Ingredients

1/2 stick butter

2 cups plain/all-purpose flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 cup fine/caster sugar

1/2 cup raisins (substitute other fruit)

1 cup milk

1 egg beaten with a little milk (glaze)

Preparation

  1. Heat oven to 400F. Grease a baking sheet with butter and then sprinkle with flour.

  2. Sieve the flour into a bowl, add the baking powder. Cube the butter and combine using fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

  3. Add the sugar and dried fruit - mix well

  4. Make a well in the center of the mixture, add the milk and stir together to a soft dough. (If too sticky add more flour, if too dry, a little more milk - this will take some experimentation to get the feel)

  5. Turn the mixture out onto a floured worksurface, and sprinkle the top of the ball with flour also - flatten down very lightly until about 3/4" thick. (Work very lightly and quickly with chemically leavened breads such as this)

  6. Cut into rounds with a cutter, beaker, or triangles as you prefer.

  7. Place on the bakin sheet and brush with the beaten egg/milk mixture. Bake near the top of the oven for 15 mins until golden brown and well risen