Country Mouse Scones (Gluten FREE and the 2nd most asked for recipe)

Country Mouse Scones 

Joy writes:

I have been asked for this recipe more times than I can count, and so I decided to put it here, on the blog/ministry site so that others can bake them if they want.

Now, I have to say that the "original" recipe was posted on my daughter's blog called TRYING l TASTING l EXPERIMENTING & ENJOYING and the post was called "Emily & Ashley's Amazing Bowen Island Scones.    The original recipe is delicious - and Ashley makes this recipe often.
However, when I started the ministry, I decided that I would just substitute some things.  LITTLE DID I KNOW that you just "CAN'T" do that with gluten free baking!!  But, I didn't know that, and well, don't EVER tell a Thomas-Klassen that you can't do something!!

ANYHOW, I did substitute - the first thing, I substituted the spelt flour for brown rice flour ... and the rest is history.  I can not tell you HOW often I have made these for NON GLUTEN FREE people to enjoy!  Perhaps some of you have eaten them and you didn't even know!

My daughter told me I should just name my recipe since it is so different from hers.  It is a bit of a teasing in my family as I have a blog www.thoughtsfromacountrymouse.blogspot.com and my kids lovingly call me "country mouse" at times SO she suggested I call it Country Mouse Scones.

So here is the recipe:  Country Mouse Scones by Joy :)

1 1/2 cups brown rice flour
1/4 cup GLUTEN FREE Oats
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/4 cup sugar   (I have used brown, white, and coconut palm sugar and it is all good)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup olive oil (or I have used grape seed oil)
1/4 cup chocolate chips or more!!
1 tsp vanila
2/3 cup fresh cranberries (or other fresh berries, or even frozen berries)
                                         ** I love the tartness of cranberries, and use them often
1/4 cup hemp hearts
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup ground chia seeds (or whole)
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup walnuts or pecans
about 1 cup buttermilk or yogurt (I prefer buttermilk, but both work)

**other options:  you could also use raisins, craisens, and also I have cut up dried apricots and used them

REGARDING THE BUTTERMILK OR YOGURT - you may have to add more depending on other things you may add in - or whether you don't add in everything I did.  Start with 1/2 cup and work from there.  The mixture should be workable- wet but not sticky.


Directions:
I put all dry ingredients in a bowl, and stir it all together.  Add the oil, vanilla and buttermilk or yogurt.  Stir it together with a fork.  Once it is mixed together, turn out onto a cookie sheet.  If you want, use parchment, however it is not necessary.  Pat it down into a circle about 7 inches in diameter.  I then take a straight edge baking utensil (can't remember the name lol) and but it like a pie - into 8 sections.  I sprinkle sugar on top.  It's ready to put into the oven!!
Bake at 400 degrees C for about 20 minutes.  Since ovens vary - check at 15 min.   It will look nice and golden on top and ready to cool and enjoy!