Fluffy English scones are delicious. They are moist, soft and fluffy and super easy to make!
You will not believe how easy this English scones recipe is until you try it yourself. Combine, mix and in the oven. In less than half an hour you have them on the table. So are you ready to learn how to make English scones? Join me in the bistro kitchen!
This is a great bistro recipe because what better to start the day or accompany afternoon tea with these easy scones.
You can eat them with jam, clotted cream or unsalted butter and you will want another one. They are light and fluffy but do not need any proofing.
The butter will make the flaky and that is what you want. Do not over mix the dough, keep your ingredients and the dough cool and work fast.
Bake them golden brown and you are in scone heaven.
What is a scone?
Before we share how to make them, first the question of what is a scone and where they come from.
Scones are round baked goods that originate from England. They are made with wheat flour, butter and a leavening agent like baking powder.
This results in soft, fluffy and flaky bread. A scone is slightly sweetened and served with sweet toppings. You bake them in the oven on a baking tray.
English scones vs American scones
So what are the differences between an English scone versus an American scone?
Even though scones are British they look similar to the American biscuit but there are a number of differences:
- English scones are mostly sweet but biscuits are not
- British scones are made with cold butter while American scones are made with shortening or animal fat
- American biscuits are served with breakfast or as a bread roll for dinner opposed to English scones being served with a cream tea or high tea
English scones ingredients
If you want to make this English scones recipe you need the following ingredients on your grocery list:
- All-purpose flour
- Milk
- Unsalted butter
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Egg
- Salt
How to make scone
Start this English scones recipe by preheating the oven to 425℉. Then take a big bowl and add the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.
Take a wooden spoon and whisk the ingredients. Then add the butter in small chunks and stir to combine.
The butter-flour mixture should have a sand-like texture and you should not see the butter. Instead of whisking by hand you can also make the mixture in a kitchen machine.
Take a second bowl and combine the egg and milk into and egg wash. Save 2 tablespoons to brush your scones with.
Pour the remaining egg mixture in the flour mixture. Stir the dry and wet ingredients into a coarse dough.
Flour a board and put the dough on it. Do not overwork the dough else the dough will not rise and stay flat.
Knead no more than 10 times just so the dough comes together into a ball. The dough should be slightly sticky so resist the urge to add flour.
Take a rolling pin and flour it. Roll the dough in a circle about 2 inches thick. Use a 2 to 2.5″ cookie cutter and cut the scones.
Take all the remaining dough and cut more scones. Try for a clear cut do not move the cutter around too much this will prevent the scones from rising in the oven
Take a baking sheet and cover it with baking paper. Put the scones on the baking sheet and brush them with the remaining egg wash.
Bake the scones for 13-15 minutes golden brown or until they have doubled in height. Serve.
When are my scones done?
As every oven is different there is an easy trick to determine if your scones are done. Take one scone and tap on it in the center.
When it sounds hollow you know it is done.
Why won’t my scones rise?
There can be a number of reasons why your scones won’t rise:
- Fresh ingredients – Always use fresh self-raising flour or fresh baking powder for this recipe. This gives you the best change your bakes will rise properly in the oven
- Wet dough – The dough should be sticky but not to wet. When your dough is to wet it will not rise.
Make scones ahead of time?
You can easily make your basic scone dough ahead of time and keep them in the fridge overnight until you are ready to bake.
You can easily make the dough freeze until you want to bake. Additionally, you can make the scone, bake them before you freeze them.
I hope you will love this English scones recipe as much as I do and give it a try!
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English scones recipe
Looking for quick and easy scones? Take a look at this delicious traditional English scones recipe. Eat them with jam, clotted cream or butter.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup of sugar
- 6 tbsp soft unsalted butter
- 4 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425℉. Then take a big bowl and add the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt
- Take a wooden spoon and whisk the ingredients. Then add the butter in small chunks and stir to combine
- The butter-flour mixture should have a sand-like texture and you should not see the butter
- Take a second bowl and combine the egg and milk into and egg wash. Save 2 tablespoons to brush your scones with
- Pour the remaining egg mixture in the flour mixture. Stir the dry and wet ingredients into a coarse dough
- Flour a board and put the dough on it.
- Knead no more than 10 times just so the dough comes together into a ball.
- The dough should be slightly sticky so resist the urge to add flour.
- Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough in a circle about 2 inches thick. Use a 2 to 2.5″ cookie cutter and cut the scones
- Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Put the scones on the baking sheet and brush them with the remaining egg wash
- Bake the scones for 13-15 minutes golden brown or until they have doubled in height
- Serve
Notes
- Instead of whisking the flour and butter by hand you can also make the mixture in a kitchen machine
- Do not overwork the dough else the dough will not rise and stay flat.
- When cutting the scones try to make a clear cut. Do not move the cutter around too much this will prevent the scones from rising in the oven
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 105 Total Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 21mg Sodium: 182mg Carbohydrates: 14g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 3g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 2g