Best Scones Recipe
Not quite a muffin, nowhere near a donut and closer to a dense bread, scones seem to be in a class of their own. Traditionally thought to have originated in England, Ireland or Scotland, these little packets of cooked dough are a popular treat found in coffee shops in the US.
Some scones are plain or baked with raisins or currents but sweeter versions filled with cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, nuts or chocolate have become the norm. But why go out to buy scones in a cafe or grocery store when you can make them at home with a mix?
With a mix, you can whip up a batch of scones in minutes. These packages of powdered scones ingredients are so easy to turn into the real thing, all you need to do is add water, mix, cut into wedges and pop them into the oven. In a matter of minutes you have hot, tasty scones. Slather with butter, jam or lemon curd and enjoy.
We feature some of the best scones mixes you can find online. Read on to find the one that suits your tastes.
1. Best Complete Mix: Sticky Fingers Bakeries English Scone Mix
Ever hit that 3 o’clock wall? You could be at work or at home when suddenly you’re overcome by fatigue and the urge to sit down and indulge in a good cup of coffee or tea and a little something sweet. Not a big deal, right? Unless there’s nothing appetizing to go with the hot drink. Then the urge becomes a craving that can quickly spiral into an obsession to find that perfect partner for your hot bevvie. When that afternoon lull hits, what better way to fix your fatigue than by reaching for a delicious scone baked fresh that morning?
To make sure you never have to go without, having a few packages of Sticky Fingers Bakeries scones mix in your kitchen pantry means that with very little effort, you can bake up a batch and enjoy one with butter and jam in no time. This scone mix is so easy, it will make you cry with joy. An authentically flavored, gourmet scone mix will fill your kitchen with the irresistible aroma of fresh-baked English scones in leas than 15 minutes.
With this original formula, you can bake as is or add fresh berries, raisins or even chocolate chunks. Then all you have to do is add 2/3 of a cup of water to the dry mix, stir thoroughly with a fork until completely combined and a sticky dough forms. Drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto a lightly greased pan and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 14-16 minutes, and voilà, fresh, hot, delicious scones. Eat now, thank us later.
Ingredients: Unbleached Enriched Flours (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Vegetable Oil [Canola Oil (Ascorbic Acid and Rosemary added to preserve freshness) and/or Sunflower Oil], Palm Oil, Buttermilk, Baking Powder [(Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Cornstarch, Monocalcium Phosphate) leavening], Salt, Baking Soda (leavening).
Pros:
- Certified kosher
- No artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, trans-fats, and saturated fats
- Complete mix, just add water
- Only 7 grams of sugar per scone
Cons:
- Contains wheat and milk
- May have come in contact with egg, soy, tree nuts (almonds, coconut, pecans)
2. Best Gluten Free: Mom’s Place Gluten-Free Scrumptious Sweet Scone Mix
You love baked goods, especially scones. The thick, dense texture and just the right amount of sweetness in a scone, coupled with a good cup of tea, is your go-to afternoon pick-me-up. You also like serving them when you have guests over for coffee. You used to make them from scratch, but since becoming gluten intolerant, it’s not always easy to find the right combination of gluten-free flours and ingredients to get the taste just right.
If you are looking for a gluten-free scones mix that produces authentic-tasting, delicious scones, then this is the product for you. What’s great about this basic recipe is that you can make them as is, or add fruit, chocolate or nuts for variety. In fact, recipes for five other options are right on the package, offering up many ways to enjoy this scrumptious treat. Brilliant, right?
And they are so easy to make, just add ½ a cup of half-and-half, 1/3 of a cup of water, 2 eggs, 2 ½ tablespoons of softened butter, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and combine all the wet ingredients into a mixing bowl. Add in scone mix and beat on low speed until combined. Don’t over mix. Then place large spoon-sized portions of dough onto a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
Serve warm, and if you have leftovers (although you probably won’t) they can be easily frozen to enjoy another day. And you know what? You can serve them for company and no one will even know they are gluten-free.
Ingredients: Flour blend: White Rice Flour, Tapioca Flour, Potato Starch, Xanthan Gum, Sugar, Salt, Aluminum Free Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophospate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate).
Pros:
- Gluten free
- Easy to make
- Five recipe options on the package
- Aluminum free baking powder
Cons:
- 17 grams of sugar per serving
- 880 mg of sodium per serving
3. Best Whole Wheat: Odlums Irish Brown Scones
You love bread, you love sweet treats, and lately, you’ve been getting into that Irish delight – scones. It doesn’t matter if they are plain or have fruit baked inside, you enjoy them all equally, however, like all of your baked goods, you prefer a more nutrient-packed, fiber-rich version made with whole-wheat flour.
We recommend this Irish brown scone mix for a fiber-rich option. Made in Ireland, scones made from this mix still taste authentic, rich and delicious, but since they are made from whole wheat flour and wheat bran, they are more nutritious than those made with white flour.
This mix is ideal for everyone, from novice bakers who don’t want to fuss with a lot of ingredients to seasoned pros that are pressed for time and need to whip up a batch quickly. With minimum prep time or added ingredients – just add milk or water – you’ll be munching on warm, delicious scones in less time than it takes to go to the store for the pre-made, bagged variety. Plus, with all that fiber, you’ll feel comfortable letting your kids eat them, too.
Ingredients: Wheat Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Wheat Bran, Buttermilk Powder Milk, Fat Powder (contains Refined Palm Oil, Glucose Syrup, Milk Protein, Free Flowing Agent: Silicon Dioxide), Raising Agents: (Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Mono Calcium Phosphate), Sugar, Salt.
