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.
Blair
My first time making scones! They turned out PERFECT! I did not have a food processor. However, I have made your biscuits, so I felt confident enough to try it anyways. I just followed that idea and kept working the dough with a wooden spoon with alot of elbow grease and eventually got my dough to look like your picture!
These were so good, my taste testers (my girls and their Grandma) were literally licking their plates clean!
Thanks for another great recipe!!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that the extra elbow grease was well worth it and everyone enjoyed them, Blair! Thank you for trying my recipe and for commenting. ๐
Mary
Oh my GOODNESS! The very best scone that I have ever tasted. To top it off the easiest to put together! Thanks for sharing!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Mary! Thank you so much for trying my recipe and for commenting. ๐
Erin
If you add in fresh fruit when would be the best time to do so? When itโs still in the food processor or when you fold the dough and shape it? So excited to try this recipe!!
Sam
Hi Erin! You would want to fold it in when working the dough together into a disk. Fresh fruit is a little more difficult than frozen fruit but that’s when I would do it. ๐
Alejandra
I baked this today, I had to add 1/2 cup of milk because it didnโt have the consistency I saw on your pictures, also added cranberrys and orange zest.
Thank you for this great recipe I always wanted to make scones and this are the best.!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the scones Alejandra! ๐
Sharon
Made these today. Reduced the sugar by half and added Parmesan cheese and fresh rosemary. They were light, fluffy and delicious. Love the folding method! Definitely creates that flakiness without sacrificing tenderness.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Sharon! Thanks so much for trying my recipe! ๐
Julia
These scones really are easy when using a food processor! They are flakey and delicious. Can I make the dough, shape it into a wheel, wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge over night to slice and bake the next day?
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Julia! Yes, you can make the dough in advance and store it in the fridge overnight. Enjoy! ๐
Lisa Haag
These scones are my new favorite. So flaky and buttery! I use my food processor and they are so simple to make. They come out perfect every time. I’ve mixed in orange zest and raspberries, blueberries, and many batches with mini chocolate chips.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, Lisa! Thank you for commenting. ๐
Anonymous
Such buttery and soft scones! I was looking for a scone recipe that mirrored a tea place I went to once and this hit the nail on the head! So good with almond butter! Thank you so much!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that this recipe was exactly what you were looking for. I appreciate your feedback and 5-star review. I look forward to hearing what other recipes you try. ๐
Meghan
Hello,
Iโm very excited to make these after trying and loving your easy biscuit recipe. I am making these for a party and would prefer to make 2-3 bite scones instead of the larger size. I was thinking I could maybe use a biscuit cutter. Any recommendations? Think itโll work?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Meghan! You can try it, I think that it should work fine. Keep me posted. ๐
Debi
Hi Sam,
I tried out your lovely scone recipe today and your recipe is so good that a novice baker like me could do it too. It came out soft and flaky. So, many thanks for sharing the recipe with all the important details.
One question- The oven setting is it 190 C on fan with a baking duration of 14-16 mins? I used the above setting and at ten minutes the edges were getting golden brown. So I took it out but I had the feeling that it was a wee bit undercooked.
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Debi! Thank you for trying my recipe! I use a conventional so I am not familiar with baking using the fan assist. Once you tried them, did they seem undercooked? Regardless, I do hope that they tasted delicious. ๐
Joan
I made these and added chocolate chips. I didn’t make a disk though, I used a lg. Spoon instead. They turned out great. I will definitely be making again!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the scones, Joan! Chocolate chips always make anything taste better. ๐
JulieAnn
I just made these and they are fabulous! I added lemon zest to the scones for a fresh pop!Thanks for all the helpful tips! Next week will be make 5 batches for a Ladies Tea at church! My family gobbled them up! Thanks so much!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that the scones were such a hit among your family and friends, JulieAnn. The additional lemon zest sounds perfect. Thanks for trying my recipe. ๐
Carol
Just made scones for the first time. Made a few recipes. These were the easiest and the yummiest
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed the scones, Carol! Thanks for commenting and trying my recipe! ๐
jenna
made these today. they are FABULOUS. so tender and flaky and perfect amount of sweetness. i will make these again!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Jenna! Thank you for trying my recipe. ๐
melanie
hi
can you add the add ins to the dough while in the food processor
Michal
Delicious! A few of them got a little lazy and fell over a bit while baking, but otherwise they turned out perfect! I used white chocolate chips and fresh cranberries as add-ins and drizzled some white chocolate on top. Delicious!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed them, Michal! I am sorry that some fell to one side. What causes this is โtwistingโ the dough when you are cutting them. When you cut the dough you want to be sure to press straight down to prevent the scone from being lopsided when baked. I hope that this helps for next time. Thanks again for trying my recipe and taking a moment to comment. ๐
Michal
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love to bake, but I have always been a little intimidated by scones. Your recipe makes it look easy! Two questions: how would you adjust the recipe to make smaller portions? And when adding fruit, do you recommend frozen or fresh?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Michal! This recipe yields 8 scones. If you’re looking to make a smaller batch, I recommend halving the recipe (all ingredients). You will get 4 scones. Typically I add fresh fruit, but either will work great. I can’t wait for you to try the recipe and to hear how your scones turned out! Happy Baking! ๐