Cranberry Gorgonzola Walnut Scones,

Cranberry Gorgonzola Walnut Scones- made with Victorian House original recipe scone mix (not pictured below)

Yum, yum, double yum! These were so light and delicious that I had to restrain myself from eating all of them myself.

victorian House scone mix, biscuit mix, and users's guide

I ordered some scone and biscuit mixes, along with a scone making handbook from Victorian House Scones not too long ago.

I’m so happy when I get boxes like this in the mail!

Victorian House Scone mixes are sold by many Bed and Breakfast Inns and Tea Rooms. A good number of these places also serve scones made from these mixes, so I thought it would be interesting to try some.

 

victorian House oatmeal scone mix, and users's guide

I first heard Debbie Anderson, the founder of Victorian House Scones, speak last year when I took a scone making workshop at World Tea Expo in Las Vegas.

Her blog post on how cost effective and convenient it is to use a mix really makes sense. The mix was very easy to use, and I like the fact that all the mixes are free of preservatives, artificial colors, and artificial flavorings (with only one exception–the Butter Brickle Scone mix contains Heath Almond Brickle Chips).

I also really like the idea of not baking the whole batch of scones right away, and freezing the rest to bake a few at a time later. Portion control is definitely needed here!

Shredded butter,cranberries,walnuts, gorgonzola cheese

There are quite a few variations and the recipes are easy to find on the Victorian House Scones website under Mix Instructions.

Here, in addition to the required ingredients, I added 4 ounces of crumbled gorgonzola cheese, 1 cup dried cranberries, 1/2 c. walnuts, and about 1/4 cup extra buttermilk to the retail size (20.35 oz.) package of original recipe scone mix.

Shredded butter, close up

Here is the real secret–frozen, shredded butter! It creates the lightest scones ever by creating pockets of air in the scones as the butter melts during baking.

Debbie explains her shredded butter technique and lots of other really useful tips on her blog.

Unbaked wedges of cranberry gorgonzola walnut scones

Here are some wedges, ready to bake. I mixed and cut these this morning, then froze them. This afternoon I just baked these six.

Now I have ten more frozen wedges in my freezer carefully wrapped and tucked away. =)

Cranberry Gorgonzola Walnut Scones, close up

Savory, with a touch of cranberry sweetness.

We all loved these. I’m thinking about my stash in the freezer, and when I can bake some more of them.

Cranberry Gorgonzola Walnut Scone, broken in half

The Users Guide to Scone Making and Scone Mixes covers scone basics, and the how/when/where of additions and substitutions. It also includes some color photos.

According to the Users Guide information webpage, although the guide was written to accompany Victorian House Scones mixes, the principles are universal and apply whether you are working with mixes or your own recipe.

So experiment away with whatever mixes you already have, or your own recipe. I think the Users Guide together with the Victorian House Scones website provides great information for making some of the best scones.

If you’re planning to purchase some mixes, don’t forget to check out the mixes available online from Victorian House Scones too.