Southern Almond Scones

Southern Almond Scones.

2 and1/2 cups of Cake flour (divided).
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup Raw fine sugar(divided).I use "Wholesome" Organic sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 Tablespoon cold unsalted butter
1 egg,beaten
10 oz Buttermilk
8 oz can Pure Almond Paste, I use SOLO brand.
some melted butter
a pastry cloth.

Sift together 2 and 1/4 cup of cake flour with baking powder , sugar and salt.
Cut in Cold butter, until it resembles coarse meal.
make well in center, set aside

Mix together Egg, and buttermilk.
Pour into well and fold into flour. mix until wet ingredients are incorporated.

Prepare pastry cloth by spreading 2 tablespoon of cake flour on it. Turn out dough on to cloth.

This is how I knead it;
1. pat down dough
2 pick up cloth and fold dough over dough. then press down and turn cloth repeat two more times.
Doing it this way keep your hands from melting the butter.
Now to add the Paste;
Make 4 almond paste logs, each about 9 inches long. to do this just roll the paste til you make a long rope.
lay first almond paste log on the top of the dough. fold dough over it. and knead as in kneading section above.
Repeat with each Almond Paste log addition(3 more times).

After the last log addition, Add the rest of flour to pastry cloth and roll dough to make a 10x2x11/2 inch log.Wrap in wax paper and the plastic wrap . Place in refrigerator over night.
In the morning cut the dough into 1/4 inch slices and brush with melted butter, sprinkle with sugar and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

copyright 2010 "AuntieE CookBook/M Dubros"