I still remember the first time I saw and tasted scones. I was eyeing the beautiful display of scones while ordering my bagel, contemplating if I should spend my extra couple dollars on a breakfast pastry. I was only about 12 years old at that time and had never experienced such a pastry. I gave in and bought the treat, only to be sadly disappointed. The pastry was incredibly dry and lacked sweetness. From then on, I had no desire to ever buy this baked good. Fast forward many, many years later and for some reason, I found myself craving a scone. With leftover buttermilk in the fridge and strawberry season still in action, I decided to whip up some strawberry basil buttermilk scones. Boy, have I been missing out! No longer am I objected to scones – these are a life changer!

Strawberry basil buttermilk scones

45 minTotal Time

Yields 16 scones

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Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk, for brushing
• brown sugar for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl from flour - baking soda. Add butter and mix using a pastry cutter, a knife or your hands, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk and mix until just combined. Fold in strawberries and basil.
3. Lightly dust flour onto work surface. Divide dough in half. Working with one batch at a time, shape dough into a 3/4 inch thick circle. Cut into 8 wedges. Lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat with other dough.
4. Brush tops of scones with buttermilk and sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

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**Helpful tips and common mistakes

With this basic buttermilk scone recipe, you can make almost any variation. Other options include dried currants, blueberry rosemary, cheddar, figs, blackberry, etc. Use the ingredients you have in your kitchen or whatever fruits are in season.

When adding fruits such as strawberries, make sure not to add too much or else the scones will become soggy. I brushed the tops with buttermilk and sprinkled a good amount of sugar on top. Sprinkle sugar on top for a slightly sweeter pastry or omit it for savory ones.

The scones do not rise much when baking so make sure not to roll the dough out too thin. I used my hands to mold the shape since it can be difficult to roll out using a rolling pin. Bake until the tops become golden brown and serve slightly warm. These strawberry basil buttermilk scones are incredible, especially when fresh. They are delightfully moist and light with just slight sweetness from the sugared tops. The strawberries and basil add freshness to the pastry and make them look as good as they taste. Hands down, the best scone I ever had!

Looking for someone to come to your house and prepare these dishes for you? It is possible! If you are in Los Angeles and looking for a private chef, please feel free to contact me. For more information, visit Private Kitchen Los Angeles.