- Customizable – It can be easily made with your favorite ingredients to suit your taste.
- Make-Ahead – The recipe can be made ahead of time and frozen (see instructions below).
- Texture perfection – Moist inside with a touch of crisp on the outside.
What are Scones?
Scones originated in the United Kingdom. They are considered a quick bread, often shaped into circles similar to a Southern biscuit, or wedges. Though they have similar ingredients as biscuits – a foundation of flour, butter, heavy cream (or buttermilk), and a leavening agent to help them rise – the proportions and resulting textures are completely different.
English “scones” are closely related to American “Biscuits” – they are less sweet and are served with Devonshire cream or clotted cream and jam. American scone recipes like this one, tend to have more butter, heavy cream, and sugar in the recipe and often have mix-ins added.
Tips for Making the Best Scones
The key to making fluffy and flaky scones is to use cold ingredients and keep them cold. If you use room-temperature ingredients or handle the dough too much, your dough will over-spread in the oven, leaving you with flat scones instead of the tall, moist, and flaky scones you dream about.
- Cold Ingredients – Keep all of your ingredients refrigerated and very cold until ready to use.
- Dice butter ahead of time and then return it to the refrigerator until it is time to add it to the recipe.
- Chill before baking – Refrigerate your formed dough for at least 15 minutes before baking.
- Cut straight down with a food scraper or knife and avoid using a sawing motion.
- Fully preheat the oven – a hot oven turns the butter into steamy air pockets and prevents butter from pooling in the pan. An oven thermometer helps!
Ingredients for Scones
See the list below (full measurements in the recipe card) for my tried and true scone recipe.
- Flour – All-purpose works great
- Sugar – lightly sweetens the dough
- Baking powder – makes the dough rise
- Salt – balances the flavors
- Butter – unsalted (make sure it’s cold)
- Egg – adds structure and flavor
- Heavy cream – cold cream provides moisture for a rich texture and soft crumb; also used to brush the tops
- Vanilla extract – try real or homemade vanilla for the best flavor
- Raw sugar – to sprinkle over scones
