A food blogger has revealed the secret ingredient she uses in her homemade scones recipe that guarantees perfectly risen, fluffy results every time. Thanh Berthou of Eat Little Bird shared her quick and simple recipe that takes just 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to bake.
The Secret Ingredient
Thanh relies on one key secret ingredient to elevate her scones: lard. She explained that while you start by rubbing cold butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks crumbly and resembles damp sand, adding lard or vegetable shortening helps make the scones extra tall, fluffy, and soft. Although it might seem unusual, the high fat content in lard prevents gluten from developing when combined with flour, producing a softer and flakier texture. During baking, the fat generates air pockets that not only help the scones rise but also contribute to a lighter, fluffier end result. What is more, lard helps to seal in moisture, potentially extending the scones' shelf life and allowing you to enjoy them for longer.
Ingredients
- 500g of plain flour
- 50g of unsalted butter (cold and cut into cubes)
- 25g (two tablespoons) of caster sugar
- 25g of lard or vegetable shortening
- Two heaped tablespoons of baking powder
- One teaspoon of salt
- 200ml to 300ml of full cream milk
- Egg wash (one egg and one tablespoon of milk)
Method
Begin by preheating your oven to 220°C. Place a baking sheet in the centre of the oven to warm while you prepare the scone mixture. To make the mixture, tip the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder into a bowl. You can either use a stand mixer to bring everything together or simply combine it with a spoon. Next, add the butter and lard (or vegetable shortening) and blend using a flat paddle attachment. If you don't have a stand mixer, you can instead rub the ingredients into the flour using your fingertips. Once the mixture begins to resemble damp sand, slowly start adding the milk. The goal is to incorporate enough milk for the mixture to come together and form a dough. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a circle approximately 3cm thick. Try not to overwork the dough, as this could impact the texture of your scones. Using a round cookie cutter or small glass, press out your scone shapes. Arrange the scones on a preheated baking tray and brush the tops with an egg wash. Pop them in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until they've turned a lovely golden brown.
