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Homemade Simple Scones

With just a handful of basic ingredients, homemade simple scones are an irresistible treat! Freshly baked, these tender and flaky pastries remain soft with a secret ingredient and are perfect for breakfast, brunch or dessert. 

Scones on brown paper.


 

One breakfast treat that my whole family can agree upon are these homemade simple scones! Warm and buttery, fresh out of the oven scones not only smell heavenly but are a treat for the tastebuds. 

These plain scones are anything but dry due to using a secret ingredient – Greek yogurt! It not only adds moisture but makes these homemade scones a bit healthier! I love using this ingredient in easy yogurt cake and cinnamon walnut coffee cake, too! 

This scones recipe can be served at breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea or at brunch with my favorite homemade strawberry jam. It’s the perfect base recipe to add-in your favorite mix-ins and best of all it’s ready in under 30 minutes! 

These plain scones are anything but dry due to using a secret ingredient – Greek yogurt! It not only adds moisture but makes these homemade scones a bit healthier! I love using this ingredient in easy yogurt cake and cinnamon walnut coffee cake, too! 

This scones recipe can be served at breakfast with a cup of coffee or tea or at brunch with my favorite homemade strawberry jam. It’s the perfect base recipe to add-in your favorite mix-ins and best of all it’s ready in under 30 minutes! 

Glazed scone on brown paper.

Ingredients Needed

  • Self-rising flour: Self-rising flour is a convenient baking flour that already has baking powder and salt in it.
  • Baking soda: An additional leavening agent for lift and rise.
  • Sugar: Granulated fine sugar adds sweet taste.
  • Butter: This basic scone recipe works best with cold unsalted butter.
  • Greek yogurt: Plain full fat Greek yogurt works best, but you can also use whatever you have on hand. 
  • Milk: At least 2% milk will yield a more flavorful scone. If you need dairy free, canned coconut milk can also be used.
  • Salt: Enhances the taste of the homemade scones.
  • Cream cheese glaze: Cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.
Ingredients for the recipe.

How to Make Homemade Scones

To start your homemade simple scones, whisk dry ingredients including self-raising flour, baking soda and sugar in a medium sized bowl.

Mixing the dry ingredients in the bowl.

Cut in the cold butter until it resembles coarse crumbs

Adding the butter to form coarse crumbs.

Add Greek yogurt and milk and combine until it starts to form a dough. Remove scones dough to a lightly floured flat surface and gently knead a few times until a soft dough forms. 

Adding the milk and yogurt.

Flatten the dough with the palm of your hand.

The dough flattened on parchment paper.

Then cut into wedges and place an inch apart on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Wedges on a baking sheet.

Brush dough with milk and bake until golden brown.

The scones baked on the baking sheet.

Cool the fresh scones for 5 minutes, then serve warm or cool completely.

If desired, drizzle with cream cheese glaze once cooled.

The glaze for the scones in a glass bowl.

The dough can also be made in a food processor. Pulse just until almost combined then move to a flat surface and continue with the recipe.

Flavor Variations

While this is a basic scones recipe, there are so many ways you can use this base for adding other flavors! Mix in any add-in’s right after you cut in the butter and before the wet ingredients. 

  • ​​Chocolate chips:  A handful of chocolate chips is always a welcome addition! Choose semi-sweet chocolate chips or a mix of white chocolate chips, dark chocolate and semi-sweet!
  • Dried fruit: Add cranberries, raisins, dried apricots or more! 
  • Blueberry scones: Add in fresh or frozen blueberries. 
  • Zest: Add the zest of one lemon or 2 teaspoons of orange zest to the dough. 
  • Nutty: Add chopped pecans, walnuts or even shredded coconut. 
  • Warm spices: Add ½ teaspoon up to 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, all spice, ginger, cardamom or any other spice you love! 
  • Gluten free scones: Substitute gluten free flour as 1:1 substitute.
  • Glaze: I love a cream cheese glaze on this easy scones recipe! A chocolate glaze, simple powdered sugar glaze or even just coarse sugar also works.