Pros:
- 5.6 grams of fiber per 100 grams
- Yeast and preservative free
- Suitable for vegetarians
- Easy to use, just add milk or water
Cons
- Contains gluten and milk
4. Best Authentic: Hogan’s Irish Scone Mix
You love inviting friends over for brunch or tea, and one of your favorite baked goods to serve with hot beverages are scones: plain and ones filled with fruit. With your Irish heritage, you yearn for the authentic taste of Ireland, so it makes sense that only an Irish scone recipe will do. You could whip up a batch from scratch, but you prefer to have a few easy-to-use mixes on hand in the cupboard for when the unexpected happens – friends or family call to say they will there soon to visit.
If you are looking for an authentic Irish-tasting scone mix, then this imported from Ireland mix by Hogan may be just the right recipe for you. Based on the recipe used by generations of Irish housewives, this ready-to-bake scones mix allows you to enjoy these unique scones by just adding water and baking.
To make, first preheat the oven to 450 F. Place 8 ounces of cold water in mixing bowl, then add the mix. Stir just until all the liquid is incorporated, then empty the contents onto a floured surface. Knead lightly until just smooth and roll or pat out to ¾-inch thickness. Cut out rounds using a two-inch stonecutter or the bottom of a drinking glass. For a more professional finish, you can brush the tops of the scones prior to baking with either milk or beaten egg, and for a special treat, throw in some raisins, currents or fruit before baking. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.
Enjoy warm on its own or with butter, jam or lemon curd. Makes a lovely addition to an Irish-inspired food gift basket.
Ingredients: Wheat flour, sugar, vegetable fat, milk powder raising agents (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, mono calcium phosphate) dextrose, powdered fat, salt.
Pros:
- Imported from Ireland
- Based on an Irish recipe
- Complete mix, just add water
- Only 8 grams of sugar per serving
- Pack of four
Cons:
- Contains wheat, wheat gluten and milk powder
5. Best Organic: Garvey’s Downton Abbey best Of British Traditional Organic Scone Mix
You love experimenting in the kitchen. Cheese, fruits, veggies, chocolate – there’s nothing you wouldn’t use while baking. Or perhaps you prefer a simple bread covered with all sorts of sweet jams and other spreads. Whatever the case may be, this traditional British scone mix is the perfect base recipe for any and all bakers. We also recommend this mix for those of you looking for an organic mix free of trans fats and preservatives.
In addition to the standard recipe, on the side of the bag, you will also find the recipe for 5 variations of scones, such as blueberry, cheese, ginger, fruit and lemon and/or orange.
This basic recipe is incredibly easy to make yet still creates delicious scones. All you need is 9 ounces of the mix, 1/2 a stick (2 ounces) of butter, and a 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon of the milk of your choice. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Pour the mix into a bowl and work in the butter. If you want to add any sort of cheese, nut, fruit or chocolate, you would do so now. Add in the milk and stir until combined, then finish mixing with your hands until the dough holds together.
Shape into either triangles or circles, then place on an ungreased baking sheet. Cook for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Set on a wire rack to cool, then enjoy!
Ingredients: Certified organically grown unbleached white flour, organic evaporated cane juice, monocalcium phosphate, salt, and baking soda.
Pros
- Easy to make
- Five recipe options on the package
- USDA Organic Certified
- No trans fats or preservatives
Cons
- Contains wheat
- May have come in contact with eggs, soy, tree nuts (almonds, coconut, pecans) and milk
Things to look out for:
Consider these things when looking for a scones mix so you will choose the one that best suits your needs:
Ingredients:
This is probably the most important factor to consider when deciding on a scones mix that is right for you. If you or anyone in your family has food allergies or sensitivities, then reading the package ingredients is vital. Some mixes contain milk ingredients, milk byproducts and soy, while others are packaged in a facility that also uses the same machinery to process foods containing, nuts, milk, soy and gluten.
Luckily, these days, it’s not difficult to find gluten-free mixes for anyone with Celiac or has a gluten intolerance. Some gluten-free mixes use a blend of flours, generally rice and potato.
For anyone who would like to reduce their sugar intake, find a mix with under 6 grams of sugar per serving, if possible. Some mixes have up to 17 grams of sugar per serving, which will satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth in your home, but may not be great for anyone looking for a less sweet option.
Most scones mixes are made from white flour, but if you prefer a more fiber-rich option, look for a brand that has a mix made from whole-wheat flour.
Finally, many scones mixes are plain and allow you to add fresh raisins, currents, fruit, nuts or chocolate into the batter before baking. Others have dried fruit already in the mix, which is very convenient when there are no fresh fruit options available.
Ease-of-use:
The whole point of using a mix is to make the baking process as easy as possible. Sure you may like to make your scones from scratch, and why not? But sometimes even seasoned bakers are pressed for time – unexpected company coming in an hour is one of the best reasons to have a couple of scones mixes on hand. And for the novice baker who wants to impress, this is the best way to get the hang of it all while churning out truly delicious scones.
That being said, if you are the kind of person who believes less is more, then choose a scones mix that is ‘complete.’ This means all you have to do is add water or milk, stir until a dough forms, cut out dough rounds and pop it into the oven until they are done. They taste the same as from-scratch scones, with almost no effort at all.
If you are the type of person who wants to save time but enjoys adding some fresh ingredients to a mix, then choose a brand that requires some added ingredients such as eggs, milk, half-and-half or vanilla. It will take a little longer to put it all together, but it will still be faster than buying all of the ingredients separately and making it from scratch.