Wheat Scones with Candied Pear

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup butter, chopped into little pieces
1/2 cup candied pear pieces
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 egg

ground nutmeg

sugar

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Stir together flour, salt, and baking powder. Cut in butter and honey until crumbly and there's no more dry powder. Stir in pear pieces, milk, sour cream and egg until combined.

Knead the dough on a floured surface until it holds together and is not so sticky. It's okay to knead flour into it.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Press the ball of dough into a large circle on the baking sheet. Cut it into 8 wedges. Sprinkle with sugar and nutmeg.

Bake in preheated oven for 20-30 minutes until they are golden and the middle is firm. 

Candied Pear

Candying fruit is a very long and involved process, so here's my relatively fast and easy version. I used canned pears for this because they are already soaked in sugar from being canned in syrup.

Get some canned pears. Chop them up into smallish pieces. Line a baking sheet with foil, then dust with powdered sugar. Spread the pear pieces in a single layer on the baking sheet. Put in the oven at 200° F for 4-6 hours. I honestly don't know how long it took me. I just kept coming back to check it. They need to be not wet anymore, only slightly sticky, and with a gummy texture like raisins or other dried fruits.

Buttermilk Jam Scones

This makes a soft, tender pastry with delicious sweet globs inside.

 

3/4 cup cold buttermilk
1/4 cup jam or jelly
1 egg
2 cups flour (I use whole wheat pastry flour)
1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
spiced sugar

Preheat oven to 375°.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt, in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in chilled butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add milk, jam, and egg, stirring just until moist.

Place dough onto a floured surface and knead lightly until the dough is all together. Place on a baking sheet that is either greased, or lined with parchment. Form dough into an approximately 3/4" thick, 9-inch circle. Cut dough into wedges all the way through.

Sprinkle spiced sugar on top. Bake until golden and firm in the middle, 20-30 minutes. Serve warm.