Tips for Making Simple Scones Recipe

  • DIY self-rising flour: For every cup of all-purpose flour, add 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon fine salt. Whisk the ingredients well in a large bowl to combine.
  • Making dough in the food processor: Instead of mixing the simple homemade scones dough by hand, pulse in the food processor to combine. You can also use a pastry blender or pastry cutter, too.
  • Roll out thick dough: To ensure your soft scones simple recipe rises tall, roll out the dough thick before cutting. Roll out to at least 1 inch thickness (2 cm) on your work surface. 
  • Cold butter, milk and yogurt: Cold ingredients work best in these homemade simple scones! Cold ingredients help prevent over-spreading, lead to a higher rise and result in flaky pastries that are soft and moist. 
  • Don’t knead the dough: Overworking the dough leads to additional gluten development which results in dense, tough scones! Only stir dough until all ingredients are incorporated then pat and fold the dough only a few times. 
  • Brush tops with milk or heavy cream: This helps brown them and creates a crispy exterior! 
Scones on brown paper.

Make Ahead, Storing and Freezing Instructions

To make this simple scone recipe ahead of time, roll out scones, then cover and chill for up to 24 hours. Bake from chilled.

Store baked scones in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

To freeze unbaked scones, flash freeze dough wedges on a parchment lined baking tray. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, increasing baking time by a few minutes. 

You can also freeze baked scones! Cool scones completely and then store in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw completely then warm up in the microwave or in the oven. 

Recipe FAQs

What to serve scones with?

This simple recipe for scones is the perfect match with a cup of hot coffee or tea, although I love this Italian iced coffee with them in the summer! For an after dinner dessert, a splash of this coffee liqueur in after dinner coffee is the perfect way to end the evening.

If you love a spread with your homemade plain scones, try lemon curdcherry jam or apricot jam!

Why is my scone dough so wet and sticky?

If your dough is wet and sticky this is not a bad thing! This loose texture actually helps create a light, fluffy and tender scone once they are baked. Rather than add more flour, chill your dough for about an hour then roll out on a lightly floured surface and dust the top of the dough with flour. 

How to avoid flat scones? 

Cold ingredients are key to a classic scone that is light and fluffy! If your butter is warm and your scones seem flat, place the dough in the refrigerator to chill and then reshape again. Cold dough in scones equals the best simple scones results! 

What is the best way to cut simple homemade scones into wedges?

You want to avoid sliding your sharp knife through the dough as that can interfere with how the scones rise on the edges. Instead use a straight up and down motion. If using a cookie cutter, the same rule applies! Try to avoid twisting the cutter. 

Scones on brown paper.

These tender, buttery simple scones with their slight crumble and tasty glaze are perfect for enjoying as a breakfast or brunch treat or as an afternoon snack with a cup of tea. So, next time you’re looking for a quick and rewarding baking idea, I hope you consider making a batch of this scone recipe. Enjoy!

Two scones on brown paper.

Homemade Simple Scones

Rosemary Molloy
With just a handful of basic ingredients, homemade simple scones are an irresistible treat! Freshly baked pastries that remain soft.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6 scones
Calories 322 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1½ cups self rising flour
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon super fine sugar
  • 2¾ tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE

  • 1 ounce cream cheese
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 3 teaspoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat oven to 400F (200C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl whisk the flour (self-rising), baking soda and sugar then add the butter and combine until it resembles coarse crumbs, add the yogurt and the milk, mix together until it starts to form a dough (a food processor can be used for these steps).
  • Remove the dough to a lightly floured flat surface and gently knead a few times just to form a soft dough (don't over knead).
  • Flatten the dough with the palm of your hand to 1 inch (2 cm) thickness, cut into circles or triangles, place them an inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Brush with milk and bake for approximately 15 to 17 minutes or until golden. Cool for 5 minutes, serve warm or at room temperature. Drizzle with cream cheese glaze once cooled if desired. Enjoy!

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE

  • In a small bowl mix together with a fork or small whisk all the ingredients for the glaze until smooth. Add more milk if too thick or more sugar if too thin.

Notes

To make self rising flour – For every cup of all-purpose flour, add 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon fine salt. Whisk the ingredients well in a large bowl.
To make this simple scone recipe ahead of time, roll out scones, then cover and chill for up to 24 hours. Bake from chilled.
Store baked scones in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To freeze unbaked scones, flash freeze dough wedges on a parchment lined baking tray. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, increasing baking time by a few minutes. 
You can also freeze baked scones! Cool scones completely and then store in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw completely then warm up in the microwave or in the oven. 

Nutrition

Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 254mg | Potassium: 221mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 3mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!

Updated from February 1, 2015.

4 Comments

  1. Hi, Erika! I think this is going to be a great series with you and your mom 🙂 I guess I’m more like your mom, lol although I really stick to healthy eating 90% of the time due to health issues. But I also like to indulge once in a while too. Nice to meet you!

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