Currant Scones from La Provence in Beverly Hills

Buster's friend's Note:

This recipe is from the LA Times' Culinary SOS column - adapted from La Provence Cafe's free form crispy scones. Oh, this makes me wish for a cool & rainy Sunday - scones, great coffee & a good book under a soft throw... purrrfect! No currants? Use raisins - brown or golden, then pick up some currants when you can - you'll be making these again!

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 14

• 5 ¾ cups bread flour (1 pound, 10 ounces)
• 1 cup sugar (6.4 ounces)
• 1 ¾ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 ¾ tablespoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup butter , cold (1 1/2 sticks)
• 3 eggs , divided
• 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• ¾ lb black currants , dried (about 2 1/2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons milk

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
2. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 of the eggs, the vanilla and buttermilk. Pour the buttermilk mixture over the dry ingredients, and stir together to evenly distribute. (The dough will be crumbly.) Stir in the currants.
4. Pour the mixture onto a lightly floured cutting board, and gently knead to form a cohesive mass. Be careful not to overmix, or the dough will be tough.
5. Scoop the scones using a large (4-ounce) scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, or divide the dough into 14 portions (each portion will be about one-half cup), leaving 3 inches between each.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg with the milk to form an egg wash. Brush the egg wash over each of the scones.
7. Bake the scones until puffed, lightly browned and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 30 minutes, rotating halfway through baking for even coloring. Remove to a rack and cool slightly before serving.