Scones are a breakfast classic, something millennials might remember reading about in English writer Enid Blyton’s Noddy books, with Big Ears having them often with tea. As for the real deal, scones are one of the most technique-sensitive Western bakes, where most of the ingredients, especially the butter, need to be cold to get the texture of this baked good right. Swap in or use a blend of khapli wheat flour and refined flour for an even better flavour and nutrition.
Use quality atta like Aashirvaad Chakki Khapli Atta, which has been cultivated on the Indian subcontinent for over ten thousand years. It is a hulled variety, meaning it retains its bran and germ layers more completely after milling than modern wheat does, giving khapli atta a coarser texture, a distinctly nutty, slightly earthy flavour, and a lower gluten content than standard whole-wheat or all-purpose flour. It also has a good amount of fibre and protein, as well as iron and vitamin B1, which is vital for energy metabolism.
When it comes to using khapli wheat in baking scones, its lower and weaker gluten is a structural advantage. The defining quality of a good scone is the short, flaky, crumbling texture that separates it from bread and cake, which is the result of deliberately limiting gluten development. In standard scone recipes, this is achieved by using cold fat, less mixing, and avoiding any kneading. With khapli atta, the lower gluten content means the flour itself resists overdevelopment, widening the margin for error and making the texture more tender even if the dough is handled a little more than intended.
Step 1: Freeze the butter and chill the wet ingredients
Do this first, before anything else. Wrap the butter in cling film and place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before you begin. Measure the buttermilk and return it to the refrigerator until needed. Whisk the egg, then refrigerate it. Every ingredient that goes into the dough should be as cold as possible. NOTE: If you want savoury scones, skip the vanilla and reduce the sugar by 2 tablespoons.
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Step 2: Mix the dry ingredients
Take a large bowl and whisk the khapli atta, sugar, baking powder, and salt. The whisking will distribute the baking powder evenly. Set aside.
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Step 3: Grate in the frozen butter
Remove the frozen butter from the freezer. Grate it on the large-hole side of a box grater into the flour mixture. Use the grater wrapper to hold the butter, as your hand's warmth will soften it faster than needed. Toss the butter through the flour with a fork until it forms irregular, pea-sized clumps. Put the bowl back in the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
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Step 4: Add wet ingredients and add-ins
Take a small bowl and whisk the chilled buttermilk, egg, and vanilla extract. Take the flour mixture out of the refrigerator. Drizzle the wet mixture over the flour and add your chosen add-ins. Fold with a spatula or fork until the dough just forms. It will be shaggy, sticky, and uneven. Do not knead or press it to make it smooth. If it seems too dry to hold, add 1 tablespoon more buttermilk. Khapli atta absorbs liquid slightly more slowly than refined flour, so resist adding extra liquid for the first 30 seconds of mixing.
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Step 5: Shape and chill
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and press into a disc approximately 8 inches. Using a sharp knife, cut into 8 equal wedges. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking tray, spacing 2 inches apart. Brush the tops with the remaining cold buttermilk. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if using. Transfer the tray to the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes. The extended chill gives khapli's bran particles time to hydrate fully, which prevents crumbling at the edges and improves the rise.
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Step 6: Bake
Preheat the oven to 190°C, slightly lower than the standard 200°C for scones. Khapli atta's bran makes it brown faster than refined flour, and a slightly lower temperature ensures the interior cooks fully before the exterior over-colours. Bake for 20-22 minutes until the tops and edges are golden brown. Check from the 18-minute mark. Remove from the oven and cool on the tray for 5 minutes before serving them warm.
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Step 1: Freeze the butter and chill the wet ingredients
A scone is neither a biscuit nor a cake. It is a quick bread made with a chemical raising agent. Using khapli wheat gives a nuttier flavour and heartier crumb.
A khapli wheat scone is typically made with khapli flour, baking powder, butter, milk or cream, sugar and salt. Optional ingredients include dried fruit, herbs, cheese or spices.
Khapli wheat scones have a mildly sweet, nutty, wholesome flavour with a tender yet slightly denser crumb than regular wheat scones, making them ideal with butter, jam or clotted cream.
Mix self-raising khapli wheat flour, thick cream and lemonade until combined. Shape, cut and bake until golden. This classic three-ingredient method produces soft, light scones with a subtle nutty flavour.