Cherry Scones

This is a redo of a previous recipe...but with a fruit change. I used dried cherries this time instead and soaked them in hot water + almond extract. Had family in town for the weekend and in my house more people = lots of fun cooking!

Recipe

2 sticks butter

4 3/4 cups flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup dried cherries chopped up
1 Tablespoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Soak the dried fruit in a bowl of warm water with almond extract for 10 minutes, then drain thoroughly.

Sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl. Gently mix in sugar and salt with a wooden spoon. Sprinkle 1/2 inch cubes of butter over the bowl. Using a pastry cutter/blender thing, gently incorporate until you have pea sized pieces of butter covered in flour...it is important to keep visible chunks of butter in the dough. Add buttermilk dried fruit all and once and gently mix until incorporated. If making two different batches, separate the dry ingredients into two bowls before mixing in the wet ingredients to limit the amount of mixing required.

Turn dough onto floured surface and pat into a flat log, cut into wedges and bake for 25-35 minutes until golden brown on top. Serve immediately.