Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Lemon Blueberry Scones

August 2010 218

To all of you who have ever shelled out nearly four bucks for a scone at Starbucks or any other shop, take heed. It doesn’t take long to make your own and they’ll taste infinitely better. The kicker is it will cost less than four bucks to make eight scrumptious blueberry scones.

I followed a recipe from Baking Bites who suggests using frozen blueberries because it’s easier to work the dough. That may be true, but I had fresh ones on hand so I used those instead. If you handle the dough gently, the blueberries won’t break up into the dough, but even if a few do, so what? The scones will still taste great. I also eliminated Baking Bites’ lemon glaze, which does sound wonderful, but I had some of that large grain sugar that I wanted to use instead. You can’t go wrong either way.

I made these a few weeks ago and froze them ahead of a recent weekend visit from my niece and her family (but I confess I did devour a scone steaming hot from the oven – you know, quality control and all that stuff) and they reheated in the oven perfectly. Who needs Starbucks?

After you mix the dough, shape it into two large rounds and cut in four parts, almost down to the pan but not totally. Sprinkle with sugar:

August 2010 208 Bake until golden brown. At this point, your kitchen will smell intoxicating.

August 2010 209 Give in. You know you want some. August 2010 215

From Baking Bites

Lemon Blueberry Scones

Printable Recipe Here

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp butter, chilled
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp lemon zest
1 cup frozen blueberries

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut butter into 6-8 chunks and add to flour mixture, tossing to coat. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until mixture is sandy and butter is well distributed, with no pieces larger than a big pea.
Add in milk, lemon juice and lemon zest and stir until dough comes together. If dough is too wet, add an additional tablespoon of flour to the dough.
Either keeping the dough in your mixing bowl, or turning it out onto a lightly floured surface, knead dough for about 1 minute. Flatten dough and add blueberries. Knead gently for 30-60 seconds to distribute them. Divide dough into two balls and press each into a disc about 3/4-inch thick. Use a knife to divide each disc into quarters and place scones on prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 17-22 minutes, until scones are golden brown.

Lemon Glaze (optional)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Whisk glaze ingredients together until smooth, then drizzle over still-warm scones before serving.

25 comments:

  1. Those look wonderful. We've got scads of local blueberries right now!

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  2. Those look too scrumptious for words! Could do with one right now... I'm in the 4pm slump...
    Robynx

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  3. I love lemon blueberry scones! These look great!

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  4. These look amazing-I'm on my way out to get some blueberries!

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  5. I would give in right now if that was in front of me, I'm drinking coffee with nothing, and now craving one of your warm crumbly scones!

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  6. They look so delicious and boy would I sure like one with my cup of coffee right now :o) Definitely need to bookmark this one!

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  7. I'm giving in. I am so susceptible. I'll take your homemade verus a bakery scone anyday. And after I make it with blueberries... I'll make it with blackberries... and then raspberries...thinking of all that quality control.

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  8. Homemade all the way! I love the lemon/blueberry combo. Always delicious.

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  9. I adore scones! I think I almostdoubled my weight by having tea an d scones everyday when I visited Ireland a few years ago. It was worth every calorie! The blueberries in yours make them healthy ;)

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  10. Your scones look just delicious. I love the lemon-blueberry combination of flavors. I like the sugar on top - nice touch!

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  11. ooo what a great combination!! I like doing a cranberry/orange scone but I will definitely be trying this recipe!

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  12. These look delicious!

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  13. Scrumptious and the color is so tempting!

    Sawadee from bangkok,
    Kris

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  14. Yum...blueberry scones are a favorite here! I like that ddition of the lemon juice. This is very similar to the recipe I usually use, I will have to try this one really soon!

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  15. Yum!! I have yet to perfect blueberry scones and yours look fantastic!! Love the trick of only slight slicing them and then baking them!
    Would you mind checking out my blog? :D http://ajscookingsecrets.blogspot.com/

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  16. These are so perfect. I'll be by for tea :-). This must be delicious. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  17. I agree. Making scones is so easy and there are so many possibilities. Don't you love that large granular sugar? I love the crunch it gives. Good call on using that instead of a glaze. These are weekend treats with coffee, while reading the morning paper. Lovely!

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  18. A great idea for my frozen blueberries! Your scones look amazing, but you are wonderful!!
    cheers
    ale

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  19. Oh they look so yummy. And I like the idea of using the sugar topping vs the lemon glaze. Although I'm sure they are equally good both ways

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  20. I love this flavor combo.

    These look divine.

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  21. I'm seduced and totally give in to these. I do have some blueberries in the freezer and will try this awesome recipe - and I can say I have never spent $4 on a scone at Starbucks :)

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  22. It is so hard to find a good scone! It's like cardboard and bricks. But YOURS look fabulously scrumptious with all that blueberry! And I love the crunchy sugar on top.

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  23. The recipe sounds great! Get yourself some parchment paper for that pan.

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  24. Just poured my first cup of coffee and I would love one of these beautiful scones to go along with it. I bought blueberries yesterday so I'm all set to try these. Beautiful photos, Linda.

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