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    Home > Recipes > Breakfast & Brunch

    Easy English Scones Recipe

    ↓ Jump to Recipe · By: Julia Foerster · Posted: 09/10/16 · Updated: 12/19/17

    Easy British Afternoon-Tea Scones - perfect for entertaining guests and super fast and easy to make! You can make them in advance and freeze them.

    This easy English Scones Recipe is perfect for entertaining guests! A traditional tasty English teatime treat that’s so easy to make at home.

    A white plate with English scones and a spoon of marmelade. One of the scones is halved and has clotted cream and strawberry jam on it. There\'s a small white bowl of clotted cream with a spoon and a jar of strawberry jam in the background.

    Today’s recipe has a special place in my heart! These easy British Scones remind me of one my favorite vacation destinations: London.  My husband and I love everything British: the accent, the weather, and especially the food. Yes, I’m serious, I love British food.

    London is a great city for foodies. Even if you’re a student and don’t have much money (like we did on our first trip, where we stayed in a hotel room without windows to save money) you can experience Michelin starred cuisine (choose the lunch menu), eat the finest sandwiches from Harrods (go there just before they close), and taste traditional Afternoon Tea (get the cream tea instead of the whole Afternoon Tea).

    Scones with clotted cream and jam are definitely one of my favorite treats and they’re so easy to make at home! 

    A white plate with English scones and a spoon of marmalade. One of the scones is halved and has clotted cream and strawberry jam on it. There\'s a small white bowl of clotted cream with a spoon and a jar of strawberry jam in the background.

    These scones are so simple to make! I like to make the whole recipe and freeze most of them. Then when I want one I defrost it, most times I use my toaster oven or just let them sit on the counter for a few hours, and they taste like fresh out of the oven!

    Like my Easy Lemon Raspberry Cake or my Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel, British-style scones are a great addition to a brunch or special-occasion breakfast like Mother’s day, Easter or Christmas. (Have a look at my Breakfast & Brunch category for more brunch inspirations!)

    Easy British Afternoon-Tea Scones - perfect for entertaining guests and super fast and easy to make! You can make them in advance and freeze them.

    What is the difference between American Scones and English Scones?

    British scones are different from American scones! British ones have less butter and sugar in them because you slather clotted cream (which is kind of a butter) and sweet jam on them when you eat them. They are flaky, fluffy, and so delicious!

    English scones contain more leavening agent than you would normally use for this amount of flour but you want them to rise high in a short time. And you don’t really add add-ins into the dough like in the US version. British scones are preferred plain, sometimes a few raisins are added but that’s very rare.

    Super Easy British Afternoon-Tea Scones

    Clotted Cream is really hard to find outside the UK. You can find it on Amazon or make your own (here is a great tutorial from Cupcake Project). But be prepared that it’s expensive to buy real clotted cream outside the UK, but you should definitely try it.

    If you can’t find clotted cream you can use butter, whipped cream, or mascarpone which is a great alternative I often use and available at most big grocery stores in the deli section.

    This English Scones Recipe is really easy and fast to make, using ingredients you probably have at home anyway. Scones are traditionally served in the afternoon at teatime with a cup of tea but they’re also perfect for brunch!

    – Julia

    Easy British Afternoon-Tea Scones - perfect for entertaining guests and super fast and easy to make! You can make them in advance and freeze them.

    Looking for more Brunch Recipes?

    • Baked Oatmeal Recipe
    • Spinach Tomato Quiche
    • Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
    • Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel

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    A white plate with English scones and a spoon of marmelade. One of the scones is halved and has clotted cream and strawberry jam on it. There's a small white bowl of clotted cream with a spoon and a jar of strawberry jam in the background.
    Servings: 8

    English Scones Recipe

    Easy English Scones Recipe - perfect for entertaining guests and super fast and easy to make! You can make the scones in advance and freeze them.
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: British
    Calories: 259kcal
    Author: Julia Foerster
    5 from 45 votes
    Print PIN RECIPE Rate

    Ingredients

    • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (320g)
    • 1/4 tsp salt
    • 3 1/2 tsp baking powder
    • 3/4 stick cold butter, (85g)
    • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
    • 3/4 cup milk, (175ml)
    • 1 tsp lemon juice
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 egg, beaten
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    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
    • In a large bowl mix flour with the salt, baking powder, and sugar. Add the butter, then rub it in with your fingers until the mixture looks like fine crumbs.
    • Heat up the milk on the stove until warm, but not hot. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, then set aside for a moment. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat and put it in the oven. 
    • Add the milk mixture to the dry mixture and combine them quickly with a fork. 
    • Scatter some flour on the work surface and tip the dough out. Dredge the dough and your hands with a little more flour, then fold the dough over 2-3 times until it’s a little smoother. Don't overwork the dough. Pat into a round about 1.5-inch (4cm) high.
    • Use a 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter and plunge into the dough, repeat until all the dough is used. You should get 8 scones.
    • Brush the tops with egg wash, then carefully place onto the hot baking tray.
    • Bake for 10-15 mins until risen and golden on the top. Eat just warm or cold on the day of baking generously topped with jam and clotted cream.

