Baking together as a family is fun because there is less pressure involved. It’s usually done when you have a little time to spare and if it doesn’t quite work out, it won’t ruin the family meal. It is precisely because baking is often done when you are less busy that you will have more time to focus on the experience together with your kids. Here is a simple and easy recipe to try out for tea together.

Buttery Scones

Ingredients:

• 350g self-raising flour, and a little more for dusting
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 85g butter, cut into cubes
• 3 tbsp caster sugar
• 175ml milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 beaten egg, to glaze

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 220°C. Mix flour in a large bowl with salt and baking powder. Add butter and rub in with your fingers until the mix looks like fine crumbs. Stir in the sugar.
2. Warm up milk in a microwave for about 30 seconds. Add vanilla and lemon juice and set aside for a moment.
3. Make a well in the dry mix, then add the liquid and combine it quickly with a cutlery knife – it will seem pretty wet at first.
4. Scatter some flour onto the work surface and tip the dough out.
5. Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it is a little smoother.
6. Take a 5cm cutter (smooth-edged cutters tend to cut more cleanly, giving a better rise) and dip it into some flour. Plunge into the dough, then repeat until you have four scones.
7. Brush the tops with beaten egg, then carefully place onto the hot baking tray.
8. Bake for 10 minutes until risen and golden on the top.
   
   

Adapted from an article first published on 26 Sep 2013 on the Dads for Life Toolbox.