 12 minutes

If you're pretty quick at prep you should be able to mix that all up in less than 8 minutes, pop it into the oven for 12 and then serve hot! If you wanna be really fancy feel free to dust the top of the scones with sugar or cover them in egg wash before baking!