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. 

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! 

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.

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.

Cut in the cold butter until it resembles 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. 

Flatten the dough with the palm of your hand.

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

Brush dough with milk and bake until golden brown.

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

If desired, drizzle with cream cheese glaze once cooled.

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! 

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 curd, cherry 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. 

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!

Updated from February 1, 2015.