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Monday, September 30, 2013

Scones with Spiced Pineapple and Apples

Scones with Spiced Pineapple & Apples
Bleurgh. I woke up this morning with a serious case of the bleurghs. If this post stops making sense blame the cold and flu drugs! Right now I wish I still had a batch of these fluffy, warm scones with pineapple and apple pieces stewed in star anise, cinnamon and cloves. They would definitely make me feel less crappy!
Scones with Spiced Pineapple & Apples
I made these scones last week for my Mum. Every time she's in town she always requests a batch of fresh scones, which I am more than willing to do for her. My love of scones is well-documented, I must have gotten it from her. However she does not have my sweet tooth, and complains whenever anything is too sweet. So instead of serving these scones with the usual jam and cream I thought I would try cooking some fruit myself so I could control the sweetness.
Scones with Spiced Pineapple & Apples
The pineapples were looking super sweet at the store so I decided to pair them with some apples and cook them in spices so it would be similar in flavour to my favourite pineapple jam that you get on pineapple tarts, but without all the extra effort of grating the fruit. It worked out great, the star anise, cinnamon and cloves work so well with the sweet and sour flavours. I added a bit of palm sugar as well, just to give it a bit of colour and a touch more sweetness. To counter that I served it with some creme fraiche, which also saved me from having to whip up extra cream for serving. The only thing I'd change for next time is to cut the fruit up a little smaller to make it easier to pile on top of the scones and quicker to cook.
Scones with Spiced Pineapple & Apples
Scones with Spiced Pineapple & Apples
(scone recipe previously posted here)
For the stewed pineapple and apples:
1/2 a pineapple (cut weight about 350g), skin and core removed and chopped into small cubes (feel free to double the amounts if you have a whole pineapple, the amount I've specified is a nice amount to go with one batch of scones, you can also used canned pineapple if necessary)
2 cooking apples, peeled, cored and cubed (slightly bigger than the pineapple cubes, I used Granny Smiths)
1 star anise
5 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
20g palm sugar (replace with brown sugar if unavailable)

Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan on medium heat and stir until the palm sugar melts and forms a syrup with the juices of the fruit. Continue cooking mixture until fruit is tender and syrup thickens slightly. Set aside to cool. Can be stored in a sterilised jar in the fridge.
Scones with Spiced Pineapple & Apples
For the scones:
2 cups self-raising flour
1/4 tsp salt
150ml (about 2/3 cup) pure/pouring cream (min 35% fat, heavy cream in the US)
150ml (about 2/3 cup) milk

Preheat oven to 230°C (445°F), 220 °C (430°F) fan-forced, line or grease a heavy based baking dish that has sides (or a 20cm square cake tin, scones baked close together will rise higher and thus be lighter). Sift flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour cream into the well and begin to cut cream into dry ingredients with a flat bladed knife, then gradually add milk using the same cutting motion, until there is enough to form a soft dough. 

Working quickly and gently, gather dough together on a floured bench (I usually place a big sheet of baking paper over a chopping board to make cleaning up easier). Try to handle the dough as little as possible, using lightly floured hands to stop dough sticking to you, and pat the dough into a rectangle about 3-3.5cm thick. You can lightly knead the dough with your hands for a smoother appearance but overknead it and your scones will be tough and hard. Cut out round using a 5-6cm scone cutter (push the cutter into the dough, don't twist) and place next to each other in your prepared tin.I usually manage to cut about 5-6 scones, then I pat the scraps together and cut out another 2-3 and finally pat the scraps from that together into a ball to form the final scone. Lightly brush the tops of the scones with some extra cream using a pastry brush. 

Bake for 10-15 mins, until scones are cooked through and tops are lightly browned (will take longer in a heavier baking dish). Serve immediately with stewed fruit and cream. I used creme fraiche instead of cream to add a touch of sourness to the mix. (I like to cover my waiting scones with a clean tea towel to keep them from going hard) Scones can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Scones with Spiced Pineapple & Apples

15 comments:

  1. my mum's much the same - always says everything is sweet, even though its not! These look like an absolute treat. And i hope you get better soon. x

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  2. These scones are suuuuper gorgeous! Love the spiced stewed fruit!

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  3. These look gorgeous - hope you feel better soon!

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  4. Oh no! I've been starting to feel sick too. I think it's the change of season bleurghs. Nothing but a sweet, savory, buttery scone to fix that!

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  5. Sorry you are feeling unwell:( Your scones look amazing. I had a lovely cream tea last week whilst on holiday - here in the UK each region kind of has it's own particular way of making them. To be honest I much prefer the look of your spiced apple and pineapples to jam though!

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  6. Oooh I love the combination of pineapple and apple, imagine adding some ginger and alcohol sum as brandy. Boozy afternoon tea

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  7. Oh poor you! I was feeling unwell too, for quite some time after my operation. I hope you get well soon. Oh another note, I think cream tea is best with stew fruits and clotted cream. I might be bias here since I fell in love with in when I went to the UK.
    SO pretty and love the use of pineapple for tartness

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  8. Looks yummy! would love one right now :)

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  9. Hope you feel better soon!! What lovely photos!! These scones look perfect to share with a cup of tea or coffee.. I´m hungry now.. :-)

    Have a great week!
    Johlene
    Flavours&Frosting

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  10. yum! these should perk up your spirits immediately! they look so great.

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  11. My mom (I love how you say "mum") also has an affinity for scones. But it's been a while since I have made her some. Perhaps I should get on that! I also love the combo of pineapples and apple, that is very unique to me!

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  12. So sorry you are not feeling well. Hope you feel better soon! I'd do, with this yummy autumn scones :)

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  13. Looks delicious! I always think spiced fruit is a winner. :)

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  14. Love all your scone variations. This sounds lush!

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  15. Mmm I love scones. I've never tried them with real fruit before though so will have to give your recipe a go!

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