IRELAND’S best scone has been located in County Cork.
The most superior scone to be found in the Emerald Isle lies among the teatime treats on offer at the Griffins Garden Centre and Cafe in Dripsey, according to a public vote which covered hundreds of nominated bakers.
There Granny Griffin and her baking team ensure the most delicious teatime treats are on offer to their customers every day, including the scones - made with local ingredients, with new varieties on offer daily - which saw them chosen as top of the baking class by the Irish people.
This week Margaret Griffin, who owns the Griffins Garden Centre and Cafe, which has been in operation for 30 years this year, said of their accolade: “Being named as a finalist in Ireland’s Best Scone in early May was incredible. We received huge support from our customers and the local community throughout the voting stages but to be named as the overall winner of Ireland’s Best Scone this month in unbelievable.”
She added: “We’re very particular about the ingredients that we use and our recipe has been passed down through the generations from Granny Griffin.
“Our head baker, Mary O’Mahony, aka our very own Granny Griffin, bakes each batch of scones with spoonfuls of love and care. Now that we’re home to Ireland’s Best Scone it’ll be scones all round in Dripsey.”
While the Griffins’ cafe is open seven days a week, those who can’t get to Cork to sample their scones can have a stab at making their own – as Granny Griffin reveals her winning recipe below.
The Ireland’s Best Scone competition, run by Irish baking brands Goodall’s and Odlums, saw hundreds of nominations made via Facebook in April.
More than two thousand votes were then cast by the public for their favourite scone from the list of ten finalists.
The finalists were:
Sophia Housing Café, Cork Street, Dublin
Griffins Garden Centre, Dripsey, Co. Cork
Horse and Jockey Hotel, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Limerick Strand Hotel, Limerick City, Co. Limerick
Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Fitzpatrick’s Shop, Glounthaune, Co. Cork
Meet You Here Cafe, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon
Mitchells Cafe, Kylemore, Co. Galway
Granny Griffin’s Scones (makes 15-18 award-winning scones)
Ingredients:
2 lbs of Odlums Self Raising Flour
2 level teaspoons of baking powder
8 ounces of cold unsalted butter
2 of Granny Griffin handfuls of quality sultanas
2 free range eggs (do not whisk the eggs)
Fresh Milk from the fridge
Butter Milk at room temperature
A teacup of caster sugar (150-180g) adjust to taste
Method:
Turn on oven to 180 degrees Celsius (fan oven). Always make sure it is hot before you start
Mix all dry ingredients and Cubes of butter with your cool hands
Add in 2 whole eggs (not whisked) and an even mix of whole milk and Butter milk
The amount of milk will vary but Granny Griffin always aims for quite a wet mixture
Always keep your eggs at room temperature. Never in a fridge and not in a very warm place in your kitchen - have all your ingredients as cool as possible
Mix all the dry ingredients well first and then add cubes of butter. You need to do this with very cold hands. As they say cold hands…warm heart
Don’t over work these ingredients. Then out with a fork and mix in the eggs and milk mixture to a nice wet consistency
Cool your hands with water again and knead the mixture
Handle the dough with love, never ever over work it
Roll out the mixture on a cool table to a thickness of an inch high
Cut with a cool scone cutter - never twist the scone cutter. Try to cut straight down
Glaze scone with an egg. Top and sides. This will help your scones stand proud
Put scones into your warm oven as quickly as possible
Bake for 15-18 minutes (every oven is different). Always bake your scones with love and quality ingredients
Serve with Homemade jam and freshly whipped cream
