These scones are amazing they have wonderful texture and the raisins are bursting with flavor. I created this recipe by using the compare method that I posted at How to Compare Multiple Recipes for the Same Dish.
MARINATED RAISINS
3 tablespoons Sherry (can substitute white grape juice or buttermilk)
1 cup raisins
MAIN INGREDIENTS
4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 sticks frozen salted butter (1/2 pound)
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
TOPPING
1/4 cup coarse sugar (turbinado) and some extra buttermilk for the topping
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Soak the raisins in the sherry for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. Roughly chop the frozen butter with a knife into chunks, then cut it into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender or your fingertips. Add in the buttermilk and sherry soaked raisins. Then lightly mix just until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Over mixing will make the scones have a denser texture. The dough will be a little dry and a bit crumbly, but that is normal for scones.
Turn dough onto a floured surface and gently knead it together. Divide the dough in half. Working with one half at a time, gently form the dough into an 8 inch circle about 1 inch thick. Cut into 6-8 wedges depending on size you want. Then repeat with remaining dough.
Place the wedges on a parchment covered baking sheet, leaving about a half inch between them. Brush the tops of the wedges with the extra buttermilk and then sprinkle with the coarse sugar.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned on top. This recipe makes about 12-16 scones. I hope you love these as much as my family loves them!