English Scones Recipe (2024)

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Ellen

If you don't use self rising flour, do you use the substitution baking powder (1 1/2 tablespoons) as well as the 2 teaspoons in the recipe?

Anita

Caution advised when not using self rising flour. I followed the recipe with all purpose flour and the recommended salt but it was way too much.

Pierre

Made these with blueberries instead of currants, turned out great. Will be making these regularly for my wife (I don't get a say in the matter).

Pierre

I made them with all purpose flour also and found them as I expected (delicious). They are a bit salty however, so be sure to use unsalted butter and feel free to reduce salt to taste.

Bernice Glenn

I make a similar recipe adding ordinary raisins, and, a 1/4 cup of slightly sweet orange marmalade for another layer of flavor. Adding the egg yolk/milk glaze is a nicety, but not really necessary. Cutting the salt down to less than 1/2 teaspoon works for me.

Dog mom

I found the recommended oven temperature, 425, high. Had much better results baking these scones at 375 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes.

Ian

Just a note: UK self-rising flour has NO added salt. The North American version should have:1c flour1-1/2 tsp baking powder1/4 tsp saltHere are 2 UK versions:Nigella Lawson*2 tsp baking powder*1 cup all-purpose flour (150g/6oz/1 cup plain unsifted flour). Sift the flour and baking powder together into a bowl before using.BBC good food: self-raising flour *1 tsp baking powder*110 g of plain flour (about one cup sifted)

juliem

I’ve been trying to get my scones to rise as high as some we had in London. My best results with this recipe have been by putting the dough in a bowl covered with plastic wrap for the 20 minute rest time (rather than wrapping the dough directly with plastic wrap) and not using a rolling pin to “roll them out.” Instead, I use my fingers to push down and out. It leaves more of the air in from the rest/rise.

MaryAlecia

We didn't have any cow milk, so had to use flax milk. Turned out lovely! And twice now we've made the dough at night and then rolled and baked the next morning - very easy. They do taste best right from the oven.

Too much salt, not enough liquid

The amount of salt in this recipe is twice what is needed. The liquid (milk) is about 75% of what is needed. When the recipe is made exactly as published, it is very salty, the dough is dry. Scone dough needs to be on the sticky side in order to rise correctly in the oven.

DWZ

Self rising flour worked well. I will try higher heat on the top shelf next time.Must Add: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/41579/easy-clotted-cream/Good video and style for forming: https://www.allrecipes.com/video/4742/worlds-best-scones-from-scotland-to-the-savoy/Another good way to form the scones and advice on baking: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/scones-recipe

Catherine,,,,,a Briton!!

Oh dear! We would NEVER add the sugar before rubbing in the butter,,,,,(cold hands are an essential here,,and any fruit is also stirred in before adding the milk. Also,,the 'wetter'' the mixture(within the bounds of reason,) results in a lighter scone ,,, Just saying xxx

Pierre

The recipe is very flexible I've found, I've also used margarine for a lactose-free version and they were just as good.

Carole

As advised, used less salt. Flavor is good, but less flaky texture than I expect from a scone. Made the first batch on parchment, second on a greased pan; greased pan wins because the internal cooking was more even.

FoodFriendsTravel

Made these before anyone else got up on a Sunday. Altered the recipe slightly: added 1/8 teaspoon Baking Soda, and swapped out the dried cranberries for frozen organic blueberries. As you might expect, these were dripping with juices from the berries, held together perfectly and are delicious. Also, dusted the egg wash with Turbinado sugar before baking.

Betty

Great recipe but it takes much longer than the 12 minutes as quoted.

Catherine,,,,,a Briton!!

Oh dear! We would NEVER add the sugar before rubbing in the butter,,,,,(cold hands are an essential here,,and any fruit is also stirred in before adding the milk. Also,,the 'wetter'' the mixture(within the bounds of reason,) results in a lighter scone ,,, Just saying xxx

Anna

Sooo yummy! I used 2 3/4 cup all purpose and less salt, and it was just perfection! Will be making these regularly :)

Rossinante

Very good recipe. I substituted dried blueberries for the currants and cut the salt down to 1/2 t. I'm curious why the salt is so high in this recipe? Is that traditional?

Jayne Ann

I've lived in the UK for 25 years. I make scones with butter, but I imagine that back in the day scones would have been made with lard. Maybe so, maybe not. My grandmother in New Orleans was renown for her baking. She always used Parkay margarine. Her Buttermilk Cake and Brownies were legend.

Emily

These are drop biscuits, not scones. The texture is somewhat close and moist, not flaky, so if your family likes biscuits these might fit the bill. I found the recipe suspect from the start (just 4 tbsp butter?) and the result disappointing.

TinaT.

Excellent texture. I left them in for 14 minutes. Like many others say, these are way too salty (when you follow the recipe for the self rising flour.) However to combat the salt, I put peach jam on it, and that made everything better :-) Combat the salt with sweet and you have a winner. Next time though I will just leave out the salt advised in the self rising flour directions. If almost half of the comments said “too salty,” that editors might modify the recipe? Perhaps I’m being too salty?

Paul T

Really good. Used a cup of blueberries intead. Cooled down high fat butter in freezer and then grated into flour mix. Used a tad more milk to bring it all together. Not sure what smooth dough means in this recipe. Also didn’t wrap it - just put in a covered bowl and then in refrig. Used AP and cut down on salt by a 1/4 tsp.

Pam

Really tasty classic scone. Took advice of others and added a smidge less salt than in the recipe (I did the all purpose flour substitution), which was the right call. Had it with some raspberry preserves and cardamom tea. Delightful!

