BLACKBERRY & THYME/ LEMON CURD & FENNEL SCONES
SERVES 12-15 small scones These little scones are delicious! I’ve added a savoury twist by adding thyme and fennel, both of which go beautifully with blackberry jam and lemon curd respectively.
2½ cups plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar (optional, if you want slightly sweet scones)
55g cold butter
250ml milk
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 egg, lightly beaten with
a dash of milk
Blackberry jam, lemon curd
and whipped cream, to serve
1 Preheat oven to 210°C.
Flour or line a baking tray.
2 Sift the dry ingredients into a big bowl, then grate in the butter.
3 Mix briefly with your hands, then add the milk. Mix using a butter knife until you have a soft, sticky dough.
4 Turn onto a well-floured board, halve and knead each half very lightly, adding thyme to one portion and fennel to the other, until the dough comes together. Roll or press out each half to 2cm thick.
5 Use a small cookie cutter or thin-rimmed glass to cut into rounds. Place on a baking tray and brush with the egg and milk wash.
6 Bake near the top of the hot oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown and well risen. Cool on a wire rack before topping or filling with the blackberry jam or lemon curd and whipped cream.