Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Dried Blueberry Scones

Pin It
Every time I go through my favorite blogs on my Google Reader, the thing that I feel most jealous about is all the gorgeous fresh berries I see! Except for strawberries and gooseberries, we don't get any other fresh berries where we live and that makes me SO sad! I am starting to hear rumors that we might be getting a few other varieties imported in a few months. I am really looking forward to that!

The only time I got to taste fresh blueberries, I totally loved them! But of course we very rarely get them fresh here. Dried berries are the only option for me. A good friend brought me a nice big bag of dried blueberries recently, and I've been wondering what to make with them. And then I found this recipe.
I LOVE scones. Plain scones, spiced scones, fruity scones - any kind! Remember my Cranberry-Orange scones?
I saw this recipe on Epicurious.com and immediately knew that I would be making this soon. I thought it would be a great way to use these dried bluberries. It was easy to make, and pretty quick too!
The scones turned out really good (better than these pictures did!). Everybody enjoyed them - the husband included. He is usually the hardest to please - especially with non-chocolate dishes. He had a few with a cuppa and seemed to enjoy them.

Dried Blueberry-Lime Scones
Adapted from this recipe on Epicurious.com 
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar (plus 1 tablespoon for sprinkling)
85 grams unsalted butter (chilled and cubed)
1/2 cup buttermilk (plus 1 tablespoon for brushing the top)
3/4 cup dried blueberries 
1 tbsp lime zest

Method
1. Soak the blueberries in a bowl of water for about 15-30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 200. Line a tray with Silpat or parchment paper.
3. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar until well combined.
4. Add the cubes of butter and using only your fingertips, rub in the butter into the flour until you have a mixture that resembles chunky bread crumbs. Some pieces of butter will be as large as baby peas.
5. Drain the blueberries and add into the bowl. Toss gently to coat the blueberries.
6. In a small bowl, combine the buttermilk and lime zest.
7. Pour this mixture into the large bowl and slowly mix with your hands until most of the flour is incorporated.
8. Transfer onto a work surface and bring all the dough together, kneading very gently. Don't knead for more than 30-40 seconds.
9. Gently flatten the dough into a 1" circle.
10. Transfer to the baking sheet, and cut into wedges.
11. Brush with the remaining buttermilk and sprinkle the top with the reserved sugar.
12. Bake for about 22-25 minutes or until golden brown on top, and cooked all the way through. You can test it with a toothpick.
Of course like all scones, these are best eaten fresh. I found that these scones were on the sweeter side, and so it did not need a sweet accompaniment like jam, or even a glaze, but you could add a simple one if you like! (I think the lime-cream cheese glaze in this recipe would be lovely with the blueberries!) I love scones with butter and so I ate one with a generous amount of butter. I also ate one the next day with some lime curd, and it was delicious! This recipe is definitely worth making again!

And hey - the 26th of February is The Harried Cook's first birthday! I look forward to sharing this special day with all of you who have made my first year so special! See you all on the 26th! :)

Look forward to a special giveaway sponsored by moi! :)
Pin It

63 comments:

Jill Colonna said...

Aha, Marsha - you may not have the fresh berries but you have a lime tree next door. Lucky thing!  Love that you added the zest to these scones. Dried blueberries? I haven't seen these so will have to look out for them. Great idea and sure beats raisins for a change.

ping kay said...

Lime zest courtesy of the neighbors? :D 
I haven't seen dried blueberries here or maybe I just wasn't looking for we do get fresh imported ones but quite expensive. Whatever it is, I know I'll love to have some of these if I can find some dried blueberries. And Happy Bloggyversary in advance!

Kitchen Belleicious said...

Oh your scones look gorgeous! Just perfect and I love the blueberry flavor to them! Beautiful!

Briarrose said...

Such a tasty use of dried berries.  These look great.

Kajal said...

I have never tried scones Marsha! and you recipe makes me want to try it this week! :D these look yum! and dried blueberries, wow! and The Harried Cook's turning one? Wow!

Gerry @ Foodness Gracious said...

I love scones of any flavor, probably because I have eaten them since I was practically a baby! Great flavors you used and thanks for the kind comments on Foodness Gracious :)

jennifurla said...

they all look like I need them on my desk stat!

Jvsimeon said...

So glad you found a way to use the dried blueberries... I have some frozen ones here (from last summer) and I might try your recipe with those (will just omit the 'soaking' part...).  :)

Adora said...

