Easy Homemade Strawberry Scones with Cream: A Quintessential English Baking Recipe
There’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of freshly baked goods, and when it comes to classic English treats, **homemade strawberry scones with cream** are truly in a league of their own. This easy-to-follow recipe brings the beloved tradition of British high tea right into your kitchen. Imagine soft, fluffy scones, perfectly golden and crumbly, served warm and generously topped with luscious fresh strawberries and delicate, lightly whipped cream. Whether you’re planning an elegant high tea, a cozy breakfast, a leisurely brunch, or simply craving a sweet, comforting treat, these scones are incredibly simple to make and promise an unforgettable taste experience. Gather your loved ones, bake a batch of these delightful scones, and share a moment of pure culinary bliss.
The Irresistible Charm of Strawberry Scones with Cream
The magic of classic English scones lies in their simplicity and the wonderful texture they achieve – crisp on the outside, yet tender and flaky within. When paired with the natural sweetness of fresh strawberries and a dollop of rich, silky cream, you have a truly harmonious blend of flavors and textures. This **easy scone recipe** requires only a few pantry staples, making it accessible for even novice bakers, yet the outcome is always impressive. The buttery richness of the scones provides the perfect canvas for the vibrant fruit and creamy topping, creating a delightful contrast that embodies the essence of a traditional English afternoon tea. Let’s embark on this baking journey and create a taste sensation that will become a cherished staple in your home.
Why These Scones Are a Must-Try
- **Authentic English Experience:** Recreate the beloved British high tea tradition right in your home.
- **Simple Ingredients, Stunning Results:** Proof that basic ingredients can yield extraordinary flavors and textures.
- **Versatile Delight:** Perfect for any occasion – from a casual family breakfast to an elegant celebratory brunch.
- **Quick to Make:** With minimal prep and bake time, you can enjoy fresh scones in under an hour.
- **Customizable:** Easily adapt with different fruits or flavors to suit your preference.
Gather Your Ingredients for Perfect Scones
Creating **light and fluffy scones** begins with selecting the right ingredients. The beauty of this recipe is that most items are likely already in your kitchen. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and some crucial tips for the best results:
Key Ingredients Explained:
- **All-Purpose Flour:** The foundation of your scones. Sifting it multiple times is crucial for an incredibly light and airy texture.
- **Baking Powder:** This is your primary leavening agent, responsible for the scones’ characteristic rise. Ensure it’s fresh for maximum lift.
- **Sugar:** Just a touch to add subtle sweetness, complementing the fruit and cream without overpowering them.
- **Salt:** A pinch of salt balances the flavors and enhances the sweetness.
- **Cold Butter:** Absolutely essential! Cold butter, rubbed into the flour, creates pockets of steam during baking, leading to those coveted flaky layers. Frozen and grated butter works even better for ease and consistent coldness.
- **Cold Milk:** Similar to butter, using very cold milk helps keep the dough chilled, preventing the butter from melting too early and ensuring a tender scone.
- **Vanilla Extract:** A secret weapon for adding a warm, aromatic depth that elevates the overall flavor.
- **Fresh Strawberries:** The star of the show! Choose ripe, sweet berries for the best taste and vibrant color.
- **Whipped Cream:** Lightly whipped, unsweetened cream allows the natural sweetness of the strawberries and scones to shine. Clotted cream is the traditional choice, but whipped cream is a delicious and more readily available alternative.
- **Strawberry Jam:** An optional but highly recommended addition for an extra burst of strawberry flavor and moisture.
- **Confectioners’ Sugar:** For a final elegant dusting and a hint of extra sweetness.
The Magic of Vanilla Extract
Vanilla extract does more than just add sweetness; it provides a beautiful aromatic foundation that enhances all the other flavors in your scones. Always opt for natural vanilla extract for the purest, most robust taste. Artificial vanilla can leave a somewhat flat or chemical aftertaste, so investing in quality vanilla is worthwhile. Did you know you can even make your own vanilla extract from scratch? It’s surprisingly simple, significantly cheaper than store-bought options in the long run, and yields a superior flavor that lasts for ages!
Creative Fruit Substitutions for Your Scones
While fresh strawberries are a classic choice for these delightful scones, don’t let their absence deter you! This recipe is wonderfully adaptable. You can easily substitute strawberries with other soft, seasonal fruits. Think about juicy blackberries, tart red currants, or sweet-tart raspberries. These fruits work just as beautifully, offering a similar texture and a burst of complementary flavor that tastes absolutely amazing. Feel free to experiment with what’s in season or what you have on hand to create your unique scone experience!
