Bake Sale Bounty: Cherry Lime Scones

Sometimes, ingredients just scream to me, and I'm not quite sure why. I'll pick up a mango with no idea how I'm going to use it until it's ripe, I'll buy artichokes that will sit in my cabinet for months before they turn into spinach and artichoke fritatta.

A few days ago when I was at the grocery store I bought a bag of limes on sale. This past weekend, as I was debating what I should do with them before they morphed into shriveled, moldy, green orbs in my crisper drawer, I figured I should do some baking ahead for this weekend's Food Blogger Bake Sale in Chicago. 

For those of you who are local and don't already know, this weekend marks the first annual Food Blogger Bake Sale, part of the Great American Bake Sale and kick-off of the Share Our Strength fund-raising season.

In Chicago, we'll be at Smash Cake Bakery in Lincoln Park (2961 N. Lincoln Avenue, at Wellington). Everyone is invited to stop by and sample baked goods from some of Chicago's favorite food bloggers to help a great cause. 

I hope to see you at the bake sale...but if you can't make it, you'll have to live vicariously through these scones, plump, sweet cherries, a hint of citrus zest - perfect as an afternoon snack or breakfast tobe enjoyed next to an open window and a cool spring breeze.

Cherry Lime Scones

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/3 cup sweetened dried cherries, chopped fine
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest (about 1 small lime)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk or sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Add butter chunks and toss lightly with flour; place bowl in fridge.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, buttermilk, lime juice and lime zest; place bowl in fridge.

4. Get organized: measure out and chop the cherries; set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silpat; set aside. Lightly dust a counter top with flour. Pour a little bit of heavy cream in a bowl and have a pastry brush handy.

5. Remove bowls of flour and buttermilk from fridge. Cut butter into flour with a pastry blender or rub together with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add cherries and stir to combine.

6. Add buttermilk mixture all at once to flour mixture and stir until the mixture clumps together. Dump mixture out onto floured counter top and, with floured hands, gather into a ball and knead once or twice to combine everything. Pat into a circle about 1/2 inch thick. Cut into 8 slices, like a pie, or cut with biscuit or cookie cutters into whatever shape you prefer. Put scones on lined baking sheet and brush lightly with heavy cream (optional).

7. Bake in a preheated oven for 13-15 minutes until lightly browned. Remove to cooling rack.

Comments

[mandy]

The bake sale sounds like a great idea! As do these scones. =)

[kat]

Cherry & lime together is a great idea

[Joanne]

I do that too. I call it impulse buying. LOL. I always seem to find something to do with the goods though. These look excellent! That cherry lime combo is making my mouth water.

[Kelly]

Just stumbled upon your blog. I'm a recent transplant from New England who has been living in Chicago for just a month so I'd love to help out if you need more bakers/volunteers. I sent you an email as well so hopefully we can connect.

[grace]

so. one of my favorite cool treats is the cherry limeade from sonic, so even though i'm not too terribly keen on scones, i have a feeling i'd love these. very nice work, maris!

[Robyn]

Oooh! Gotta make scones for my pastry practical exam on friday! I've never made them so I'm a bit nervous... are they easy? Hard? Any advice?

[Sophie]

MMMMM,...your cherry lime scones do look so tasty & inviting too!

What a tasteful combination of great flavours!!!

Yum Yum Yum,..Have any left???

[cookiepie]

Beautiful scones! We have the Great American Bake Sale in NYC this weekend -- I'll be doing some PB cookies :) Hope they're as lovely as your scones! Love the flavor combo.