This easy scone recipe is as delicious as it is simple. It will fill your kitchen (and the rest of your house) with the yummiest smells and have your whole family flocking to you to taste your goodies.
Walk into any pastry shop or bakery and you will find a wide range of scones in different shapes and sizes. Most people associate the scone with English High Tea with jam and clotted cream, but the truth is scones originated in Scotland. While the original scones were made with oats and/or wheat flours, today they are made with a wide array of flours.
What is a scone?
It is not bread as it is not made with yeast. Traditional scones also have no eggs, which is why this easy scone recipe doesn't call for any. Both the British scone and the American scone have their own twists. The American scone is more biscuit-like and more buttery. While the British scones are denser to be served with rich butter and creams.
Our easy scone recipe is much more traditional with our own take but unlike some British and American takes, we cut ours into the traditional triangles and keep them bigger and a bit dry.
Helpful Hints For Making Scones
There are some very important tips when making scones that will help you make it easier, and they will taste better too. While the overall process is easy and there are few ingredients, you must remember these tips. This information is useful whether you use the hand mix method or the stand mixer.
The ingredients should be cold. Pull the butter out, cut and put it back in the refrigerator to chill until needed. You want o keep ingredients as cold as possible until you put them in the oven.
Measure the cream and place it in the refrigerator also until you are ready to use it.
Do not over-mix or knead, as this will prevent the scones from being light and fluffy.
When using Add-Ins like chocolate chips or berries, keep the amount to one cup and be sure they are room temperature or cooler.
There are two ways I make scones, and honestly, it depends on my mood and what I feel like cleaning up. Both methods are easy and produce delicious scones. I prefer the hand method in general. If using the mixer method, simply start with a paddle and switch to the dough hook when adding cream.
Prepare your cookie sheet and ingredients before starting.
Warm the oven and watch it once you have scones baking. Each oven cooks slightly differently. Once you master your cooking times, you are all set.
Easy Scone Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
A pinch of salt
1 tbsp baking powder- be sure it has not been sitting in your pantry too long.
2 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
5 tbsp cold butter cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup add-ins if you would like- we prefer chocolate chips or blueberries
1 cup heavy/whipping cream- cold
Sugar or cinnamon sugar mixture, if you choose to top, though it is not needed
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. We do not use parchment paper often, but this is one of those times it is a must
Mix together dry ingredients- I do this right on the counter if doing by hand or in the mixer bowl if using a mixer: flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt and sugar.
Time to add the butter. Some people like to use a pastry cutter or two knives. If using the hand method, I start with a pastry cutter and then finish with my hands. If using a mixer, be sure to use the paddle. You want a crumb texture.
Carefully fold in add-in- If using berries, be sure not to pop.
If using the hand method, push all ingredients together and form a well in the middle- first, add the vanilla. If using the mixer, switch from the paddle to the dough hook. Pour in heavy cream and pull together or mix but only add 1/2 of the cream at a time.
Mix or knead until a dough forms, being careful not to over-knead.
Using your hands, form the dough into a flat circle about 8 inches in diameter.
Put on the baking sheet lined with parchment
Evenly cut in half 4 times to create 8 triangular shapes.
Separate the triangles a little from each other.
If you want to top it with sugar or cinnamon sugar, do so now
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes
Cool for 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!
This easy scone recipe is a staple at Sugar Water Manor and in our personal kitchen. I even bake a batch when going to friends for dinner and bring a jar of jam for a hostess gift for them to enjoy the next morning. They are lovely for an afternoon meeting or a casual visit with friends alongside some fresh fruit.
What mix-ins will you add to this easy scone recipe? Be sure to tag @SugarWaterManor so we can see what you make.