Ingredients
Method
- In a large bowl add the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk till mixed. Then add the cold butter. It's easiest if you chop it into small cubes. Work the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles large bread crumbs. If the butter gets soft while you're doing this stop and place the bowl in your freezer for a few minutes, then continue till crumbles are formed. There should still be specs of butter.
- Make a well in the center and add the buttermilk, vanilla and orange zest. Mix roughly with a fork until the wet ingredients have absorbed. The mixture should be crumbly. Please refer to the images above.
- Pour the mixture out onto your counter. Add the chopped pistachios and cranberries on top. This step is important. You need to make layers while you are bringing the dough together. Instead of kneading the dough, fold it onto of itself, like a book. Carefully repeat until the dough has come together. There should be specs of butter visible. Again, remember not to overwork or knead the dough. It should be a little rough and just come together, it shouldn't be like a pasty dough. Make sure it is not rolled too thin. It should be 1.5 inches high. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigderate for 30 minutes. Overnight works as well.
- Preheat your oven to 380 F. Take the dough out of the fridge and unwrap it. Press in some cranberries and pistachio pieces on top. Do not let it come to room temperature, it should go in the oven cold. Cut the disc into 8-10 triangles. You can also use a circle cookie cutter to make circle scones. Place the scones a couple inches apart on a lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with a beaten egg and place in the oven for 13-16 minutes, or until the tops are a light golden brown. Serve with clotted cream and jam. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
Variations. There are so many different things you can add. Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips. Dried fruits like blueberries, apricots. You can keep them plain as well. They taste great plain!
You can add lemon zest in place of orange zest.
Sweetness. Add 1/3 cup sugar for less sweetness. Add the full 1/2 cup for more! Some people like sprinkling a fine layer of sugar on top of the egg wash before they bake as well.
Substitutions. If you do not have buttermilk you can either make your own (see text above) or you can use heavy cream.
You can use brown sugar in these if you don't have white sugar. I have not tried baking these with a sugar substitute.
I use salted butter intros even though I add the salt to the mix. you can make these with unsalted butter as well.