Quick Recipe - Scones

Everything is cuter when it's small

The first time I had scones, it was in New York.  I visited Pret-a-Manger and got the cranberry orange scone because it looked good.  And boy it did taste good.  I am not much of a scone person but I was set out to find the best scone after that first bite.  

Alas, I found one!  It's from Bread Lounge in Downtown Los Angeles.  Their cranberry orange scone is so superior so that of Pret's.  It's large, soft, tasty and sweet.  I don't live in LA so it would be hard to go there to get some of those delicious scones.  Today, I decided to make some to see if I can get a close or exact replica of those scones.  I would have to say it's pretty close but not yet there.  I will keep on experimenting.

Recipe makes 16 mini scones or 8 large scones:
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 t baking powder
- 1/4 t baking soda
- 1/2 t salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 8 T butter *frozen
- 1 t orange zest
- 1/2 cup cranberries
- Sprinkling sugar *optional

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Combine dry ingredients.  Cut in butter using pastry cutter or two forks.  Can grate in frozen butter
3. Combine egg and sour cream
4. Mix wet ingredients into dry
5. Mix and add orange zest and cranberries and combine well until dough ball forms
5. Turn out to lightly floured surface and pat into circle
6. Cut into desired shape and place on a parchment lined baking sheet
7. Sprinkle sugar crystals and bake for 22 min or until tops are golden brown

Other ideas include cherry almond, blueberry lemon, raisin cinnamon, etc.