I just had an intense craving for scones when I saw this.  I love fresh berries but dried ones are tops for scones. I'd love some of these with clotted cream.

Mary said...

Your scones are beautiful. I bet they really would be awesome with a lime glaze. I'm a sucker any citrus paired with berries. Fresh or not, the berries in these sound great.

Amanda said...

You should have posted this recipe earlier! I just threw away a bag of dried blueberries :( AND... the blueberries were from Costco (meaning that I threw away a rather big bag of them). oh well... maybe in the future?

amanda

amanda said...

Oh - one more thing, can't wait for your giveaway! -Amanda

Francesca Carloni said...

I love your scones and I love blueberries!! great recipe and great pictures! gnammm!! 

Kate said...

Your scones look magnificent!   I love the method.    Any sort of blueberry is AOK in my book.  Yum!

Monetm1218 said...

I wish I could teleport a carton to you! But my goodness, these scones do look good! Thank you for sharing yet another delicious concoction. I'm sitting down with a tall cup of milk and a coconut cooking. Perfect accompaniments to blog reading! I hope you are having a blessed week! 

elisabeth@foodandthrift said...

Oh, Marsha, when I looked at the first photo of your amazing scone, I gasped! I love this;...then, the second scone with the orange and cranberry, now I'm craving your scones. I haven't made any scones in at least almost a year. It's time I make some...bookmarking your page! Superb:DDD

Erin said...

These look wonderful!  I have yet to make scones :(  They have been on my list for a long time!  I am jealous of fresh berries too!  We get a few here (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries), but they are super expensive!

Terris @ Freeeats said...

Lovely scones Marsha!  Fresh blueberries are lovely, but I really do enjoy the dried ones in scones.  You don't have to worry about everything turning blue!  :)

Kim Bee said...

Oh my gosh, I'll be right over. This is brilliant Marsha. I bet the flavor was out of this world. Plus they are just so pretty.

Nami | Just One Cookbook said...

Okay non baker Nami decided to make this one day.  I just can't stand looking at my favorite scones on screen... If I use fresh blueberries do I need to be careful with something, or pretty much the same as your recipe?  I love the look of your scones so much.  Delicious...

Suchismita Majumdar said...

Martha these scones look awesome...missing out on fresh berries is sad!

Galexicupcakes said...

Marsha, I'm ashamed to admit that I've never eaten a scone. But reading your recipe and looking it over, I get the sense they must be pretty tasty treats. Your pics are worth a 1000 words. Yum!

Carolyn Jung said...

I want to wake up to that any day of the week. Simply scrumptious! ;)

Amanda . said...

The last time I ate a good scone was 2 years ago with the 'good friend' that brought you those blueberries. :) I'd love to try these! With jam and cream. Please make again!

online parenting class said...

that looks so tasty!

Kristen said...

 Those scones look simply scrumptious.  I am  so sorry that you cannot get fresh blueberries, but the dried sound delicious.  I am not sure that I have ever tried them.   You do have many other fresh fruits that we never see, though!

theharriedcook said...

Ah! You always know how to make me feel better! :) Yes, I am blessed in so many ways - lime tree included :) Dried blueberries are yummy in their own right... they are sort of more intensely blueberry. Definitely beats raisins! Thanks, Jill!

theharriedcook said...

I BUY limes sometimes too, you know! :) LOL... I hope you find them too! And thank you :) 

theharriedcook said...

Thank you so much! :) 

theharriedcook said...

Thank you :) I appreciate it!

theharriedcook said...

Can I make you some? I am out of blueberries, but I have tons of cranberries... Will try to bring you scones the next time we meet... And yes! Yay :) Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

What a lovely thing to grow up with! I love scones but discovered them only a few years ago... Delicious! Thanks for stopping by, Gerry! 

theharriedcook said...

LOL :) Wish I could zap some over to you! Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Yes! You are such a good friend to bring me these lovely supplies... I'm running out, though! Planning another trip? :D LOL! Let me know how the scones turn out if you make them! :) Thanks for commenting, JVSimeon :)

theharriedcook said...

Mmmmm... clotted cream! Yet another thing that's not available here! :) LOL... But they're pretty yummy with regular cream too! Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Lime glaze... mmmm... Thanks, Mary! I love blueberries and lime together in baked goods... Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Oh no! I wish I had posted this earlier... I made it more than a month go but only got around to posting it now! You should try it the next time you have dried blueberries on hand... or try them with fresh blueberries? Let me know how it goes!

theharriedcook said...

