Best Ever Scones

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 450°; stir together the first 4 ingredients in a big bowl.
2. 2
   Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until crumbly and mixture resembles small peas.
3. 3
   Freeze 5 minutes.
4. 4
   Add 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cream, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.
5. 5
   Turn dough out onto wax paper; gently press dough or pat dough into a 7-inch round (mixture will be crumbly).
6. 6
   Cut round into 8 wedges.
7. 7
   Place wedges 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet.
8. 8
   Brush tops of wedges with remaining 2 tablespoons cream just until moistened.
9. 9
   Bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden.
10. 10
    *Chocolate-Cherry Scones-stir 1/4 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped, and 2 oz coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate with cream.
11. 11
    *Apricot-Ginger Scones-stir in 1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots and 2 T finely chopped crystallized ginger with cream.
12. 12
    *Cranberry-Pistachio Scones-stir in 1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries and 1/4 cup coarsely chopped roasted salted pistachios with cream.
13. 13
    *Brown Sugar-Pecan Scones-substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar; stir in 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans with cream.
14. 14
    *Bacon, Cheddar, and Chive Scones-omit sugar; stir in 3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup finely chopped cooked bacon, 2 T chopped fresh chives, and 1/2 t freshly ground pepper with cream.
15. 15
    *Ham and Swiss Scones-omit sugar; stir in 3/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese and 3/4 cup finely chopped baked ham with cream.
16. 16
    *Pimento Cheese Scones-omit sugar; stir in 3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese and 3 T finely chopped pimento with cream.
17. 17
    *Rosemary, Pear, and Asiago Scones-omit sugar; stir in 3/4 cup finely chopped fresh pear, 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese, and 1 t chopped fresh rosemary with cream.