Scones are a type of rich, slightly savory pastry that is often served at breakfast or tea, especially in Britain. Traditional English scones slightly resemble American biscuits, as both use a flaky, dense pastry, but scones tend to be a bit sweeter, and also incorporate ingredients like dried fruit. Delicious when eaten warm, they are also served cold with a variety of toppings, including clotted cream, marmalade, jams, honey, and butters. These pastries are also made highly savory with ingredients like potato flour and cheese.
The term “scone” in reference to a pastry has been in use in Scotland since 1513, and is probably related to the Dutch word for bread. Scones are the most highly evolved in Scotland as well, suggesting that the food originates there. Scottish versions come in a number of guises, including soda scones, made with a savory mixture of flour, buttermilk, baking soda, and salt. The Scottish also make treacle, potato, and griddle scones, which are cooked on a griddle rather than baked.
A basic scone dough has flour, milk or buttermilk, eggs, butter, salt, baking soda, and sugar. The dry ingredients are whisked together until combined and then the butter is cut in with pastry knives. The butter is not permitted to melt, but is instead blended with the flour until it forms small lumps of flour coated butter. The buttermilk and eggs are mixed together and then added all at once to the flour/butter mixture. Everything is combined until it has just begun to draw together, leaving a slightly sticky, lumpy dough that is rolled out on a lightly floured surface. The dough is usually made in the shape of a round which is cut into triangles, although scones can also be cut into squares or made using a cookie cutter. The top of the dough is often lightly brushed with egg and milk before being sprinkled with sugar and put into the oven to bake.
Common additions to scones include spices like cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg, or seeds like poppy and fennel. Many cooks also add lemon zest and dried fruit such as raisins, dates, or cranberries. More hearty scones include bacon or cheese, and some bakeries add more unusual ingredients like chocolate chips, fresh fruit, or cocoa powder. The baked scones are cooled on racks and served with tea or packed up cold to be eaten later. They are readily available in bakeries all over the world, although they are also easy and delicious to make at home.