Make these English style Light & Fluffy Scones for your next afternoon treat. Using minimal ingredients with easy prep and baking time! Great served with butter and jam or Homemade Lemon Curd.
Scones are probably one of my favourite go to easy treats to make. And these are super easy to make and they don’t use a whole lot of ingredients. It will be stuff you already have on hand in your pantry. If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you probably would have seen my Lemon Curd Filled Scones or my delicious Cranberry Scones. And if you look around, you’ll find even more!
With that being said, let’s dive into this recipe for big fluffy scones.
What are Traditional English Scones
They are the basic component of the British Afternoon Tea! Although, I’ve never attended a posh Afternoon Tea, I’ve had scones in the afternoon at my mother-in-laws house. And that’s posh enough.
Scones are an easy to put together baked treat. Made from just a few simple and basic baking ingredients. Traditionally they are served with clotted cream.
You can serve them with whipping cream, fruit, berries or butter and jam like shown here.
What We Need to Make this Recipe for Big Fluffy Scones
Just a few basic and simple ingredients, that’s all we need. We’re using plain flour, butter, sugar, baking powder, salt, milk and a egg to glaze. That’s it friends. Easy!
- 2 cup plain flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 4 tsp baking powder
- ยฝ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp butter cold
- โ cup milk
- 1 egg yolk plus 1 tbsp milk to glaze
BAKING TIP Get all your ingredients, baking equipment, spoons and whatever else necessary for the recipe before starting. This will always make the baking experience better!
How To Make The Lightest Fluffiest Scones
- Preheat the oven – 425 degrees F and have a large baking tray ready. Remember, be organized!
- Combine dry ingredients – to a large mixing bowl and use a wire whisk to combine them well.
ALWAYS READ THE FULL RECIPE TO THE END BEFORE STARTING. THE FULL RECIPE WITH THE INGREDIENT LIST AND INSTRUCTIONS CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THE POST IN THE RECIPE CARD.
- Cut in the cold butter – use your fingertips to incorporate it into the dry ingredients. It will have a coarse bread crumb like texture.
USE COLD BUTTER. Always use cold butter in scones. This help create air pockets as the butter melts as the scones bake. This helps create a lighter texture associated with scones.
- Pour in milk – do this slow, stirring as you pour. You are looking for a sticky dough texture.
- Place scone dough on a floured surface – add a little bit of flour to the top of the dough.
REMEMBER, This is a sticky dough. You want it to be sticky to ensure a scone that’s not dry.
Press or Roll The Dough
- Press or roll the dough – into one inch thickness. Yes, you can do this with your hands OR you can use a rolling pin. Whatever works for you.
- Cut into circles – Use a 2 inch circle cutter to cut out your scones. Make sure you lightly flour the cutter before cutting into the dough. If not, the cutter will stick to the dough.
TIP FOR FLOURING THE COOKIE CUTTER. Place a small amount of flour on a clean surface and dip the cookie cutter in the flour to coat. Repeat steps each time you cut a new scone.
- Place unbaked scones on a baking tray – Place the scones on the baking tray evenly spaced apart.
- Make the egg wash – Whisk together the egg yolk with 1 tbsp of milk and lightly brush the tops of the scones.
- Bake for 12 – 15 minutes – The scones will be risen and golden when done. Remove from oven and leave on the tray to cool.
REMEMBER, All ovens are created differently. Get to know your oven when making new recipes. Adjust baking times according to your oven and keep notes for the future.
Big Fluffy Scones Fresh From the Oven
I gotta say, there isn’t anything much better than a fresh baked scone. I can easily eat more than one. They are small remember…ha!
Admittedly, these are best the day they are baked. You just can’t beat a fresh scone. I personally like them warm from the oven with butter and jam.
That being said, they will keep for a few days in an airtight container.
How To serve These Big Fluffy Scones
If you’re planning to serve yours with jam, I highly recommend the Partridgeberry Jam from Ikea! If you happen to be near an Ikea that is. It’s called Lingonberry Jam at Ikea though.
It’s honestly the best jam. You can read all about that jam in my post for Partridgeberry Crumble Squares. Which, by the way, are a must bake treat as well.
Can these Traditional Scones be Prepared in Advance to Bake Later
Simple answer, NO. I’ll explain below why.
Okay, so you can combine all the dry ingredients but not the wet ingredients.
This recipe uses baking powder which activates as soon as it touches liquid. So, as soon as you put the dough together, you have to bake them.
HOWEVER, you can bake in advance and reheat before serving if you like them to be warm.
Here’s a Few More Scone Recipes You’ll Love
- Lemon Curd Filled Scones
- Lemon Scones
- Strawberry Cream Scones
- Cranberry Scones
- Pumpkin Scones
- Fresh Apricot Scones
- Oat & Raisin Scones
Can I add Any Other Flavours To The Scones
- Dates or raisins
- Berries like blueberries, raspberries or strawberries
- Lemon zest to make Lemon Scones
- Make them savoury by adding grated cheese.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure the oven it at the correct temperature, don’t overwork the dough and use the correct amount of baking powder
Some common reasons for dense scones are not using enough baking powder, overworking the dough and not baking with the oven at the correct temperature.
Again, this is generally because you overworked the dough. Take care in working with scone dough so you don’t end up with tough scones.
Light & Fluffy Scones
Ingredients
- 2 cup plain flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 4 tsp baking powder
- ยฝ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp butter cold
- โ cup milk
- 1 egg yolk plus 1 tbsp milk to glaze
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425F. Grease a large baking tray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk together.
- Cut in the butter in cubes. Using your fingers, combine it into the flour mixture. It will be crumbly.
- Slowly start pouring in the milk, mixing as you add it in. You just need the dough to come together and it will be quite sticky.
- Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and lightly dust the top of the dough with flour.
- Lightly knead the dough about 2 to 3 times. Gently press or roll the dough out to 1inch thick.
- Using a floured 2 inch cookie cutter, cut the dough into 10 circles.
- Place the dough circles on your baking tray.
- Whisk together the egg with milk and brush the tops of the scones.
- Bake between 12 – 15 minutes or until puffed up and golden.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool. Can be served straight away and will keep up to two days in an airtight container.
*A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
These look amazing. Could I put any add in’s? Like chocolate chips or fruit? Thanks in advance.
Hey Laura, just getting to this message. Yes, you can make add ins, but be careful not to overwork the dough when making your additions. This is how you could change the texture of the scone. Add it in after you’ve added your wet ingredients and just stir long enough to combine. I hope this helps.
Thank you so much. I look forward to making them soon!
Thanks Laura, I hope you enjoy them like we do.
My darling husband of 51+ years – I’m a vegetarian – he’s not – tonight just wanted the scones I made today – FOR HIS EVENING MEAL!! He is in Seventh heaven – thank you. xx from his wife.
Awe Rita, this makes me so happy! So happy he enjoyed them. Thanks for the kind feedback!
Can I use this recipe for triangular scones
Hey JoAnn, I’m pretty sure this would work with triangular scones as well. Just make to to make the dough in the same way. You may have to adjust baking times slightly, but I’m sure it would work just fine.
Can I put apricots in it
Yes you can add apricots to scones no problem. Just make sure they are cut small. Hope this helps.