STRAWBERRY SCONE LOAF

Yield: 8 servings Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients

1 cup or 125g dried strawberries or pitted

dates (see tip)

2 cups boiling water

2 cups or 250g of all-purpose flour, plus

more for dusting the work surface 1⁄4 to 1⁄3 cup or 50g to 65g sugar, plus

more for sprinkling

1 tbsp baking powder

3⁄4 tsp fine sea salt

1⁄4 tsp baking soda

1⁄2 cup or 115g very cold unsalted butter 1⁄3 cup buttermilk, plus more for brushing 1 large egg, beaten

Butter and clotted cream, for serving

Preparation

1. Heat the oven to 190C with a rack in the upper third. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place strawberries in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let sit until soft and pliable, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain, pat dry and coarsely chop.

3. Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Using the large holes of a box grater, grate the butter into the bowl, then toss until the mixture resembles oatmeal. Alternatively, pulse all the dry ingredients together in a food processor. Cube the butter, add to the processor and pulse until the mixture looks like oatmeal. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.

4. Add strawberries and toss well.

5. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon, stir until all the dry flour bits are incorporated, but the dough is still shaggy. Using your hands, knead and press the dough a few times while it’s still in the bowl until the dough just holds together.

6. Dump the dough out onto the prepared sheet pan. Pat the dough into a round loaf about 8 inches in diameter. Using a sharp knife, deeply score the loaf into 8 wedges (but don’t cut all the way through). Brush the loaf all over with buttermilk and sprinkle generously with sugar.

7. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool slightly. Cut or break into wedges and serve warm with butter and clotted cream.

If you can’t find dried strawberries, pitted dates will give you a similar texture and level of sweetness. But you can also substitute other dried fruit.