English Scones

Scones were part of my childhood: we had them often when we visited my grandfather, warm off course. We had them for teatime during the weekends and my parents' house: I distinctly remember standing impatiently next to the oven waiting for them to be ready. Obviously, I almost always burnt my mouth because I couldn't wait for them to slightly cool off 😊.

What is a scone?

A scone is like an American biscuit, although it is slightly sweetened and served at teatime with butter or clotted cheese and jam. Biscuits are usually served with savoury dishes.

It is originally from de United Kingdom and it is made with flour, butter and uses baking powder as a leavening agent. Traditionally, scones are circular in shape and they are baked on a baking tray in the oven. They are best served warm.

How to make English scones from scratch?

This is simple scone recipe that you can put together rather quickly following these simple instructions:

1- Prepare the scone dough:

• In a bowl mix the cold butter (cut into small cubes), the flour, the sugar, the baking powder, and the salt using the tip of your fingers until you obtain a sandy consistency. The flour should change colour and become yellowish.
• Make a hole in the middle and add the eggs, the milk and cream. Mix using a spatula. The less you work the dough the better. Once you have obtained a soft but dry dough you can stop. If necessary, add little more milk to make the dough come together nicely.
• Cover the bowl using plastic wrap and let the dough rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.

2- Shape the scones:

• Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius (340 F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out the dough on a slightly floured surface until its 3 cm thick. Cut out rounds of 4/5 cm in diameter using a cutter and place them upside down on the lined baking tray.

3- Bake the English scones:

• Brush the scones with whipping cream. This will give them a nice golden colour.
• Bake for 25 minutes approximately or until golden brown. About halfway of the cooking time turn the baking tray around in the oven so that the scones can cook evenly. Most of time ovens cook more on one side than the other! I know mine does! 😊

Crumbly scones: a suggestion

The less you work and touch the dough, the crumblier the scones will turn out. So, when you are mixing the dough, as soon as it comes together, stop touching it. It will not be perfect and super smooth as a sable dough would. Its fine. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Can you freeze English scones?

Yes, you can. Once you have cut them into rounds, place on a tray lined with parchment paper (they should not touch one another), cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer until frozen (about 2 hours). Then transfer to a freezer bag or container. They keep for up to 3 months.

To defrost: place the scones on a baking tray lined with parchment paper leaving space between them. Let them sit at room temperature for an hour. Brush with whipping cream and bake for 25 minutes (might be a little longer if they have not completely defrosted).

How long do they keep for?

They should be eaten when freshly baked ideally warm. However, you can keep them one or two days maximum. Warm up before serving!

How to serve English scones?

Traditionally served warm with clotted cheese and jam. You can also serve with butter. And I also enjoy them plain!

If you want to add a glaze, you can find a lemon glaze recipe here Lemon Cake. They go quite well together.