This Scone Recipe makes the BEST tender, flaky, and buttery scones in just 30 minutes. Recipe includes instructions for enjoying plain or adding your favorite mix-ins. Don’t forget to watch the how-to video!
A Super Simple & Satisfying Scone Recipe
This quick and easy scone recipe makes flavorful, beautifully textured scones without any of the fuss. If you’ve been too intimidated to make this wedge shaped treat, you won’t be after making these.
Here’s why you’ll love this scone recipe:
- No pastry blender! Instead we’ll use a food processor, which does all of the heavy lifting without overworking the dough. I do provide instructions for how to make your scones without a food processor, if you don’t have one!
- Just like in my easy biscuit recipe, a little laminating yields nice, flaky layers.
- It’s customizable! Frozen fruit (or fresh fruit, it’s just a bit messier), chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, or your favorite zest are all great options.
- No eggs! I found that using eggs makes scones less flaky and less melt-in-your-mouth.
- They’re delicious by themselves, or even better with honey butter, jam or whipped cream.
- It’s the perfect base for lots of different flavor variations such as my lemon poppy seed scones, chocolate scones, raspberry scones, and more!
What You Need
One of the best things about this scone recipe is that is uses ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Let’s touch on a few key players:
- Flour. Do NOT use self-rising flour or your scones will become much too tall and tip over.
- Butter. This is possibly the most important ingredient in my scone recipe. If you can get your hands on it, I recommend a high quality European butter, which has a higher fat content and makes for delectable, tender results.
- Vanilla. Just a splash of vanilla extract adds a lovely depth of flavor.
- Heavy cream. This helps bind everything together, much like an egg would, but the results are much more melt-in-your-mouth.
SAM’S TIP: Keep your butter as cold as possible! I like to freeze mine for at least 15-30 minutes before I begin making scones. Cold butter pieces distributed throughout the dough makes for tender, flaky, buttery layers. If the butter gets too warm at any point, your scones are prone to becoming flat and dense.
How to Make the Best Scone Recipe
- Combine the dry ingredients in your food processor, then add the butter pieces and pulse.
- Add the cream and vanilla to the food processor and pulse until the everything clumps together.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface, add any add-ins, then begin laminating.
- Form your dough into a disc and cut it into wedges.
- Place your scones on your baking sheet, brush them with cream, and sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake until light golden brown, then let the scones cool on the baking sheet before enjoying.
SAM’S TIP: Always press straight down when cutting your scones–never saw into scone dough! A straight cut helps the scones rise straight and properly; sawing will yield scones that tip over and have less defined edges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you may use a grater or a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour instead, but the dough will be very dry and require more effort to come together. I discuss this in more detail above and provide instructions in the recipe below.
Yes! To do this, prepare your dough as instructed, then wrap each scone in cling wrap and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If baking from the refrigerator, you can follow the scone recipe as written. If baking from frozen, the scones may need a few extra minutes in the oven. I always wait until just before baking before brushing them with cream and sprinkling with sugar.
Yes! To freeze baked scones, let them coolย completely after baking. Once they’ve cooled, transfer them to an airtight container (I like to loosely wrap each scone in wax paper or parchment paper so they don’t stick together) and enjoy within 3 months.
To defrost your scones, you can microwave them from frozen. The time required will vary depending on the power of your microwave.
Enjoy!
Letโs bake together! Iโll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
The BEST Scone Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ยผ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- ยฝ cup (113 g) very cold unsalted butter I like to place my butter in the freezer 15 minutes before beginning to ensure it is cold
- ยฝ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- ยผ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ยฝ cup your favorite add-ins optional: frozen berries, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.
- Additional heavy cream for brushing over scones optional
- Additional sugar for sprinkling over scones optional
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375F (190C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the basin of a food processor and pulse to combine.2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, ยผ cup (50 g) granulated sugar, 2 teaspoon baking powder, ยผ teaspoon salt
- Cut butter into Tablespoon-sized pieces and scatter over flour mixture, pulse until butter is cut up into the flour mixture and butter pieces are no longer visible.ยฝ cup (113 g) very cold unsalted butter
- Combine the heavy cream and vanilla extract in a measuring cup and pour heavy cream over your flour mixture.ยฝ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, ยผ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pulse until dough begins to clump together.
- Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and (handling lightly, as you don’t want to over-work this dough) add any add-ins at this point, gently working them into the dough. Fold the dough in half over itself and use your hands to gently flatten layers together. Rotate the dough 90 degrees and fold in half again, repeating this step 5 times and taking care to not overwork the dough.ยฝ cup your favorite add-ins
- Form the dough into a smooth disk about 1″ thick by 6″ round.
- Cut the disk into 8 wedges, pressing the knife straight down with each cut.
- Transfer wedges to prepared baking sheet and place about 2″ apart. Brush lightly with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar.Additional heavy cream for brushing over scones, Additional sugar for sprinkling over scones
- Bake on 375F (190C) for 14-16 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden brown. Don’t over-bake your scones or they will be dry and tough.
- Allow scones to cool on baking sheet before serving and enjoying.
