Oatmeal Currant Scones

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder 
• 0.8 teaspoon baking soda 
• 0.7 cup buttermilk plus additional well-shaken for brushing
• 0.5 cup currants dried
• 1.7 cups flour all-purpose
• 1.3 cups old-fashioned oats 
• 1  orange zest finely grated
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 0.3 cup sugar plus additional for sprinkling
• 0.8 cup butter unsalted cold cut into tablespoon pieces

Equipment

• food processor
• bowl
• baking sheet
• oven

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF.
2. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, and salt into a food processor, then add oats and pulse 15 times.
3. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with small (pea-size) lumps, then transfer to a bowl.
4. Stir together zest and buttermilk. Toss currants with oat mixture, then add buttermilk, stirring with a fork just until a dough forms. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead 6 times.
5. Pat dough into a 1-inch-thick round, dusting surface with more flour if necessary.
6. Cut out as many scones as possible with cutter, dipping it in flour before each cut, and transfer scones to a lightly buttered large baking sheet. Gather scraps into a ball, then pat into a round and cut out more scones in same manner.
7. Brush tops of scones with buttermilk and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
8. Bake in middle of oven until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes, and transfer to a rack.
9. Serve warm or at room temperature.
10. • Scones can be made 2 hours ahead, cooled, and kept at room temperature.