LUCY BURDETTE: Aside from the murder mystery in The Mango Murders, Hayley’s neighbor Miss Gloria is celebrating her 85th birthday. Lots of visitors have arrived on the island to participate in the birthday weekend, including her two thorny daughters-in-law. Miss Gloria knows they'll be nagging her to move away from Key West to the safety of senior housing closer to family. She hatches the idea of inviting them for a tour of the residences on Houseboat Row, with scones and coffee on Hayley and Nathan’s deck at the end. She knows she can count on her friends to support her. Hayley agrees, of course, and whips up these mango scones. Oh my, they are delicious!
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon almond flavoring
1/3 cup brown sugar
One stick (a.k.a. 8 tablespoons) frozen unsalted butter
One egg
1/2 cup sour cream
2 1/2 tablespoons whole milk
One cup ripe mango, peeled and cut into small chunks
For the frosting:
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
Preheat the oven to 400°.
Combine the dry ingredients with a fork. Take care to mix the brown sugar in thoroughly.
Placing a grater over the bowl of dry ingredients, grate the frozen butter into the bowl using the largest holes. With a fork, mix the butter in well with the flour mixture.
In another bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the egg, sour cream, almond flavoring, and milk. Stir the combined wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just moist. Fold in the mango.
Dump the batter onto a piece of parchment paper lightly dusted with flour and shape it into a circle. The batter will be wet and crumbly, but don’t overwork it.
Cut the circle of dough into eight wedges and separate them slightly so there is space between each scone. (I cut mine into six wedges, which were very generous!)
Bake until beginning to brown, about 18 minutes. Serve as you like with more butter, whipped cream, the cream cheese frosting, or just as they are.
As a side note, I asked my hub if he wanted his frosted and he first said no. He changed his mind when he heard I was having frosting. After tasting it he said, “I don’t know why you even asked me about the icing, it’s amazing!”
These freeze well and can be defrosted and warmed up for a treat on another day. (Better not to freeze the icing.)
Lucy Burdette writes the Key West food critic mystery series including USA Today bestselling A POISONOUS PALATE and A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS.
