Old Fashioned English Lavender Tea Scones

French Tart's Note:

When I was back home in England recently, I visited a local lavender farm called Wold's Way Lavender in North Yorkshire; we had tea and these delicious lavender scones in their delightful little tea room; this is my attempt to recreate those scones - using some of my home-grown culinary lavender from the garden here in France! I have made them several times now and they have turned out just as I remembered them, especially good if split whilst still warm, buttered and spread with lavender honey or lavender-infused cream! Just a note of interest......lavender was often used during Tudor and Elizabethan times in the preparation of a wide variety of dishes and was a particular favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. The palace gardeners were required to have lavender flowers available at all times which were used to make Conserve of Lavender (a mixture of lavender flowers and sugar) and sweet lavender tisane, a drink made with lavender flowers, boiling water and honey.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 12.0 scones

• 225 g plain flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 60 g butter
• 1 tablespoon natural cane sugar
• 150 ml milk
• 1 tablespoon organic lavender flowers
• 1 egg, beaten

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220C/450F, then lightly flour a baking tray.
2. Sift the flour with the baking powder & salt. Rub the butter with the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar.
3. Make a deep well in the flour, pour in the liquid and mix to a soft doughy texture with your hands. Sprinkle on the lavender flowers and knead into the dough very lightly until it is just smooth. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured board & cut out scone rounds.
4. Brush the scones with the beaten egg, and sprinkle a few lavender flowers on top if you wish.
5. Bake in oven for 7 - 10 minutes or until well risen and brown. Leave to cool. Serve with butter, lavender honey or lavender-infused cream.

Reviews

[Prose]

I successfully veganized these by subbing Earth Balance buttery spread for the butter and soy milk for the milk. Instead of egg wash, I brushed some extra soy milk on top before sprinkling with extra lavender, which worked surprisingly well! I also used whole-wheat pastry flour instead of plain. My dough was very crumbly; I had to add extra soy milk to get it to hold together, but otherwise this was very easy to make. Instead of rolling out the dough, I formed it into one large round and then cut that into 8 triangle scones. The flavor was delightful and the aroma throughout the house was quite relaxing. Made for Veg*an Swap, January 2010

[cag2012]

I've tried 5 different scone recipes plus 1 mix, and this is by far the best. The lavender flavor is very nice and delicate and great with just a little honey, but I think it would be great no matter what you put in it. The really important thing is that these puff up with little splits on the side like scones should!

[wood stove stoker]

Light and lovely. Peace fills the house when I make these.