by Mary Berry

Mary Berry's scones are the perfect easy tea-time treat, whether jam-and-cream-topped (in whichever order you like), plain or packed with sultanas.

Equipment: You will need a fluted 5cm/2in cutter.

Cakes and baking

Buyer's guide

Self-raising flour is widely available in UK supermarkets. Outside of the UK and USA, it is not commonly used.

Storage

Self-raising flour will not keep for very long. The baking powder absorbs moisture from the air, which reacts with other ingredients in the flour, affecting its ability to rise.

Preparation

Self-raising flour is used in baking and cake-making, and is often an ingredient in packaged cake mixes. If you do not have self-raising flour, combine plain flour with baking powder and salt, or add raising agents separately in your recipe. Self-raising flour is often used as a short-cut in baking, or by vegans who do not eat eggs (the extra raising agent in the flour does the eggs’ work).