Scones

# Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup heavy cream plus additional for brushing the scones
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar plus additional for sprinkling the scones
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
• 3/8 cup nuts (pecans, walnuts etc), chopped (optional)
• 1/4 cup dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, currants), chopped (optional)

# Recipe:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. In a small bowl whisk together 1/4 cup of the cream, the egg yolk, and the vanilla.
3. Mix the flour, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, the salt, the baking powder, the baking soda, and the cinnamon, add the butter until it resembles a coarse meal. Don’t overmix.
4. Stir in the nuts and dried fruit
5. Add the cream mixture with a fork until the mixture forms a sticky but manageable dough.
6. Knead the dough gently on a lightly floured surface for 30 seconds, pat it into a 3/4-inch-thick round, and cut it into 6 wedges.
7. Transfer the wedges to a lightly greased baking sheet (or parchment paper), brush them with the additional cream, and sprinkle them with the additional sugar.
8. Bake the scones at 400°F for 15 to 18 minutes, or until they are golden.