How To Make Scones – An Easy Scone Recipe

You really can’t beat a warm scone fresh from the oven — crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and just waiting to be topped with jam and cream (or cream and jam… I’ll let you decide the order!).

This is my go-to scone recipe — it’s quick, only uses a handful of ingredients, and doesn’t need any fancy equipment. Just a mixing bowl, your hands, and about 20 minutes start to finish. Perfect for when you fancy a little baking session without too much fuss.

This is a basic scone recipe. You can use it as a base for other scone varieties such as cheese scones and fruit scones. 

What You Need To Make Scones

For more concise instructions or to print this recipe out, please head to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

The ingredients needed for scones are simple:

Flour

I used 300g of self-raising flour. Don’t forget to sift it — it helps keep the dough light.

Baking Powder & Salt

A teaspoon of baking powder gives the scones that lovely rise, and a small pinch of salt balances out the sweetness. Just sift everything together into your mixing bowl to get started.

Butter

You’ll need 50g of butter, cut into cubes. Use cold butter straight from the fridge and rub it into the flour until it looks like breadcrumbs. It’s a bit messy, but this step makes all the difference to the final texture. Try not to overwork it — the lighter your touch, the lighter the scones.

Sugar

I used 25g of caster sugar — just enough to give the scones a subtle sweetness without tipping them into cake territory. If you like them sweeter, you can add a little extra.

Milk

150ml of milk is just right for bringing the dough together. I usually add most of it and mix it gently, then add the rest slowly if it’s looking too dry. The key here is not to overmix — you want the dough to just come together. If it ends up a bit sticky, don’t worry — just dust it with a bit more flour when you roll it out.

Making Scones

Mix the Dry Ingredients

Start by preheating your oven to 220°C (200°C fan) / Gas Mark 7 and lining a baking tray with greaseproof paper — it’s always easier to have everything ready to go once your dough is done.

Next, sift the self-raising flour, baking powder, and salt into a mixing bowl. Sifting helps to aerate the flour and makes sure everything’s evenly combined, which gives your scones that lovely light texture.

Rub in the Butter

Add your butter. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until it looks like fine breadcrumbs. Try not to overdo it — light hands make light scones! You’re looking for a crumbly texture here, with no big lumps of butter remaining.

Add Sugar and Milk

Stir in the caster sugar, then slowly pour in the milk. I like to add about three-quarters to begin with and gently mix using a butter knife. Once it starts coming together, you can add a little more milk if it’s looking too dry.

You want a soft dough that’s slightly tacky but not overly sticky. If it feels too wet, just dust it with a little flour when you’re rolling it out. It’s better to under-mix than over-mix — the less handling, the better the rise.

Roll and Cut

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it very lightly — just a few turns to bring it together. Then roll it out to about 2cm thick.

Grab a 5cm cutter (or close to it) and press it straight down into the dough. Pop the rounds onto your prepared tray, and gently press the scraps together to cut a few more.

Bake

Now for the finishing touch — I brushed the tops with a little beaten egg to give them a lovely golden colour once baked. You can use milk instead if you prefer or if you don’t have an egg to hand — both work nicely, but egg gives a slightly glossier and more golden finish.

Bake the scones in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, until they’re well-risen and a soft golden brown on top.

Cool and Serve

Once they’re out of the oven, transfer the scones to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes — but they’re honestly best enjoyed warm. Serve with your favourite jam and a dollop of clotted cream. And don’t forget the tea!

More Simple Baking Recipes

If you want more fun and easy baking recipes be sure to check these out:

• Shortbread
• Flapjacks
• Banana Bread
• Easy Cupcakes
• Apple Crumble

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