Ingredients

Ingredients

• 225g plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 75g salted butter
• 2 tbsp golden caster sugar
• 55g raisins or sultanas
•  1 egg, beaten
•  90ml buttermilk or milk

Directions

Method

• STEP 1

  Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Mix the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture looks like flaky breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and raisins or sultanas.

• STEP 2

  Bit by bit, stir in the egg, then buttermilk or milk until you have a firm dough – don’t overwork it, just bring it together.

• STEP 3

  Turn out onto a floured work surface. Pat the dough into a circle about 2cm thick and give it one or two passes with a rolling pin – don’t press or you’ll squash out the air.

• STEP 4

  Cut out scones using a 5-6cm cutter. Press straight downwards as quickly as you can and, for the best rise, don’t twist the cutter.

• STEP 5

  Put onto a non-stick baking sheet and brush the tops with buttermilk or milk. Bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and cooked. Serve with butter, jam, cream, or all three.