Blackberry Scones

These blackberry scones only require a couple of small handfuls of blackberries (around 75g) and are ideal for using up the small yield of blackberries from an impromptu pick your own on the way to the park. These scones are soft, light, sweet and a hit with everyone who has tried one so far!

I've taken the boys out blackberry picking a few times this month, and I love it. We hardly live in the countryside but there's a quiet 'country' road parallel to ours where Joshua and I pick a few blackberries and Daniel happily sits and takes it all in.

 

Joshua insists on holding the bucket, and stopping to say hello to any passing dogs, their owners and bike riders, so you can imagine it's a fairly slow process. In half an hour we're lucky to pick around 100g, that is if Joshua hasn't got bored and started to throw them. We could hardly go into jam making business, so I feel the blackberries we do painstakingly pick deserve to be used for something special!

Tip: My top tip would be to freeze the blackberries before you use them in the scones. The hard frozen blackberries are much easier to work with and are less likely to get mashed up to make purple dough.

Time:  10 - 15 mins prep + 10 - 15 mins baking
Cost:  6p per scone*
Calories:  169 per scone*  

*Based on 12 scones and free blackberries!

Blackberry Scones - Makes 12 Scones:

• 75g margarine or butter
• 100g sugar
• 1 egg, whisked
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
• Good pinch cinnamon (optional)
• 120ml milk
• 350g self-raising flour
• Around 75g blackberries (two small handfuls) preferably frozen.

1. Preheat the oven to 200 C / gas mark 6.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the egg, lemon juice, milk and cinnamon. Mix until well combined. Add the flour and mix until you have a smooth dough.
3. On a floured surface, knead the blackberries into the dough. If they are frozen it's much better as they are less likely to get squashed during the kneading.
4. Roll the dough out and use a cutter to make 12 scones, or which I find easier, cut the dough into 12 pieces, roll each piece into a ball and flatten the ball to make a scone shape.
5. Pop the scones on a greased baking tray and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes until golden on top and slightly risen. Allow the blackberry scones to cool, then split them open, butter and enjoy!

There's still a few blackberries out there! Grab a few before the cold weather comes along and have a go at these really easy blackberry scones! The best part about it is the blackberries are free!

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