Basic scones

Fill your home with the smell of freshly baked scones. Taste members love them and we think the Country Women's Association would approve!

• Plain flour, for dusting
• 3 cups self-raising flour
• 80g butter, chilled and cubed
• 1-1 1/4 cups milk
• Jam, to serve
• Whipped cream, to serve

1. Step 1

   Preheat oven to 200°C. Sift self-raising flour into a large bowl.

2. Step 2

   Using your fingertips, rub butter into flour until mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

3. Step 3

   Make a well in the centre. Add 1 cup of milk. Mix with a flat-bladed knife until mixture forms a soft dough, adding more milk if required. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently until smooth (don't knead dough too much or scones will be tough).

4. Step 4

   Lightly dust a flat baking tray with plain flour.

5. Step 5

   Pat dough into a 2cm-thick round. Using a 5cm (diameter) round cutter, cut out 12 rounds. Press dough together and cut out remaining 4 rounds. Place scones onto prepared baking tray, 1cm apart. Sprinkle tops with a little plain flour. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden and well risen. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm with jam and cream.