Scones have long been a favourite British dessert and while they may be the star of the show at a fancy afternoon tea, you don’t have to venture to a posh restaurant to enjoy them.
Scones are actually really easy to make yourself, even if you don’t consider yourself an expert baker, and as they only require a few ingredients, there’s not too much that can go wrong. When making a scone it’s important to avoid overworking the dough as this can result in a very dense and dry end result which is less than satisfying to eat. If the dough isn’t handled too much then the texture should stay airy and light, but baking experts say there is one ingredient you can add to help create that delicious fluffiness.
According to experts, the secret to a light and fluffy scone is adding sparkling water into the mixture.
The carbonation in sparkling water forms bubbles which then become trapped in the dough as it’s mixed together. These bubbles create tiny air pockets which then expand during baking, helping to give scones a wonderful rise and a much lighter, fluffier texture.
Similar results can also be achieved using lemonade, but as sparkling water has a pretty neutral taste, it doesn’t interfere too much with the overall flavour of the scones, whereas lemonade will add a slight sweetness. Baking experts say you simply need to substitute the liquid in your scone recipe for the same amount of sparkling water instead.
According to Cupcake Savvy Kitchen, three ingredients is all you need to create the perfect light and fluffy scone. This includes 450g of self-raising flour, 150ml of heavy cream and 150ml of sparkling water.
Gently combine the three ingredients in a bowl using a spatula until the dough comes together and is slightly sticky, then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and use a 6cm cutter to cut out your scones.
Place them on a lined baking tray and bake at 200C for around 20 minutes until they are lightly golden on top. Allow to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before serving with jam and cream.
Cupcake Savvy Kitchen explains: “These three ingredient scones work because the self-rising flour contains the ideal amount of leavening for a light rise. The fat in the heavy cream replaces the butter found in traditional scone recipes, adding richness and moisture. The carbonation from the sparkling water helps give the scones a fluffy texture without needing extra leavening agents.
“Self-rising flour contains a mix of flour, baking powder, and salt, which eliminates the need for additional leavening agents. This ensures the scones rise properly while keeping the recipe simple.
“Heavy cream provides the fat and richness traditionally supplied by butter. Its high fat content also adds moisture, resulting in a soft, tender crumb in the finished scones.
“Plain sparkling water adds carbonation, which helps create air pockets in the dough. This contributes to a light, fluffy texture without needing extra yeast or baking soda for these three ingredient scones.”