Recipe: Currant scones from La Provence in Beverly Hills

Black currant scones Total time: About 1 hour Servings: Makes 14 scones Note: Adapted from La Provence Cafe. 5 3/4 cups (1 pound, 10 ounces) bread flour Scant 1 cup (6.4 ounces) sugar 1 3/4 teaspoons baking soda 1 3/4 tablespoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) plus 1 tablespoon cold butter, cut into 1/2 -inch pieces 3 eggs, divided 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract 3/4 cup buttermilk 3/4 pound dried black currants (about 2 1/2 cups) 2 tablespoons milk 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. 2. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 of the eggs, the vanilla and buttermilk. Pour the buttermilk mixture over the dry ingredients, and stir together to evenly distribute. (The dough will be crumbly.) Stir in the currants. 4. Pour the mixture onto a lightly floured cutting board, and gently knead to form a cohesive mass. Be careful not to overmix, or the dough will be tough. 5. Scoop the scones using a large (4-ounce) scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, or divide the dough into 14 portions (each portion will be about one-half cup), leaving 3 inches between each. 6. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg with the milk to form an egg wash. Brush the egg wash over each of the scones. 7. Bake the scones until puffed, lightly browned and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 30 minutes, rotating halfway through baking for even coloring. Remove to a rack and cool slightly before serving. Each scone: 427 calories; 9 grams protein; 70 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams fiber; 13 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 74 mg. cholesterol; 335 mg. sodium. Send Culinary SOS requests to [email protected] Culinary SOS, Food, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Include your name, phone number and city of residence.