Scones & Soda Bread

Makes 9-12 scones (full pack)

The Gusto Pastry & Pasta Mix also makes a light & tender scone or biscuit.

It also makes a quick soda bread & of course cheese & herb scones!

Notes on making the best scones:

• Block or solid plant-based butter is needed for dairy-free, & freeze for 5-10 minutes before mixing. A food processor takes the work out of it or rub with fingers.

• The key is creating buttermilk with the addition of vinegar, no matter the milk choice. Do not skip this ingredient. (Soy & Oat milk work great.)

• There’s no folding or lamination here, just handle as little as possible. The mix is wet but creates a tender crumb when baked.

One full pack makes 9-12 scones

Recipe for 2 cups flour, makes 6-8 scones

Ingredients: Sweet scones/biscuits

280 g or 2 cups Gusto Pastry Mix flour 

1 Tbsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp baking soda* (optional but gives a nice rise & taste)

1/3 cup sugar 

1/2 cup (114 g) cold salted butter, finely cubed

2/3 cup milk plus 2 tbsp

1 Tbsp vinegar, white or apple cider vinegar 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F

2. Make the buttermilk by adding vinegar to the milk and allow to sit for a few minutes.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda if using, & sugar.

4. Add the butter & rub the small cubes into the flour mix until crumbly & sandy. (You can also use a food processor to carefully blend the butter only, but finish adding liquid by hand.) 

5. Using a fork add all the buttermilk at once to the flour. Stir to combine. 

6. Turn the dough onto a sheet of lightly floured parchment. Pat with floured hands into a 8 or 9” disk.

7. You can bake at once or refrigerate overnight or freeze for 1 month to be baked from frozen. NOTE chilling or freezing for 15 minutes make for a cleaner cut.

8. Slice chilled scone round in 8. Brush with milk & top with sugar. 

9. Bake in the center of the oven for 15-18 minutes until golden brown. 

Soda Bread:

2/3 cups milk plus 1 Tbsp

1 Tbsp vinegar

2 cups flour (280 g) Gusto Pastry & Scone Flour

1/2 tsp Baking soda

3 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup SOFT butter plus some melted butter for brushing the top, or milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F

Mix the milk & vinegar, set aside. Stir or blend the flour with the soda, sugar, salt & baking powder.

Rub the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, fingertips or a few quick pulses in a food processor with an S-blade.

Place the flour & butter mixture in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center, add buttermilk & stir until combined & no flour patches remain. Shape into a ball on a very lightly floured surface. Dough can be refrigerated at this point until ready to bake.

Make an X in the center with a sharp knife. Brush the top with milk or melted butter.

place a on lined baking sheet & bake in center of oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Allow to cool a little on a wire rack before slicing, at least 10 minutes.

Enjoy with butter, jams, honey or slices of cheese, cold cuts etc.

Notes:

• Cutting the butter smaller ahead of time will make the blending technique easier.

• Blend the butter with hands, 2 knives, a pastry cutter or a food processor with a blade. 

• I recommend cutting the plant based butter and freezing for 10 minutes processing into the flour.