Me neither!!! :D

theharriedcook said...

Thank you so much! :D I appreciate it!

theharriedcook said...

Thanks, Kate! :) Have missed having you around... welcome back! :) Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Awww... it's the thought that counts... milk, cookies and google reader! Sounds perfect! :) Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Thank you, Elisabeth! Your comments always make me feel SO good :)  No scones in a year! You must make some. And soon! :) thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Thanks, Erin! :) I guess berries are expensive in most places... we can be jealous together :) Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

True!!! Thanks for the cheer up! Thanks for stopping by :)

theharriedcook said...

Thanks, Kim! When can I expect you here? Let me know!

theharriedcook said...

Thanks, Nami! Quoting from the email I sent you earlier 

Yes, you can make the same recipe with fresh blueberries, I'm sure. Add the blueberries before adding the wet ingredients, stir it about very gently with a spoon so that the berries are coated in the flour mixture. When the wet ingredients are added, you may need to use your fingers, but be very careful not to over-knead and be super careful while doing it. Be extra careful not to mash or bruise the berries or all your dough will turn purple! :) Plus your dough will have all that extra moisture from the juices. Just be extra gentle while bringing your dough together.  

Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

It is sad, I know! But the scones make me feel better! :D thanks for stopping by, Suchismita! :)

theharriedcook said...

You've been missing out... make a batch soon, Jackie! You won't regret... Such a yummy thing to have with a cup of tea or even coffee.. and jam and cream, or butter, or lime curd... mmmmmm... Thanks for stopping by!

theharriedcook said...

Thanks, Carolyn! :) I love scones for breakfast too... :) 

theharriedcook said...

I will make again. Tell me when you want. No clotted cream, so you'll have to make do with regular! :)

theharriedcook said...

Thank you so much!

theharriedcook said...

We always want what we can't have, don't we? At least I do! Thanks for putting things in perspective, Kristen! Can't wait for mango season to get there... Then I won't be jealous of ANYONE! :) Thanks for stopping by!

The Café Sucré Farine said...

I think your scones look fabulous and I"m sure they tasted even better - I am really wanting one right now! I don't think I would even miss the fresh berries with these yummy scones!

theharriedcook said...

Thank you, Chris! I am glad you like them... as some of my wonderful friends here pointed out, scones with dried berries are probably easier to put together with all the flavor and punch! :) Thanks for stopping by!

Lizzy Do said...

Picture perfect scones, Marsha! I actually like using dried fruit over fresh in scones to avoid the red or purple dough that comes with mixing :)

AlchemyInTheKitchen said...

I love the concentrated burst of flavour you get from dried berries. I haven´t tried dried blueberries but sour cherries, I adore. Love these scones.

Baker Street said...

Love that you used dried blueberries. the scones look absolutely perfect. 

Helene Dsouza said...

I feel with u, I miss fresh blueberries soo much these days. dried are surely not the same but always better then nothing right? everyone can see what gorgeous result u baked. my stomache started to grumble now...

thanks for sharing! =)

Roxana Greengirl said...

every weekend we have scone for breakfast and I'm so happy when I see a new recipe, like this one! Sounds so good!
Wish there was a way I could send you some fresh blueberries :) 

Pudding Pie Lane said...

I bought some blueberries recently (because they were on offer in Sainsbury's :p) and they were delicious! I love scones too, so that with a little bit of clotted cream would go down a treat.  I like the addition of lime in there too :)

Biren @ Roti n Rice said...

Dried blueberries are perfect for scones. Looking at yours make me want to make some real soon. Most definitely with butter! The lime curd sounds really good too :)

Magic of Spice said...

I just adore freshly baked scones! These look amazing and are a perfect home for these dried berries...lovely!

Royall Clark said...

Hope I'm not hated for this post. I love baking scones. I love my ginger scones the best. I'm concerned about one thing. Of all the post below, it doesn't appear that anyone tried the recipe! So, with that in mind, I tried it this morning. I've never found a recipe that called for the oven to be at 200* before... part way into the bake, I looked into the oven and things just were not happening so I upped the temperature to 400* as a majority of my recipes call for. The recipe sounds wonderful and had some blueberry infused craisins in the pantry to use.... Lets just hope!!!

Post a Comment

Real Time Web Analytics