Best Ever Scones

Name: Best Ever Scones
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8 scones
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/3 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes; 1 cup whipping cream, divided

Submitted by ratherbeswimmin

"According to Southern Living"

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Ready In:: 1hr
Ingredients:: 6
Yields:: 8 scones

ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
¹⁄₃ cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt
¹⁄₂ cup cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup whipping cream, divided

directions

Preheat oven to 450°; stir together the first 4 ingredients in a big bowl.
Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until crumbly and mixture resembles small peas.
Freeze 5 minutes.
Add 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cream, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.
Turn dough out onto wax paper; gently press dough or pat dough into a 7-inch round (mixture will be crumbly).
Cut round into 8 wedges.
Place wedges 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.
Brush tops of wedges with remaining 2 tablespoons cream just until moistened.
Bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden.
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*Apricot-Ginger Scones-stir in 1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots and 2 T finely chopped crystallized ginger with cream.
*Cranberry-Pistachio Scones-stir in 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries and 1/4 cup coarsely chopped roasted salted pistachios with cream.
*Brown Sugar-Pecan Scones-substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar; stir in 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans with cream.
*Bacon, Cheddar, and Chive Scones-omit sugar; stir in 3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup finely chopped cooked bacon, 2 T chopped fresh chives, and 1/2 t freshly ground pepper with cream.
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*Pimento Cheese Scones-omit sugar; stir in 3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese and 3 T finely chopped pimento with cream.
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