Curried Ginger Scones
The coffee shop near my job is really kinda depressing to me for several reasons.
First, their coffee usually just isn’t that good. Believe me, I’ve tried giving them the benefit of the doubt several times. I’ve bought multiple items on their menu just in case it was a fluke recipe; lattes, cappuccino, hot chocolate. NONE are really worth writing home about- or the $3.00 + change they charge for them. They’re not disgusting just…blah. Bland. However, since they’re the closest thing available to me, and more importantly because I have to feed my coffee addiction (or else bad things happen) I do still get a drink from them on the regular.
I had to mix things up, though. The barista there and I have a special understanding; she swaps out the regular vanilla syrups used in one of the lattes on their menu (it’s not good) with butterscotch syrup just for me, which really makes the drink taste a world of a lot better.
I kinda wish they would give me the credit for the new drink. Name it in my honor and put it on their menu or something. I feel like I did them a major favor. It actually tastes like it should cost $3.18 now.
Second thing about the coffee shop that depresses me? There’s no hot barista guy working there that I can flirt with in the morning to shake me out of my boredom. Y’know, the guy who gives me the extra shot of espresso free of charge with a commercial-worthy wink “just because” and calls me by my first name and always asks me how my weekend was or what my weekend will be like.
This should be basic elementary coffee shop stuff 101, amIright?
But even more depressing than the just-below-average coffee and absence of a hot barista guy named Wes in the coffee shop are their “baked goods”. The quotation marks were intentional. I’m really not even sure if I should call them that- seems like an insult to be honest. There’s nothing “good” about them. It’s that bad, you guys. I almost don’t even know where to start. They over bake EVERYTHING. I mean, good Lord. Whoever they’re paying to be their baker/pastry chef needs to be fired. or at least they should let me sit down and talk to them about some basic fundamentals of baking.
Cookies shouldn’t be completely flat and sunken in the middle when they set up. And they should not, should not, SHOULD NOT be dark brown across the top. That’s a burned cookie. It will crumble- and not crumble like Chips Ahoy, either. It’ll crumble like sawdust. Gross.
The scones are really what make me want to burst into tears though. Those poor, poor scones that never did anything to hurt anyone. Those poor scones that just wanted to be great. Those poor scones that have go through such cruel and unusual punishment. They’re over baked to the point where the inside of the scones looks like biscotti. They’re way too brown, I feel like if I squeezed it, it’d crumble into sawdusty crumbs. You’d never be able to tell that there was any butter layered in that overworked, over cooked dough. It’s a travesty.
Scones are one of life’s greatest joys. They deserve better. They deserve to BE better.
They deserve to be these Curried Ginger scones. I so wish I could sit down with the baker at the coffee shop near my job and teach him or her how to make these. I feel like I could change their life.
Curry and ginger is a marvelous combination; there’s just enough bite, spiciness, and sweetness in both to balance off of one another. Pair this up with a cup of coffee, and you’re more than good to go. You’re ready to face the world.
I’m taking these scones to Fiesta Friday #70, co-hosted this week by newbies Dini @ Giramuk’s Kitchen and Mollie @ The Frugal Hausfrau. See you guys there 🙂
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Curried Ginger Scones
Recipe Courtesy of The King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion
Ingredients
- 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped crystallized ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1 stick butter, cut into pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream
Directions
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the ginger, mixing to distribute, then the curry and sugar. Cut in the butter till the mixture is crumbly.
Add the buttermilk (or yogurt or sour cream), stirring till the dough just holds together. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, and pat it into a 10-inch square, about 1/2-inch thick.
Cut the dough into triangles, and transfer them to a lightly greased baking sheet. Place the scones in the freezer for 30 minutes to allow the dough to firm up (this will also make the scones rise higher)
Bake the scones in a preheated 425°F oven for 20 minutes, or until they’re golden. Remove them from the oven and paint them with ginger syrup, if desired.
Hilarious and sooootrue = you are not wrong! I have a nearby place that has great (decaf) coffee and a brownie with expresso that puts me over the moon. Also the people are friendly. Another nearby place, well their coffee is what you said, eh. So I know what you mean.
Thank you, there’s always one out there that just needs to get it together isn’t there? lol
The scones look awesome, moist and love the curry and ginger. Delicious. Good coffee is not that hard to make, they aren’t trying or don’t care or both. Morning coffee is so important, at least to me it is. Must be good!!
I think it may be a little bit of both Suzanne, thank you!
