Date and Lemon Scones

Date and Lemon Buttermilk Scones on a baking paper lined baking tray.

These Date and Lemon Scones will be a great addition to your baking repertoire. With the slight caramel flavour of naturally sweet dates, complemented by the vibrancy of lemon zest, they are soft on the inside, with a crisp exterior and a crunchy golden top. You will love their versatility. Serve them warm or cold, plain, just as they are, spread generously with butter or lashings of jam and cream. They are easy to make – and even easier to eat!

Course Afternoon Tea, Breakfast, Morning Tea

Cuisine British

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 18

Total Time 33

Servings scones

Calories 220kcal

Author Alexandra Cook - It's Not Complicated Recipes

Ingredients

For the Date and Lemon Scones:

225 g plain/all-purpose flour + more for rolling out as needed See Note 1
2 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking/bi-carb soda
¼ teaspoon sea salt
3 teaspoon caster/superfine sugar
50 g unsalted butter – frozen
120 g Medjool dates (weigh after pits removed) – cut into 1 cm (½ inch) cubes See Note 2
1 teaspoon lemon zest - firmly packed
220 ml buttermilk – kept chilled

For the Topping:

1 tablespoon buttermilk See Note 3
3 teaspoon demerara/turbinado sugar

Instructions

Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C. (390 F)
To a medium size bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Whisk ingredients well to combine.
Using a box grater, grate the frozen butter into the flour mixture.
Use a fork to toss the flour to combine the butter - you still want to be able to see the butter (makes for flaky scones!), this is just to avoid it clumping.
Add in the dates (breaking the chopped pieces up as you go so they don’t all clump together) and lemon zest and toss in the flour.
Make a well in the centre and add the buttermilk.
Use a flat bladed knife and quickly stir to combine the ingredients. The dough should be slightly sticky and soft. Do not over mix.
Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently bring the mix together.
Use your fingertips to gently pat out the dough to a round, about 3 cm (1 ¼ inches) deep.
Use a floured 5 cm round cutter to cut out 8 circles, re-shaping the dough as necessary. Press the cutter straight down - do not twist it.
Place the scones onto the baking tray.
Lightly brush the tops of the scones with buttermilk and sprinkle with demerara sugar.
Place the tray into the oven and bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a deep golden.
Enjoy while still warm or place the scones on a cooling rack. The scones are best the day they are made.
We recommend breaking the scones open with your hands instead of cutting in half with a knife as this can compress the scone and make them less fluffy.

Notes

Flour: if you prefer, you can also use self-raising flour. Omit the baking powder, but still add the baking soda.
Dates: you can substitute the Medjool dates with dried dates if you prefer. If you’ve had the dates for some time and they feel dry, soak them in a bowl of hot water for 10 minutes or until they have softened.
Tablespoon: we use a standard Australian tablespoon which is 20 ml (4 teaspoons). For readers located elsewhere in the world, please use 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon for each listed tablespoon.
Gluten-free: we have successfully made this recipe using a good quality gluten-free flour containing xanthan gum. The hydration level is different, and an extra 40 ml of buttermilk was necessary with the brand of flour we used. The scones do not rise as much/are flatter, but they still taste delicious, and are a fantastic gluten-free option.
Storage: although scones are at their best when eaten shortly after baking, you can store them on a plate covered with cling wrap or in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They respond well to being reheated – see below. Store them at room temperature if possible - the fridge tends to make them hard.
Freezing: when they are completely cool, place them in an airtight container, or wrapped thoroughly to prevent freezer burn, clearly labelled with their name and date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat as below.
Reheating: the best way is to place them on a baking tray or small ovenproof platter, cover loosely with foil and reheat in a 180 degrees C (355 F) oven for about 8 minutes. Uncover for the last 2 minutes to re-crisp the exterior a little.

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