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These oversized scones get a surprising kick from ginger in three different forms—ground, fresh and crystallized.
Don't worry if the flour-butter mixture doesn't form a cohesive dough immediately after all the buttermilk has been added. In fact, it will be very crumbly, but a brief kneading and the act of shaping and pressing the mixture into disks will bring it together. When kneading, take care not to overwork the dough, which will result in tough, not tender, scones.
Pro Tip: Keep the butter and buttermilk in the refrigerator until ready to use so they stay as cold as possible, which makes the dough easier to handle.
Bonus: Kitchen Gadget Pro and Chef Christopher Kimball shows off a ginger grater in the video above that will make this recipe easier to whip up.
For more of his favorite cooking gadgets that make veggies more fun (and recipes that put them to work), check out:
...a citrus spritzer for Masala-Rubbed Blackened Salmon.
...a mango pitter for Mango & Coconut Rice Pudding.
..a citrus peeler for Bitter Greens & Orange Salad.
...a multi-purpose peeler for Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Toasted Spices.
Ingredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons grated nutmeg
- 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 ¼ cups cold buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons salted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces and chilled
- 1 cup roughly chopped bittersweet chocolate
- 1 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
- 1 large egg, beaten
Yield
Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F with racks in the upper- and lower-middle positions. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, ground ginger, nutmeg, salt and pepper. In a 2-cup liquid measuring cup or a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk, grated ginger and orange zest.
In the bowl of a food processor, add about ½ of the flour mixture and scatter the butter over the top. Pulse until the butter forms large pea-sized pieces, 10 to 12 pulses. Transfer to the bowl with the remaining flour mixture. Add the chocolate and crystallized ginger, then toss with your hands until evenly combined. Pour in about ⅓ of the buttermilk mixture and toss just a few times with your hands, making sure to scrape along the bottom of the bowl, until the liquid is absorbed. Add the remaining buttermilk in 2 more additions, tossing after each. After the final addition of buttermilk, toss until no dry, floury bits remain. The mixture will be quite crumbly and will not form a cohesive dough.
Lightly dust the counter with flour, turn the mixture out onto it, then give it a final toss. Divide it into 2 even piles, gathering each into a mound, then very briefly knead each mound; it's fine if the mixture is still somewhat crumbly. Gather each mound into a ball, then press firmly into a cohesive 5-inch disk about 1 ½ inches thick. Brush the tops of each disk lightly with beaten egg. Using a chef's knife, cut each disk in half, then cut each half into 3 wedges. Place 6 wedges on each prepared baking sheet, spaced evenly apart.
Bake, switching and rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until the scones are deep golden brown, 27 to 30 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets on wire racks for 5 minutes, then transfer directly to a rack and cool for at least another 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
