The boys have been begging me to make a sweet treat and I relented this week with Jamie’s fruit scones. I had already seen them made with great success, notably by Rachael (La Fuji Mama)’s daughter who is so much younger than the boys in my cooking club and they have been on my list for a while. After last week’s “blood gushing” incident, Liam was especially pleased that this week’s recipe did not involve any cutting for him! In fact the recipe took no time at all – the boys had made the scones, cleared the lab, had a snack (you know, the leftover raisins and apricots!), and eaten one scone in about 50 minutes. Gotta love that!
It has to be said that the boys were a little heavy handed with the blending of the butter and flour – it was definitely over worked (but a good lesson for everyone!) and we talked about how the scones would have been lighter and fluffier had they been able to stop playing with the flour mixture.
There was no lack of enjoyment, that’s for sure!
Jamie Oliver’s Fruit Scones
Adapted from Fruit Scones, p. 331, Jamie’s Food Revolution (thanks to Rachael/La Fuji Mama for letting me cut and paste this recipe!)
Makes 10 scones
Jamie says: This is a cracking recipe for scones which uses dried cherries as well as the more traditional raisins. However feel free to substitute any other dried fruit you like. Scones freeze really well so you can make a batch of them, pop some into the freezer, and that way, if you have any unexpected visitors, you can always put them straight into the oven from frozen as a quick and delicious treat! Spread with jam and serve with clotted cream – nothing else will do!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried apricots, cut into small pieces
orange juice, for soaking (we used cranberry)
4 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 large eggs
1/3 cup milk, plus a little extra for brushing
pinch of salt
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Put the dried cranberries and apricots in a little bowl and pour orange juice over them until they are just covered.
2. While the fruit is soaking, cut the butter into the flour and the baking powder (this can be done by pulsing three ingredients in a food processor, or by hand in a bowl with a pastry blender), until the mixture starts to look like breadcrumbs (don’t over mix!). Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and milk together with a fork. Drain the soaking fruit and add it to the egg mixture along with a pinch of salt. Then pour this mixture into the well in the flour mixture, and stir until you have a soft, dry dough. Add a bit more milk of necessary if the dough is too dry and doesn’t come together.
3. Divide the dough into 10 equal pieces, shape the pieces into slightly flattened balls, and the place them on a non-stick cookie sheet. Brush the top of each scone with a bit of milk. Bake the scones in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until they have risen and are a light golden brown. Take them out of the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool. To serve: slice them in half and top them with jam and whipped cream/clotted cream/ butter and jam.
I would totally make these again (a little less heavy handed with the butter and flour, of course!) because I just never realised they were so easy. I also love that the only sweetness comes from the fruit and whatever topping you choose – a perfect sweet treat without being terribly bad for you. The boys were very proud of their efforts and each week, I become more proud of them too!
this looks sensational – just love sweet treats made by kids LOL!
They did too!!
Those look delicious and easy! Maybe I’ll have to try them out with my boys as well.
Oh your boys would love them!!
I just love what you are doing. Wish I could do the same here…
There is nothing more important than teaching our young how to cook delicious, nutritious and economical food from the simplest and REAL ingredients. YUM.
Valerie
Yes it’s amazing how some things are so simple. The boys are learning that which is a valuable lesson, I think!
Wow, those DO sound easy and tasty as well. Glad Liam emerged unscathed…
I imagine Mooch would love these too!
Yum! I lov e scones, but I never really think to make (or buy!) them. These looks especially good with the jam! The boys are turnign into quite the little chefs!
I also rarely make them but after this experience, that might change!
Sounds like the boys enjoyed making these as much as eating them!
Oh yes, perhaps a little too much fun!!
Mardi, this is a gorgeous way to get kid’s involved. I really like your les petits chefs series. And how good does the jam look when it’s oozing!
Yes the boys were deliberately squishing the scones together so that the jam would all squish out! And thanks for your kind words!
a perfect kid-friendly recipe! even super picky sophia would eat these if she got to help make them. thanks for sharing all of these great recipes!
Oh it’s all about the helping, right?
oh these look great albeit messy with the jam but its the taste that matterz :O)
Oh it was ALL about the messy jammy fingers, let me tell you!
Thinking of my foodie nephew here, I bet they would have loved making it AND eating it!
Oh anything involving dough and baking is right up their alley!
Scrumptious scones! Sound so good with raisins and dried apricots!
Yeah, the boys did a great job!
I love scones of all sorts, so I’m sure this recipe would be a big hit with me. Your little chefs did a fantastic job, too!
Yes, they were not bad for a first attempt!
I have planned to make this very recipe this week, with dried cherries. I can hardly wait! They look delicious, and every recipe we’ve made from our Food Revolution cookbook has been really yummy. I’m glad your little chefs had fun! This week my big chef (Jake is going through a growth spurt again, Lord help us) made the cracking burgers and smoothies. They were GOOD.
We’re making the cracking burgers this week too!
LOVE scones for weekend breakfast- your version looks delicious!
Cheers – they weren’t the lightest ones ever but the fun the boys had making them was priceless!