"A scone is a crisp combination of butter, tenderness, and crunch," says baking expert and cookbook author Martin Philip, who developed this recipe for ginger scones. The scones were inspired by spiced tea, or chai, and feature a medley of aromatic spices. Martin recommends freshly grinding your own spices with a spice mill or mortar and pestle for optimum flavor.
Set your oven rack on a rung in the top third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet, or line it with parchment paper.
Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground dry spices.
Add the cold butter, tossing to coat with the dry ingredients. Then press the butter pieces between your thumbs and forefingers into small flat pieces, or "leaves."
Add the ginger and toss to combine.
In a small bowl whisk together the cream and brown sugar.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix gently until the mixture is just combined. The dough should be firm and barely cohesive (some dry bits are OK).
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, and fold a few times to incorporate any dry bits if necessary.
Pat the dough into a circle 1" thick and 7" across. You may chill the dough until set for easier cutting.
Cut the dough into eight wedges with a chef's knife, cutting directly down; don't saw. Arrange the scones evenly on the prepared pan.
Brush the scones with the egg wash and garnish with coarse sugar.
Bake the ginger scones for 18 to 22 minutes on the top rack, rotating after 14 minutes, until they're light gold and firm to the touch.
Remove the ginger scones from the oven, and serve warm or at room temperature. Store baked scones, well wrapped, at room temperature for 2 to 3 days; or freeze for up to 1 month.
Join King Arthur baker Martin Philip and his family as they bake Ginger Scones together, start to finish. Watch Martin Bakes at Home - Ginger Scones now.
This recipe was excerpted from Breaking Bread: A Baker’s Journey Home in 75 Recipes by Martin Philip, photography by Julia A. Reed, Copyright © 2017. It has been reprinted with permission of Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
