May is a great time to enjoy the outdoors with homemade scones and tea. Making scones is quick and easy, taking about 15 minutes to prepare.

To make good scones, you need the right ingredients. A baker named Danielle Ellis says buttermilk is very important for making scones rise.

Danielle says buttermilk makes scones better. It's easy to find in stores and keeps well.

Buttermilk helps scones taste and feel better.

Buttermilk is what's left after making butter from cream. You can make it or buy it in stores.

The acid in buttermilk helps the baking powder create bubbles, making the scones rise.

Buttermilk also makes the gluten in flour softer, giving the scones a light texture. It adds moisture without needing a lot of fat.

Buttermilk helps make scones taller, lighter, and more delicious, even for beginners.

Making scone dough takes about 15 minutes.

Here are the ingredients.

You can make some changes.

For sweet scones, add sugar and raisins if you like.

For savory scones, add cheese and smoked paprika.

Now, let's start making the scones.

Preheat the oven and prepare a baking tray with flour.

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Add cold butter and mix until it looks like breadcrumbs.

Use cold butter to make the pastry flaky.

Rub the butter into the flour mixture and add extra ingredients.

Buttermilk helps the scones get bigger.

Add sugar and raisins for sweet scones, or cheese and paprika for savory ones.

Add an egg and mix. Then add buttermilk a little at a time until the dough comes together.

Shape the dough into a rectangle and cut out scone shapes.

Place the scones on the baking tray without twisting the cutter.

Brush the tops with egg wash and add cheese if making savory scones.

Bake the scones in the oven for 12 minutes, or until they're golden and fluffy.