Do you love Scones? Those rich triangular bread perfections baked on a griddle or a sheet in the oven?Quick breads are easily one of my best favorite recipes to bake. They’re simple to bake and are perfect for serving in brunch, snacks, birthdays, rainy days, and coffee feels appropriate to be at the moment.
However, depending on the preparation and technique used, scones can be dry and rough, with a flavor similar to cardboard in texture. They can also be over-spread and have a bland taste.
You might already have followed a lot of recipes but still can’t achieve a perfect scone. At this point, you might be frustrated and wondering how you can store or refrigerate scone dough to keep its good texture for baking. Read further to know the cuts in baking the perfect scone for your ‘cream’ tea.
But first, What are Scones?
The term “scone” can mean many things depending on where you are. Scones in the United Kingdom are more comparable to biscuits in the United States, and they are frequently served with butter, jam, or clotted milk. American scones are different from those in other parts of the world, but that isn’t necessarily a terrible thing! Today’s scones are sweeter and denser, and they are rarely topped with butter since there is sizably more butter in them, to begin with. Leaving aside the sweetness, there’s still room for a drizzle of creamy icing or a dusting of confectioners’ sugar on top. Because the baking powder is used to leaven scones, they can be made in a short amount of time.
To know if you have achieved a perfect scone, it must be
- Crumbly on the edges
- Soft and moist inside
- Buttery and flaky,
- Not rough on the surface
If you want to start baking these delights right away, check out this simple Scone recipe.
Can you refrigerate scone dough overnight?
You can cut the scone dough into slices and place them in the refrigerator overnight before baking them, and it would retain its shape. It leads me to the conclusion that you can ACTUALLY refrigerate scone dough overnight. I used to strongly oppose the concept of freezing scone dough. Because the baking powder is initially activated once it is saturated, if you wait too long before baking the scones, they will not rise as much in the oven. It should have been observed that the decrease in rising is so modest that it does not make a significant difference.
Other people believe that refrigerating scone dough overnight has a number of advantages. They argue that symmetrical and visually appealing pastries result from this technique. Dough that has been rested for at least an hour is much easier to form neatly than dough that has not been resting; it also bakes up substantially taller, smoother, and with crispier edges than dough that has not been rested. The reason behind this is easy to understand. Like other doughs (such as pizza dough), allowing the gluten in scone dough to relax completely ensures that it does not snap back when shaped and baked.
So, will we always have to put our scone dough to rest from now on? No, this is not always the case! But at least we could be confident that our scones will only get more delicious when we do.
You might be asking, though, “can you freeze scone dough?” and “what would happen if I have unintentionally frozen my dough?” As a result of their low moisture content, freezing is a surprisingly excellent choice for scone storage. The dough is more comparable to cookie dough than, for example, muffin batter, and it freezes without undergoing any unusual modifications. Scones freeze best if they are frozen in separate sections — triangles, biscuit shapes, or whatever shape suits your fancy at the time.
How do you store scones in the fridge?
Plan on when you will consume your scones. The time of year in which you intend to eat the scones determines where you should store them. The counter has the shortest holding time, with scones remaining fresh for approximately two days. The refrigerator keeps scones fresh for approximately one week, and the freezer keeps scones fresh for about two months.
Wrap the scones in plastic wrap. Whether you opt to keep the scones at room temperature on the counter or in the refrigerator, make sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to keep them from drying out while in storage.
The use of zip-top plastic bags to keep scones from drying out is also recommended. Scones that are going to be frozen must first be wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before being placed in a freezer bag to avoid freezer burn from occurring.
Place the scones in an airtight container. I’d suggest you put the scones in a fridge that has some good room in it so that other stuff you’d put inside won’t tamper with the freshness and tastiness of your delightful scones. If you’re looking to score a well-spaced fridge, check out this Best 32 Inch Wide Refrigerator.
How do I get my scones to rise and be fluffy?
Again, making scones are pretty simple. But, getting in the action of making a perfect one is a bit hard. Consider the following tips if you’re not yet getting the ideal scone dough rise and fluffiness.
Following the recipe
This is arguably the most straightforward step, but it is surprising how many prospective bakers fail to read and follow directions to the recipe, including me. When attempting to attain a perfect result, it is essential to study the recipe thoroughly. Correctly measure out all of your ingredients, read the baking times, and use the appropriate equipment. Make sure you don’t just throw everything in a bowl and expect the recipe to turn out well.
Check you are using a raising agent
This is likewise a no-brainer, but it is one that is frequently overlooked. Are you simply substituting all-purpose flour for the self-raising flour? Do you forget to include baking powder in your recipe? If these very small stages are overlooked, the result will be flat scones.