ALG

Easy. Yummy

Noilly

I found unsalted butter best. I also add chopped glacé cherries and raisins (or currents) like my British Grannie did. She also measured flour and mixed in the butter lumps with her hands.

Tonya

This is by far one of the most delicious scones. I don't like sweets, so this is a much more savory scone that you would normally find in a bakery, which is why I never order scones, or when I do, I am dismally disappointed. This recipe is a winner!

Tonya

(updated) This is by far one of the most delicious scones. I don't like sweets, so this is a much more savory scone than you would normally find in a bakery, which is why I never order scones, or when I do, I am dismally disappointed. This recipe is a winner!

Samantha S

I used the substitute for self-rising flour listed in the recipe's ingredients. Also added dried blueberries in place of currants. For me, they rose perfectly and the texture turned out scrumptious.

gfbaker

Just made with bob’s red mill GF 1 to 1 flour and it worked like a charm cut down on salt as suggested.

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English Scones Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between British scones and English scones? ›

British scones are traditionally drier, lighter, plain in flavor, and significantly less sugary than American scones and are commonly served for breakfast or with afternoon tea as a bready snack. America's Test Kitchen claims that butter is one of the major differences between English and American scones.

What is the secret to a good scone? ›

But frozen grated butter is the real key to success. Like with pie crust, work the cold butter into the dry ingredients to create crumbs. The butter/flour crumbs melt as the scones bake, releasing steam and creating air pockets. These pockets create a flaky center while keeping the edges crumbly and crisp.

What are British scones called in America? ›

A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)

Both baked goodies use flour, fat, liquid and a leavening agent. The main differences are that scones tend to have less butter (because you'll add butter to it when you eating it — or else, clotted cream or jam) while American biscuits tend to have more butter and light layers.

What to avoid when making scones? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Scones
  1. Using anything but cold ingredients. The secret to the flakiest scones is to start with cold ingredients — cold butter, cold eggs, and cold cream. ...
  2. Only using all-purpose flour. ...
  3. Overmixing the dough. ...
  4. Not chilling the dough before baking. ...
  5. Baking them ahead of time.
May 1, 2019

What is the American version of a scone? ›

Biscuits and scones have the same British ancestor, but the early Southern colonists' version included butter, lard, buttermilk, and soft wheat, plentiful in the South. Over time, this fluffy and layered bread evolved into a regional commodity: the Southern biscuit.

What is an American English scone? ›

American scones use much more butter than British scones, and they usually have quite a bit more sugar. The extra butter is what makes them so much denser. This is not really a good or bad thing, as British scones pile on plenty of sugar (in the form of preserves/jam) and butter or clotted cream as toppings.

What type of flour is best for scones? ›

Use all-purpose flour for a higher rising scone that holds its shape nicely, both in and out of the oven. To make more delicate, lower-rising, cake-like scones, substitute cake flour for all-purpose flour.

How to make scones rise higher? ›

To ensure taller scones, start with a thicker dough disc and place the scones on a tray with sides, allowing them to slightly touch one another. This arrangement encourages the scones to push against the pan and each other, promoting height.

Should you chill scone dough before baking? ›

Keep scones cold before putting them in the oven: For best results, chill the mixture in the fridge before baking, this will help to stiffen up the butter again, which will stop your scones from slumping as soon as they hit the oven's heat.

What do Brits call cookies? ›

Hard or crisp cookies are called biscuits in the U.K.

What is a cracker called in England? ›

In British English, crackers are sometimes called water biscuits, or savoury biscuits.

What do British call biscuits and gravy? ›

Scones and Gravy: The English Equivalent.

Why are scones bad for you? ›

They are typically extremely high in calories from the heavy butter and cream. And, although scones with fruit might seem healthier, most are even higher in calories and still high in saturated fat. Steer clear of scones.

Why do my scones have brown dots? ›

My scones are speckled

The proportions of bicarbonate of soda and acid (either sour milk or cream of tartar) may be incorrect or the flour and raising agents may have been insufficiently sieved. Speckling can also occur if granulated sugar, or too much sugar is used.

What is the queens way of eating scones? ›

Well, according to Darren McGrady, a former chef who worked for the Royal Family for over 10 years, the Queen prefered jam first. He tweeted: “The Queen always had home-made Balmoral jam first with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent and all royal tea parties.”

Do the royal family say scone or scone? ›

“I say it like 'cone' personally but Her Majesty did always say 'scon'. “I think more people say 'scone' but the ones who say 'scon' swear they're the only ones that say it right. Posh people definitely say 'scon', but ultimately both are valid.”

Are British scones soft or hard? ›

British scones are reasonably dense, but not as dense as American scones (assuming they're fresh). They look a bit like tall American biscuits, but they're sweeter and fluffier (though I've had some American biscuits that were much denser than British scones, so that's not a universal truth).

How do you eat scones in England? ›

Scoop out clotted cream and jams onto your plate, enough for one scone. Break apart a small bite-sized portion of scone with your hands or if using a knife, cut the scone horizontally. Use a knife to slather on cream and jam onto the broken-off piece of scone. The bite-sized piece of scone should be eaten in 1-2 bites.

What does an American scone look like? ›

American scones are sweet, heavy, dry and crumbly, similar to British rock cakes. They are usually triangular, and often contain fruit such as blueberries or sultanas, or such flavorings as pumpkin, cinnamon or chocolate chips. They may also be topped with icing.

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