Fresh scones are perennial favourites as they are easy to make and take only a few basic ingredients. Create your own touches from this basic recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 50 grams butter
• ¾-1 cup milk

Method

1. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl.
2. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Make a well in the centre.
3. Pour in the milk and mix quickly with a knife until the mixture forms a soft dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and knead lightly.
4. Roll out or press out to 2cm thickness. (Do not press too hard).
5. Cut into 5cm rounds or squares and place on a greased baking tray. Brush with milk to glaze.
6. Bake at 230ºC for 10 minutes until cooked.
7. Transfer to a clean tea towel covered cake rack. Cover the top of the scones with the tea towel and serve hot or warm.

Cooks Tips

- If there's only self-raising flour in the house, use that making sure the baking powder is omitted. - For a richer scone add 1 egg with about ¼ cup milk for the dough. Variations: - Date and orange scones - add 2 tablespoons sugar to the flour. Once the butter is rubbed in, stir through ½ cup chopped dried dates and the grated rind of 1 orange. Use the juice from the orange if wished, making up with milk to the measure required. - Cheese scones - add ½ cup grated cheese and 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley chives or thyme to the flour once the butter is rubbed in. Once cut and on the tray, brush with milk and sprinkle a little extra grated Cheddar-style cheese on top of each scone. - Spicy pinwheels - add 2 tablespoons sugar to the flour. Complete the recipe. Roll the dough out to a 20cm x 30cm rectangle. Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle over 2-3 tablespoons brown sugar and 1-2 teaspoons mixed spice. Roll up from the long side and cut into 12 even rounds. - Vary flour, and grains too, for texture and taste. Substitute ¼ cup oat bran for ¼ cup flour. For wholemeal scones substitute 1 cup wholemeal flour for 1 cup flour.