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

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

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! 

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.

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.

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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.
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: 20 minutes
Course: Brunch
Calories: 259kcal
Author: Julia Foerster
5 from 16 votes
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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

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.
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