    Notes

    If freezing, freeze once cool. Defrost, then put in a low oven for a few minutes until warm.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 259kcal
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Fitz says

      May 08, 2022 at 3:30 pm

      I made these for my wife for mother’s day. I needed some pointers here and there, but they came out spectacularly. Great recipe!

      Reply
    2. Mike Pittelli says

      March 26, 2022 at 5:30 pm

      Can you use a food processor instead of your hands to mix the butter and flour mixture?

      Reply
      • Julia Foerster says

        March 27, 2022 at 11:08 am

        That should work but be very careful not to overprocess the mixture.

        Reply
    3. Renee says

      January 18, 2022 at 3:34 pm

      What kind of milk should I use?

      Reply
      • Julia Foerster says

        January 18, 2022 at 4:56 pm

        I use whole milk, but 2% will work too.

        Reply
    4. PatrickDesmond McNeany says

      August 14, 2021 at 10:57 am

      I live abroad where they have their own version of scones which are not so great. This is the first ever attempt to bake and am happy to have English scones again. A success

      Reply
    5. Nora says

      August 02, 2021 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing

      Reply
    6. Emily says

      June 14, 2021 at 6:23 pm

      Hi Julia! I don’t have a silicone baking sheet liner, so I am wondering if I should grease and flour the tray? If so, should I skip putting it in the oven (worried it might melt the butter and create a mess)? If heating the tray is important can I just put them straight on the heated tray??

      Also I saw a bunch of comments discussing what to put on them – I’m in Canada and can’t find clotted cream, but creme fraiche works well and is usually available at the grocery store in case that is helpful! Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Julia Foerster says

        June 15, 2021 at 9:13 am

        You can use parchment paper! Just preheat the baking sheet without it and when you transfer the scones put a layer of parchment paper under them. Creme fraiche is a good alternative, thank you for the tip. I’ve heard a rumor that clotted cream might be available at Farm Boy and Whole Foods but I haven’t been able to check that out myself yet.

        Reply
        • Dana says

          September 01, 2021 at 11:00 pm

          They do sell clotted cream at Whole Foods as well as World Market!

          Reply
    7. Rashida Umar says

      June 02, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      I made these scones, they came out very flaky, decadent tasting with clotted cream and strawberry jam. This will be my go to recipe when I have high tea with my friends in my backyard very soon.

      Reply
    8. Donna says

      May 25, 2021 at 1:27 pm

      Can I make the dough the day before, and refrigerate it until I need it?

      Reply
      • Julia Foerster says

        May 25, 2021 at 5:23 pm

        Unfortunately making the dough the day before would not work because it is made with baking powder.

        Reply
    9. Maria says

      April 15, 2021 at 12:50 pm

      5 stars
      Such an easy and tasty recipe!

      Reply
    10. Elena says

      March 29, 2021 at 6:55 pm

      5 stars
      I don’t use jam, so I added dates and apples to the dough. The scones turned out to be very tasty. Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
    11. Iram says

      September 20, 2020 at 10:58 pm

      Thank you for the recipe. I’ve made these scones multiple times &  have  been enjoyed with butter, clotted cream & jam. 
      Wish I could post a photo.

      Reply
    12. Rebecca says

      September 13, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      Could I make them smaller than 2 1/2” and get more from each batch?  Doing a tea party bridal shower for about 40 people. Would I change bake time? 

      Reply
      • Julia Foerster says

        September 14, 2020 at 10:54 am

        You could definitely make them smaller. Bake time will be a bit shorter but it will depend on how big (or small) you make them.

        Reply
    13. Mamta says

      May 18, 2020 at 5:25 pm

      When is the egg Added to the scone dough ? Or is it for brushing only ? 

      Reply
      • Julia Foerster says

        May 19, 2020 at 10:12 am

        The egg is only for brushing on top.

        Reply
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    Julia Foerster from Plated Cravings

    Hi, I'm Julia! Born in Germany, I call Canada now my home and love to share my favorite dishes with you! Here you'll find hundreds of recipes, all made from scratch with lots of tips and detailed step-by-step instructions. ➝ Visit my about page and ➝ subscribe to never miss a new recipe!

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