Scones
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Scones that are moist, crumbly, light & sweet are incredibly simple to make at home. Use your food processor to create the best scone dough!
Our scone recipe takes almost no time to come together and makes the most deliciously delicate sweet biscuits. Serve them at your next brunch with a breakfast casserole and banana bread pudding.
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Scones
Scones
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Scones Ingredients
- Flour – All purpose flour. Make sure not to get self-rising.
- Sugar – White granulated. Enough for the dough and then a little extra to sprinkle on top. Alternatively, you can use coarse sugar on top.
- Baking powder – For leavening.
- Butter – Salted butter, frozen and cubed.
- Heavy cream – Also called heavy whipping cream. Enough for the dough, and extra to brush over the top.
- Egg – Large.
- Sour cream – Full fat.
- Icing – Heavy cream and powdered sugar, optional.
How do you make scones? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, combine flour, sugar, and baking powder in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add butter and pulse to create a texture like coarse breadcrumbs.
⭐ Next, in a small mixing bowl or measuring cup, whisk together egg, heavy cream and sour cream. Add to food processor and pulse just until a dough forms.
⭐ Then, turn dough out onto a parchment lined, or lightly floured surface and separate into two equal sized balls. Gently flatten each dough ball into a disc, then cut each circle into 8 wedges with a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
⭐ Finally, place wedges a few inches apart on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until just turning golden brown. Drizzle with icing, if desired.
Icing for scone recipe
Pour powdered sugar into a small bowl, with a fork, slowly whisk in heavy cream until desired consistency is reached. Drizzle over baked scones after they’ve cooled.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
Can you make scones ahead of time?
Yes! These will keep for 3 – 4 days at room temperature, or longer if refrigerated or frozen. They’re a great breakfast or snack to keep on hand and perfect for bringing to friends.
What kind of sugar for scones?
This recipe calls for white granulated sugar, but you can also use brown sugar! The texture will be slightly different, but they will still be delicious.
Can I make these without a food processor?
Yes, use a pastry cutter to cut in the butter until it creates a bread crumb texture, then add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and combine until a dough forms. Knead just until smooth, then continue with the recipe as written.
How do you make scones light and moist?
Freeze your butter! (Not cold butter, FROZEN butter). I know this sounds like a little thing, but I promise, it makes a big difference. The frozen butter creates small pockets when it melts while cooking, making these especially light and moist.
It is also important not to overmix. Stop the food processor as soon as a dough forms.
Leftovers and storage
Do scones need to be refrigerated?
No, these can be kept at room temperature in a cool dry environment for several days. If you want them to last longer, then it is best to use refrigeration.
How long do scones last?
At room temperature they will keep 3 – 4 days, in the refrigerator about a week, and indefinitely if frozen.
Can you freeze scones?
Yes! You can freeze the dough (before baking) or the finished scones (after baking).
To freeze scone dough
Prepare the dough to the point where you cut it into wedges. Place the wedges in the freezer, on a flat surface, for several hours until frozen solid. Then transfer dough wedges to a freezer-safe container. Separate layers with freezer paper or parchment.
To bake from frozen, place frozen wedges on a parchment lined baking sheet, and cook per recipe directions. You may need to increase cook time by a few minutes.
To freeze baked scones
Allow scones to cool completely, then place in an air-tight freezer safe container and freeze.. Scones will be safe to eat indefinitely when frozen, but for best flavor and texture, enjoy within 3 – 6 months.
Thaw in the refrigerator or on the countertop.
Tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions
What is a scone?
A scone is a cross between a biscuit and a cookie. They are crumbly in texture, but still moist and slightly sweet.
Are scones breakfast or dessert?
In England, Ireland, and Scotland, where scones originate, they are typically served as an afternoon snack. Often with tea and biscuits (what we Americans think of as cookies).
However, in the U.S. scones are more often served as a breakfast, brunch, or sometimes dessert food.
Recipe variations
✅ Try making these with brown sugar and walnuts with a maple glaze on top.
✅ Add chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or butterscotch chips.
✅ Use a tablespoon of cinnamon when making the dough.
✅ Make savory scones by only using 1 – 2 tablespoons of sugar and adding garlic and your favorite herbs.
✅ Add a cup of your favorite fruit (fresh fruit or dried fruit) or berries.
What to eat with scones (servings suggestions)
You must serve these with whipped butter and warm apple butter! We like them at breakfast alongside air fryer bacon and poached eggs too.
Other delicious baked goods
- Pumpkin cream cheese muffins
- Homemade blueberry muffins
- Lemon raspberry cupcakes
- Best chocolate chip cookies
- Classic snickerdoodles
Tools we love
- Bakers half sheet – It’s cool, we only have about six of these bakers half sheets because they’re good for absolutely everything. Cookies? Yes! Steak? Yes! Cake? Oh yeh! Roasted veggies? Uhhhh huh!
- Food processor – I love my food processor/blender combo, it works great!
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How to Make Scones
Scones
Ingredients
Scones
- 2 cups flour
- ⅓ - ½* cup granulated sugar plus more for topping
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ cup salted butter frozen/cubed
- 1 egg beaten
- ⅓ cup heavy cream plus more for basting
- ⅓ cup sour cream
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 - 4 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
Scones
- Combine flour, sugar, and baking powder in a food processor and pulse to combine.
- Add butter and pulse to create a texture like coarse breadcrumbs.
- In a small mixing bowl or measuring cup, whisk together egg, heavy cream and sour cream. Add to food processor and pulse just until a dough forms.
- Turn dough out onto a parchment lined, or lightly floured surface and separate into two equal sized balls. Gently flatten each dough ball into a disc, then cut each circle into 8 wedges.
- Place wedges a few inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake at 400F for 12 - 14 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Icing
- Add powdered sugar to a small bowl and whisk in heavy cream slowly until desired consistency is reached.
- Drizzle over cooled scones.
Notes
- Try making these with brown sugar and walnuts with a maple glaze on top.
- Add chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or butterscotch chips.
- Use a tablespoon of cinnamon when making the dough.
- Go savory by only using 1 - 2 tablespoons of sugar and adding garlic and your favorite herbs.
- Add a cup of your favorite fruit or berries.
Nutrition
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Scones
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These come out perfectly every time! I added chocolate chips this morning!
These scones were so good and crumbly, they made for the perfect weekend brunch, everyone wanted the recipe!
I always thought scones were difficult to make, but your recipe is super easy to follow & who can’t resist a scone?! My family thanks you!! They want them all the time!