Baking English Scones: A Simple 4-Step Guide
Baking perfect scones might seem daunting, but with these clear steps and helpful tips, you’ll be a scone master in no time. The key is to work quickly and handle the dough as little as possible to ensure a light and airy result. Let’s get baking!
- Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Station. Begin by lining a baking tray with baking paper to prevent sticking. Next, take your dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt – and sift them through a coarse sieve into a large mixing bowl. Sifting isn’t just for removing lumps; it also aerates the flour, which is a crucial step for achieving light, tender scones. For an even lighter texture, consider sifting the dry ingredients two or even three times.
- Step 2: Incorporate Butter and Liquids. Take your very cold butter (grated or finely diced is best for even distribution) and quickly rub it into the sifted dry ingredients using your fingertips. The goal is to work fast so the butter doesn’t melt. Continue until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter still visible. These small butter pieces will create steam and flakiness during baking. Now, add the cold milk and vanilla extract. The cold temperature of the liquids is vital for maintaining the butter’s solid state.
- Step 3: Form the Dough (Gently!). Using a wooden spoon or a spatula, gently mix the wet and dry ingredients until they just come together to form a sticky dough. Resist the urge to overmix! Overworking the dough develops the gluten, resulting in tough scones. A slightly shaggy, sticky dough is exactly what you want – the wetter the dough, the lighter and fluffier your finished scones will be.
- Step 4: Shape, Bake, and Garnish. Lightly flour a clean work surface and transfer your sticky dough onto it. Sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough. Instead of kneading, gently fold the dough 4-5 times. This technique creates delicate layers within the scone, contributing to its signature rise and texture. Press the dough into a rectangle, approximately 6 x 4 inches (15 x 10 cm) and about 1 inch thick. Using a 2-inch (5 cm) round cutter, cut out your scones. For a perfect rise, press the cutter straight down and lift; avoid twisting, as this can seal the edges and inhibit rising. Place the cut scones onto your prepared baking tray, ensuring they are not too close together. Brush the tops with a little milk – this helps create a beautiful golden-brown finish. Bake in a preheated oven at 465°F (240°C) for about 10 minutes, or until they are proudly puffed up and golden brown. Once baked, let them cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.
Congratulations, you’ve just created a batch of delicious **homemade strawberry scones**! Now for the best part: serving them. Traditionally, scones are served warm, split in half, and generously slathered with strawberry jam, followed by a dollop of whipped or clotted cream, and finally, a few slices of fresh strawberries. This classic combination is simply heavenly, offering a balance of sweetness, tang, and creamy indulgence.
This recipe is perfect not just for high tea, but also as a special homemade gift for loved ones, especially around holidays like Valentine’s Day. Pair them with your favorite hot beverage – a classic cup of English tea, a rich coffee, or even a sparkling mimosa for brunch. The possibilities are endless!
Share Your Baking Success!
Did you make this delicious **strawberry scones recipe**? We’d absolutely love to see your culinary creations! Tag #byandreajanssen on Instagram! I genuinely enjoy seeing what you bake and regularly share the most beautiful photos from our community. Your feedback is incredibly valuable. If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a rating on the recipe card below. Your kind words and ratings help other home cooks discover and enjoy these delightful scones, and they mean the world to me!
Need More Baking Inspiration?
- For step-by-step visual guides, you can find video recipes on my YouTube channel.
- And don’t forget to save this and other fantastic recipes on Pinterest! This way, you can easily find them again for your next baking adventure or when you need a quick, impressive dessert idea!
📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 oz. all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- â…› teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter, frozen, grated
- ½ cup milk , cold
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk, for glaze
- 6 tablespoons strawberry jam
- 6 tablespoons whipped cream
- 10 strawberries, sliced
- 1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 465 °F or 430 °F (240°C or 220°C fan-forced). A hot oven is key for a quick rise!
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Line a baking tray with baking paper. This ensures your scones won’t stick and will bake evenly.
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Sift the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar) three times to ensure a very light and airy texture. This extra step helps incorporate more air and removes any lumps.5 oz. all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, â…› teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon sugar
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Rub the very cold butter into the dry ingredients using your fingertips. Work quickly until the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. This texture is key for flaky layers.2 tablespoons butter
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Add the cold milk and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Again, ensure your milk is chilled to keep the butter firm.½ cup milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Mix gently with a wooden spoon until you have a sticky dough. Do not overmix; just combine until no dry streaks of flour remain. Remember, the wetter the dough, the lighter and more tender the scones will be!
