Discover The Best Scone Recipes - From Classic To Creative

The History Of Scones

Origins And Evolution

Cultural Significance

Tips For Making The Perfect Scones

Importance Of Ingredients

• Flour: Use self-raising flour for the best results. If using plain flour, remember to add baking powder.
• Butter: Cold, unsalted butter is crucial for creating flaky layers.
• Liquid: Full-fat milk or cream adds richness to the dough.
• Mix-ins: Fresh fruits, herbs, cheese, and chocolate chips can be added to customize your scones.

Key Techniques

• Cold Ingredients: Keep your ingredients, especially butter and liquid, as cold as possible.
• Gentle Mixing: Overmixing can lead to tough scones. Mix until just combined.
• Proper Cutting: Use a sharp cutter and avoid twisting to ensure the scones rise evenly.
• High Temperature: Bake at a high temperature (around 220°C/425°F) to achieve a crisp exterior and soft interior.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Overworking the Dough: This can result in dense scones.
• Incorrect Oven Temperature: Baking at too low a temperature can make the scones spread and become flat.
• Skipping the Resting Step: Let the dough rest in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before baking to relax the gluten.

Classic Scone Recipes

Traditional British Scones

Elements

• 250g self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 25g caster sugar
• 150ml full-fat milk
• 1 beaten egg (for glazing)

Process

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Sugar: Stir in the sugar.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Serve: Serve warm with clotted cream and jam.

Sweet Scone Recipes

Fruit Scones

Ingredients

• 250g self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 50g caster sugar
• 100g mixed dried fruit (e.g., sultanas, raisins, currants)
• 150ml full-fat milk
• 1 beaten egg (for glazing)

Approach

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Sugar and Fruit: Stir in the sugar and dried fruit.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Serve: Serve warm with butter or jam.

Chocolate Chip Scones

Components

• 250g self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 50g caster sugar
• 100g chocolate chips
• 150ml full-fat milk
• 1 beaten egg (for glazing)

Technique

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Sugar and Chocolate Chips: Stir in the sugar and chocolate chips.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Serve: Serve warm with a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

Lemon Drizzle Scones

What To Use

• 250g self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 50g caster sugar
• Zest of 2 lemons
• 150ml full-fat milk
• Juice of 1 lemon (for drizzle)
• 50g icing sugar (for drizzle)
• 1 beaten egg (for glazing)

Preparation

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Sugar and Lemon Zest: Stir in the sugar and lemon zest.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Drizzle: Mix the lemon juice and icing sugar to make a drizzle. Pour over the warm scones.
• Serve: Serve warm or at room temperature.

Savory Scone Recipes

Cheese Scones

• 250g self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 100g grated mature cheddar cheese
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 150ml full-fat milk
• 1 beaten egg (for glazing)

Making Cheese Scones

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and mustard powder.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Cheese: Stir in the grated cheese.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Serve: Serve warm with butter or a dollop of chutney.

Herb Scones

• 250g self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (e.g., parsley, chives, thyme)
• 150ml full-fat milk
• 1 beaten egg (for glazing)

Steps

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Herbs: Stir in the chopped herbs.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Serve: Serve warm with butter or alongside a bowl of soup.

Bacon Scones

• 250g self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 100g cooked bacon, chopped
• 100g grated cheddar cheese
• 150ml full-fat milk
• 1 beaten egg (for glazing)

Methodology

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Bacon and Cheese: Stir in the chopped bacon and grated cheese.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Serve: Serve warm with a pat of butter or a side of scrambled eggs.

Gluten-Free And Vegan Scone Recipes

Gluten-Free Scones

• 250g gluten-free self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 50g caster sugar
• 150ml full-fat milk or plant-based milk
• 1 beaten egg or plant-based alternative (for glazing)

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Sugar: Stir in the sugar.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray, brush with beaten egg, and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Serve: Serve warm with your favorite gluten-free toppings.

Vegan Scones

• 250g self-raising flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 50g cold plant-based butter, cubed
• 50g caster sugar
• 150ml plant-based milk
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water (for egg replacement)

Step By Step Process

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F).
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt.
• Incorporate Butter: Rub the plant-based butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add Sugar: Stir in the sugar.
• Add Liquid: Gradually add the flaxseed mixture and plant-based milk, mixing gently until a soft dough forms.
• Shape and Cut: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out scones with a fluted cutter.
• Glaze and Bake: Place the scones on a baking tray and bake for 12-15 minutes until risen and golden.
• Serve: Serve warm with vegan butter and jam.

Everything You Need To Know About Scones

What Is The Difference Between British And American Scones?

How Do You Store Scones To Keep Them Fresh?

Can You Freeze Scones?

What Are The Best Toppings For Scones?

How Do You Prevent Scones From Becoming Dry?

Conclusion