Use fresh ingredients
When making scones, it is essential to use fresh ingredients. Some powders, such as baking powder, baking soda, and yeast that you might think will stay forever, actually lose their potency over time due to oxidation. Before you begin, double-check that these are up to date.
Pre-heat the oven properly
Placing a dough in a cool oven and allowing it to heat up gently has been shown to impact the rising agent. Before you slide the scones into the oven, check to see that the temperature of the oven is the correct one for baking them. Additionally, using an oven that is either too hot or too cold will have a significant impact on the baking of your scones.
Stop over-checking the oven
Frequently peeking inside the oven door to check on your scones might be quite tempting; however, with every opening, heat that has been retained inside is lost, resulting in an increase in baking time. Try to leave your scones alone until the very end of the baking process, and then inspect them quickly before removing them from the oven. A rapid decrease of heat from the oven while the scones are still in the oven can also cause them to crumble and fall apart.
Don’t spread the scones too far
Since numerous bakers began producing cakes and biscuits, it has become ingrained in our minds that goods such as cookies must be spread wide apart on a baking sheet to avoid them from colliding with one another. When it comes to scones, though, the situation is quite different. It may be beneficial to arrange your scones closer together on the tray since this may encourage them to rise upwards rather than outwards.
Rub the butter and flour
Keeping a close eye on the recipe is essential here once again. The fact that you are not overworking the dough allows the lumps of butter to melt and create steam, which aids in the rising of the scones. Rub the butter and flour mixture until they are well homogenized.
What is the secret to making good scones?
If you are asking, “Is there is a hack or a shortcut for making good scones?” There is simply none. Making a good scone takes a lot of learning and strict following of the recipe. Also, the following tips could really get handy:
1. Use cold butter—or even frozen butter—for a higher rise in your cakes. The cooler, the better, and this applies to more than simply the contents themselves. It’s also helpful to have a refrigerated mixing bowl and dough cutter on hand.
2. Don’t overdo the mixing; only mix until the dough just begins to hold itself together. And while using a food processor can help to keep the temperature down, it is possible to over-mix, so Youngman recommends using a pastry instead. Lumps are just what you’re looking for!
3. For the lightest scones, use pastry flour instead of regular flour. If you have to, just mix all-purpose flour with pastry flour, but do not remove the pastry flour.
4. Put the scone dough in the fridge before baking. The final chill allows the gluten to relax, resulting in a more sensitive texture. It also helps to bring the butter back down to room temperature, which is what gives it its flaky texture.
6. If you include fruit, avoid using overly juicy fruits and be sure to thoroughly rinse and dry the fruit. Unless you’re using each frozen fruit, you won’t have to thaw it if it’s been individually frozen before use. To thaw, rinse, and drain the fruit as thoroughly as possible if it is frozen in a single large chunk
7. “A scone is not the same thing as a cupcake,” as King Arthur once said. Don’t overbake them, and keep in mind that they’re meant to be served with clotted cream, butter, and jam!
Related FAQs
Read further below to know more questions about scone-making other people are asking that you might find helpful too.
What kind of flour do I need?
Use self-raising flour in your scones; it will improve the shape and form of your scones while also providing a light, fluffy texture that no one will be able to resist eating.
How do I cut my scones?
When your scones are baked and ready to be served, use just your fingers to break them apart into bite-sized pieces. This will ensure that the texture of your scones remains light, fluffy, and authentically crumbly and that you don’t sacrifice flavor in the process.
How can I keep my dough cutter from sticking to the dough when cutting?
Prepare your work area or table by lightly dusting a small amount of plain flour on it and gently rubbing or running the cutter over the flour. Any of your mixes will no longer adhere to the metal surface of the cutter, preventing future difficulties from occurring.
When baking scones, how can I prevent them from drying out?
Simply arrange them on a baking sheet so that they are close to one another; this will allow them to rise quicker and retain moisture more easily.
What is the best way to ensure that my scones rise evenly?
Ensure that when you are cutting your scones during the preparation step, they rise uniformly and that they are not uneven when you bake them. This may be remedied by taking your cutter and dipping it in a small amount of flour, as previously suggested, and pressing down on the dough and just pushing it out. Whatever you do, don’t try to twist the cutter!
Should I use an egg wash or a milk wash?
When making scones, egg wash can be used to give them a dazzling sheen, but we recommend using a milk wash, which will give pale scones a brown tint.
Final Verdict
Scones are one of those seemingly easy recipes that some people find to be dry or tasteless, and this is often the case. However, the truth is that when scones are baked perfectly, they are extremely soft, light, and almost melt in your mouth! If you are trying to make one, don’t be afraid of doing bad. Just following the steps will yield you a tasty, delightful tea time!
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