English Scones

Ingredients:

1/4 cup whole milk
2 large eggs, chilled
3 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
1 tablespoon baking powder, plus 1 teaspoon
2 tablespoon superfine sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
a few gratings of fresh nutmeg
10 tablespoon unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large egg, well beaten with a hand blender, for glazing

Directions

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper.

To make the dough by hand:

Whisk the milk and 2 eggs together in a small bowl; set aside. Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and nutmeg into a medium bowl. Add the butter and mix quickly to coat the butter with the flour mixture. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour, scraping the butter off as needed, until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs with some pea-size pieces of butter. Using a wooden spoon, still in the milk mixture and mix until the dough clumps together.

To use a mixer: Whisk the milk and 2 eggs together in a small bowl; set aside. Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer. Add the butter. Attach the bowl to the mixer and fit with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until the mixture looks mealy with some pea-size bits of butter. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add the milk mixture, mixing until the dough barely comes together.

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface and sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of flour on top. Knead the dough a few times just until it doesn't stick to the work surface Do not overwork the dough. The surface will be floured, but the inside of the dough should remain on the wet side. Gently roll out the dough into a ¾-inch thick round.

Using a 2 ½ inch fluted biscuit cutter, dipping it into flour between cuts, cut out the scones (cut straight down and and do not twist the cutter) and place 1½ inches apart on the prepared half-sheet pan. To get the most biscuits out of the dough, cut out the scones close together in concentric circles. Gather up the dough scraps, knead very lightly, and repeat to cut out more scones.

Brush the tops of the scones lightly with the beaten egg, being sure not to let the egg drip down the sides (which would inhibit a good rise.)

Place the scones in the oven and immediately reduce the heat to 400 degrees. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool on the pan for a few minutes, then serve warm or cool completely.