Oooh, these scones look fantastic! They look so moist and the color is beautiful. Such an interesting combination of flavors, too. Isn’t it amazing that places like your coffee shop stay in business? I think people really want to frequent the shops closest to their homes, though. There is a pizza place close to us that I think has terrible pizza, but it is always crowded. Thanks for this wonderful scone recipe, Jess!
Thank you Shari. I guess its a “to each his own” kind of thing. But then, some stuff is just plain not good lol
I know exactly what you mean: so many coffee shops seem to be on a mission to ruin those poor beans! As for your scones, they look absolutely stunning – and I bet they taste amazing, too!
Ruining the beans and everything else smh Thank you Ginger, these scones are pretty tasty if I may say so myself 😉
Never had the curry/ginger combination before. These look great!
It’s a wonderful combination Debbie, you should try it. Thank you!
I’ve just decided what to have for breakfast tomorrow. Thanks so much for sharing. I hope your coffee shop gets a new cook soon, or reads your blog at least.
Excellent Hilda, I hope you like them as much as I did. Thank you 🙂
I finally got around to making them, and we just had them hot and fresh for breakfast. The curry flavour is very mild – just a nice aromatic pepperiness which goes so well with the ginger. Hubby highly approved! I will be making these again, so my thanks.
AWESOME Hilda, I’m so glad you and your husband liked them 😀
Curried scones…never thought of it! Looks appetizing! When I hear your story about that miserable coffee shop, I think it should be reported for food violation! May your coffee taste better and all your other wishes come true!
I’d never heard of it before until this recipe either, but it’s a marvelous idea. Thank you!
I can understand the coffee shop issues – I am lucky to have a couple pretty good ones near me, but it took a couple failed tries elsewhere to find them! These sound tasty, good scones make all the difference!
Thank you Caroline 🙂
I am really intrigued by the flavors of these scones Jess! Sounds delicious! Hope the coffee situation gets better!
Thanks Naina, I’m keeping my fingers crossed lol
$3.18? LOL. These are the moistest scones that I have ever seen! You should take one over to the coffee shop and let them know what they are missing! Course, you may end up with another job.
Haha, thanks Julie and you may have a point. While I’m not particularly over the moon about my current job, I still think I prefer it to being a barista 😉
Curry and ginger, that’s amazing for a scones…. I hope they will let you sit down and explain HOW to bake!
Thanks Margherita 🙂
You had me at curry and ginger; seeing that they are scones put me over the edge. Seriously. They look amazing. And you should have your own coffee joint and sell these with the coffee. I’d buy one everyday.
Thank you! I think owning my own coffee joint may be fun; although I can’t speak to how much of my own merchandise I’d end up consuming- y’know, for “quality control” purposes lol
This is an intresting combination, I must try! I love a good scone! These looks moist and delicious!
Thank you so much, it’s a combination that’s not exactly classic, but it still really works!
What an amazingly original take on scones! I mean there are some people that still argue whether traditional scones should be spread with clotted cream first and then jam or the other way around – and then there is you making these 🙂 Fabulous!
Thank you so much! I personally like mine schmeared with jam piping hot with a side of coffee 😉
I’m not sure if I already wrote something here, because I saw this on Friday and just fell inlove with it – but two comments are perfectly accepted for something I love right?? 😀
I am so excited about the flavours of these scones! I am a Scone fanatic! I can have scones everyday if I could! I had a favourite scone place in Australia, but now I have to make my own…
The story of the barista cracked me up too! I ALWAYS gave an extra marshmallow on the side for my favourites! 😀 AND an extra shot for the regulars who are nice to me! :p
Can’t wait to try this recipe Jess! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Thank you so much Dini! I too could have scones every.single.day. if they were always on hand 😉
Beautifully done! I might try these soon!
Thank you, please do I think you’ll really enjoy them 🙂
Lovely! And I agree about coffee shop scones – they always look so good and so seldom deliver! This look beautiful and moist, and happy FF!
Thank you so much 🙂
Your scones look fabulous. Love the curry For their sake i wish they were reading your post.
Thanks skd, the curry really adds something special to them 😉
Wow, those scones look so good! I never would’ve thought of adding curry powder to them – great idea! 😀
Thank you Claudia, I really liked how they turned out!
I love ginger scones and these look amazing! I can’t wait to try this recipe. Just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the Creative Blogger Award. Go check out my blog to see what you should do next. Keep up the awesome posts!
You’re too kind, Erin. Thank you very much for thinking of my blog and for stopping by to comment 🙂