Notes
ยนFood Processor
If you don’t have a food processor you can make the scones by whisking together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with either a pastry cutter, box grater, or pair of knives. Whisk together heavy cream and vanilla and pour over and stir until well-combined. The dough will be very dry but will come together with some effort. If absolutely necessary you can add a bit more cream, a splash at a time.ยStoring
Scones are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. See the FAQ section in the post for instructions on freezing scones (before or after baking).How to Make Lemon Sconesย
Add 1 Tbsp of fresh lemon zest into the scone batter with the butter Once scones have cooled, dip in a simple glaze made of 1 ยผ cup (160g) powdered sugar, 1 ยฝ Tablespoons (20ml) lemon juice, 1 ยฝ teaspoons of water, and ยผ teaspoon of vanilla extract. ย ยNutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Cheryl
Just took them out of the oven so I haven’t tasted them yet. I followed the recipe as written measuring everything rather than weighing it. I use white spelt flour for the all-purpose and I use coconut sugar for the sugar. I was afraid I would over bake them so I watch them very cautiously but really wasn’t sure what you meant the edges are turning brown. So I bacon for 14 minutes and took them out. Some of the edges were turning brown but some weren’t. I trust they will taste delicious
Sam
I hope you love them, Cheryl! Thank you for sharing your substitutions, too!
Veronica Baker
great recipe! love your website!
Sam
Thank you so much, Veronica! ๐ I am glad you enjoy everything. ๐
IRENE
Hi, can I use regular milk instead of the heavy cream?
Sam
Hi Irene. Unfortunately I don’t think they will be as light and flaky if you use regular milk.
Loralee
Hello,
Great recipe! I had one problem though and not sure what caused it. My scones sort of “warped” for lack of a better word. I made the disc 6″ x 1″ per the instructions, but as they rose, they sort of slumped over during baking instead of staying in tidy triangles. What do you think caused that? Otherwise they were still delicious, just not as pretty as I had hoped. Thanks!
Sam
Hi Loralee! Sometimes I’ve had this happen if I make the scone dough without a food processor but usually they stay pretty tidy for me, did you use a food processor or make them by hand? If you did use a food processor, I’m not sure why they might have slumped for you, honestly. I’m glad you enjoyed the taste otherwise, though!
Loralee Coulter
Thanks Sam! I did use a foddering processor, so not sure what happened. I wonder if the butter got too warm. That’s my best guess. Anyhow, great recipe…everyone loved them!
Leisha
Can I double this recipe?
Sam
You shouldn’t have any issues doubling it, Leisha! ๐
Lisa
Oh my goodness! These scones are the best I have ever had! The light flaky texture is amazing. I made them plain with only a little of the lemon glaze. So good! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Lisa! ๐
Jenn
Can i use fresh instead of frozen fruit?
Sam
Yes absolutely, just keep in mind that fresh fruit is a bit more delicate and harder to work into the dough without squishing.
Megan C
I really enjoyed this and they were so easy!
We made them plain, topped them with the lemon glaze you share at the end of your recipe and topped with sprinkles. They didnโt last long!
**My tip for the butter is to slice the butter before freezing ๐
Ok… so now I need your help with creating a savory scone lol.
Sam
Haha, I actually have plans for a cheese scone! It might be a while, but I’ll let you know as soon as it is up. ๐
Claire
These are so easy to make and are a real hit with our family. I individually wrapped the unbaked scones in plastic wrap. Then when I needed them I popped them completely frozen in the oven. Iโve even baked them in a toaster oven. I love having them on hand. Thanks for a great recipe.
Sam
Thatโs a great idea, Claire! Maybe I should try that instead of eating them all at once ๐ Iโm so glad you enjoyed them.
Jeanette
Can you make them the night before and then bake them in the morning? Leave them in fridge over night ready to pop in oven?
Sam
Yes that will be fine! I would cover them with plastic wrap though in the fridge.
Gwendalyn Anderson
Absolutely the Best Scones Recipe there is !$
Sam
I am so glad you enjoy them Gwedalyn! โบ๏ธ
Gail
My scones didnโt rise much โ what did I do wrong?
Sam
Your baking powder might be bad. There is a fair bit in these scones and if that is bad they won’t rise.
Leander
Try using some buttermilk or a squirt of lemon juice. Baking powder works much better with some acid. Read a book called Ideas in Food, which has a chapter on this (and some really cool recipes)
Steph
Do I want my scones to be flaky? That doesn’t seem right…
Sam
You definitely do! ๐ Buttery flaky layers, kind of like a biscuit but more tender.
Joanna
Hi Samantha, greetings from Poland (the country in Europe) ๐
I’m relatively new to your site (which I love) but have already tried almost all of the newest recipes and quite a lot of the earlier ones (always on the lookout for interesting ideas from across the ocean – with some adjustments due to different quality of ingredients, I have learned to recreate American cuisine at home, of which I’m rather proud).
However, I have a small question about heavy cream in this recipe – which measurement is the right one, 1/2 cup or 237ml…?
Far as I know, 1/2 cup is some 120-125ml, do you perhaps mean grams?
(BTW, thank you so much for g/ml beside the cup measurements – I’m never quite sure how big a “cup” is and it looks like different food bloggers (even in the U.S.) use different “cup” sizes no matter what google says about the “American cup”.)
Sam
Hi Joanna! Thank you so much for writing, you are 100% correct regarding the heavy cream, it is just 120ml and I’m not sure how I ended up with 237 ml (I”m thinking it’s a typo from when I tried doubling the recipe, because 237 is about the equivalent of 1 cup). thank you for pointing it out to me and I have fixed it in the recipe.
Acenath
lol
Debbie K
Oh, wow, do these look good! I made scones once quite a while ago, and was disappointed in them. But yours are so thick and look so moist and delicious, I will have to try the recipe. Thanks!
Sam
Thank you, Debbie! I really hope you love them if you try them out ๐