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Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and sprinkle a little flour on top. Fold the dough gently 4-5 times to make it smooth and soft. Critically, do not knead! To achieve that wonderful layered effect in your scones, you fold the dough over itself instead of kneading, which develops gluten and makes scones tough.
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Press the dough into a rectangle, about 6 × 4 inches (15 × 10 cm) and about 1 inch thick. Use a 2-inch (5 cm) round cutter to cut scones from the dough. Press straight down firmly without twisting the cutter. Twisting seals the edges and prevents the scones from rising properly. Place the scones gently on the prepared baking tray, leaving a little space between them. Repeat this process with the remaining dough, re-gathering and gently pressing scraps together as needed, until all the dough is used.
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Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk. This milk wash helps them achieve a beautiful golden-brown color and a slightly crisp crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until they are well-risen and golden brown. The intense heat of the oven is crucial for that initial “oven spring.”1 tablespoon milk
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Once baked and slightly cooled, carefully cut each scone in half horizontally using a serrated knife. Spread a generous amount of strawberry jam on the bottom half. For a truly authentic experience, you can use clotted cream first, then jam (the Cornish way), or jam first, then cream (the Devonshire way!).6 tablespoons strawberry jam
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Now, add a spoonful of freshly whipped cream on top of the jam. Finish with a few slices of fresh strawberries for a burst of color and vibrant flavor.6 tablespoons whipped cream, 10 strawberries
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Place the top half back on the scone to complete your beautiful creation and lightly sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar for a final elegant touch. Serve immediately and enjoy!1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
Notes
- Keep Ingredients Cold: This is arguably the most important tip! Ensure your butter, milk, and even your flour are as cold as possible. Chilled ingredients prevent the butter from melting prematurely, creating crucial pockets of steam during baking that result in a light, flaky texture. Some bakers even chill their mixing bowl!
- Handle Dough Minimally: Overworking the dough is the enemy of tender scones. Mix just enough to combine the ingredients until a sticky dough forms. Excessive handling develops gluten, leading to tough, chewy scones instead of light, crumbly ones.
- Don’t Twist the Cutter: When cutting out your scones, press the cutter straight down into the dough without twisting. Twisting seals the edges of the scone layers, hindering their ability to rise tall and evenly in the oven.
- Bake Hot and Fast: Scones love a hot oven! A high initial temperature helps them achieve a rapid rise (oven spring) and a golden crust quickly, before they dry out.
2. Creative Strawberry Substitutes: Don’t have fresh strawberries? No problem! Feel free to swap them with other seasonal soft fruits. Blackberries, red currants, raspberries, or even a mix of berries work beautifully and add their own unique flavor profile to these versatile scones.
3. Storage Guidelines
Scones are always best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, ideally within an hour or two of baking. Their tender texture and crisp crust are at their peak.
- **Storing Baked Scones:** If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1-2 days. Reheat them gently in a warm oven for a few minutes to restore some of their freshness.
- **Prepare in Advance (Dough):** For convenience, you can prepare the scone dough up to the point of cutting out the shapes. Place the unbaked scones on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, transfer them directly from the fridge to a preheated oven, adding a minute or two to the baking time if needed.
- **Freezing Unbaked Scones:** You can also freeze unbaked scones! Place the cut scones on a baking tray and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight freezer bag for up to 1 month. When you’re ready to bake, place the frozen scones directly onto a prepared baking tray and bake from frozen, increasing the baking time by approximately 5-10 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. This is perfect for having fresh scones on demand!
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Expand Your High Tea Menu with More Delightful Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with the charm of these **homemade strawberry scones**, you’ll be thrilled to explore more recipes perfect for a **high tea** gathering or a sophisticated brunch. Elevate your entertaining with a variety of sweet and savory treats that are sure to impress your guests.
- Chicken Tortilla Pinwheels
- BLT Mini Club Sandwich
- Sandwich with smoked mackerel and cucumber
From savory bites like light and refreshing Chicken Tortilla Pinwheels or hearty BLT Mini Club Sandwiches to unique open-faced delights like Sandwiches with Smoked Mackerel and Cucumber, there’s a world of flavors to explore. These recipes are curated to complement your sweet scones, creating a balanced and exciting spread for any gathering.
Whether you’re hosting a formal tea party or simply enjoying an elevated snack time, our collection of high tea recipes provides endless inspiration. Each recipe is designed to be approachable, ensuring you can create stunning and delicious treats without stress. Dive in and make your next gathering an elegant and memorable affair!