Skonsur (Icelandic Scones)

Ingredients

All-purpose flour

2 cups

Baking powder

2 teaspoons

Salt

1/2 teaspoon

Granulated sugar

2 tablespoons

Unsalted butter

1/2 cup, cold and cubed

Buttermilk

3/4 cup

Egg

1, beaten (for egg wash)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar until well combined.
3. Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the flour mixture. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, leaving some small pea-sized pieces of butter for flakiness.
4. Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour in the buttermilk. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until just combined; do not overmix.
5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it a few times until it comes together into a cohesive dough.
6. Roll the dough out to a thickness of about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm). Use a round cookie cutter or a glass to cut out scones from the dough, placing them onto the prepared baking sheet.
7. Brush the tops of the scones with the beaten egg to achieve a beautiful golden color when baked.
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown on top and cooked through. They should feel light and fluffy when lifted.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on a wire rack before serving warm with butter and jam.