You have got to love the English language for its various dialects and cultural differences! Here is a case in point: a British biscuit is what North Americans call a cookie, but biscuits in North America are more like British scones. Is there a difference between an American biscuit and a British scone? A southern biscuit has more butter and acidity from buttermilk, making them flakier and fluffier, while scones rely on richer ingredients, like cream and eggs, to get a sturdy yet crumbly texture. Given that I am vegan, so do not use any dairy or eggs, this recipe is a cross between a biscuit and a scone. Call it as you please!
I’ve used my Vegan Feta Cheese in this recipe to add a delicious creamy flavour and wonderful softness to the scones. The feta brings the slight acidity you would get from buttermilk and works with the soy milk as an egg replacer. I love to add a few different herbs for their flavour, aroma and appearance. These scones are best served warm or lightly toasted with some extra feta, sliced pickled onions, herbs and arugula, or simply with some vegan butter. –Ed Tatton
Vegan Herb and Feta Scones
Ingredients
Scones
- ½ cup cold vegan butter
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp + 2¼ tsp baking powder
- ⅓ cup stone-ground whole-grain spelt flour
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp fine sea salt
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 cup unsweetened soy milk
- 1¾ cups Vegan Feta Cheese cut into ¼-inch (5mm) cubes
- ⅔ cup finely chopped fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, and chives
Glaze
- 1 tbsp + 2 tsp unsweetened soy milk
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp olive oil
Instructions
- Cut the butter into ¼-inch (5mm) cubes and freeze until needed.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Sift together the all-purpose flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add the spelt flour, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper and whisk everything together.
- Add the frozen butter. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Add the soy milk, Macadamia Feta and chopped herbs. Using one hand while the other hand holds the bowl still, gently incorporate everything together just until a soft dough forms and no dry patches remain. Do not overmix.
- Lightly flour the work surface and the dough. Roll out the dough into a rectangle ¾ to 1 inch (2 to 2.5cm) thick. Using a large chef’s knife, cut the dough crosswise into 4 rectangles, then cut each rectangle diagonally to make 8 equal-size triangles. Arrange them upside down on the lined baking sheet, leaving a little space between them to allow for growth and even baking. (The side that was on the work surface becomes the top, which helps with the rise and a nicer finished appearance.)
- In a small bowl, stir together the soy milk, maple syrup and olive oil. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the tops of the scones a couple of times.
- Bake until the tops are golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer the scones to a cooling rack to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Lightly toast before serving.
