Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (2024)

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Easy British Scones 🌳 A quick and easy recipe for making the best vegan scones. With just a few basic dairy-free and eggless ingredients, you'll have a batch of warm and fluffy scones ready to eat in about 20 minutes!

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (1)

There is just something about the timeless charm of classic British scones that makes them so appealing. Enjoyed for their soft, tender texture and subtly sweet flavor, scones are a beloved staple for traditional afternoon teas. They also make a delicious addition to any vegan breakfast and brunch menu, along with other plant-based baked goods like blueberry muffins and shortbread.

This simply scrumptious scone recipe was shared with me by my wonderful friend, the distinguished British cookbook author, Pamela Brown. As a vegetarian for more than 75 years, Pamela used her culinary talents and voice to influence the way we think about our food choices, helping both people and animals in the process. This scone recipe is a perfect example of how easy it is to enjoy delicious food without causing harm to animals. Thank you Pamela!

Table of Contents
  • Why you will love this recipe
  • 🌳 Ingredients
  • 🌳 Instructions
  • 🌳 Serving Tips
  • 🌳 Equipment
  • Recipe
  • Comments
Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (2)

Why you will love this recipe

  • Just a few basic ingredients
  • Eggless and dairy-free
  • Ready to eat in about 20 minutes!
  • So yummy!
  • Who doesn't love scones?

🌳 Ingredients

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (3)

See the printable recipe card below for quantities and details.

Self-Rising Flour - Scones are typically made with self-rising (or self-raising) flour which has baking powder added as a leavening agent. If you don't have self-rising flour, you can use 2 cups all-purpose flour with 1 tablespoon baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt added.

Sugar - I use vegan granulated sugar. You can substitute with any similar texture sugar or sweetener you prefer.

Vegan Butter - Use your choice of non-dairy butter.

Non-dairy Milk -Almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk, or rice milk.

Maple Syrup - May be substituted with agave nectar or vegan honey.

Salt - just a pinch is all you need (about ⅛ teaspoon).

🌳 Instructions

Preheat oven to 425℉/220℃

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (4)
  1. Pour flour, sugar, and salt into a mixing bowl.
Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (5)

2. Stir the dry ingredients together to completely combine.

Unlike traditional British scone recipes that specify using cold butter, with this recipe, we will melt the vegan butter in hot water and then stir it into cold milk before adding it to the dough. So easy!

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (6)

3. Heat water until steaming hot. Add butter and stir to melt.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (7)

4. Pour milk into a measuring cup.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (8)

5. Add melted butter/water to the milk and stir well.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (9)

6. Pour wet mixture into the dry ingredients, adding a small amount at a time while stirring until just combined. Don't over-stir.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (10)

7. Dough should be thick and soft, but not wet.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (11)

8. Dust a cutting board or clean work surface with flour. Form the dough into a large ball. Turn it over (add a little extra flour to keep the dough from sticking to the board if needed).

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (12)

9. Lightly flatten the dough to about 1 inch thick, using a rolling pin or pressing with your hands.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (13)

10. Begin cutting out scones using a 2"-3" round biscuit or cookie cutter (I used a 2-½" biscuit cutter). Dip the edge of the cutter into flour before using. It helps keep the dough from sticking.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (14)

11. Place scones onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

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12. Lightly brush the tops of the scones with a wash made of 2 tablespoons of non-dairy milk and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (16)

13. Bake in a preheated 425℉/220℃ oven for 12 minutes or until scones are lightly golden brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (17)

🌳 Serving Tips

Scones are delicious with fresh berries and spreads such as fruit jams, vegan honey, vegan cream cheese, non-dairy butter, coconut whipped cream, or this easy vegan version of traditional British clotted cream. Enjoy with a cup of tea for a classic British treat!

How to make vegan British clotted cream

  • 6 tablespoons canned coconut cream (or full fat coconut milk that has been refrigerated at least 24 hours).
  • ¼ cup vegan butter
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

Scoop the hardened coconut cream from the top of the can. Place all the ingredients into a small blender or mixing bowl. Blend or whisk until the cream is thick and fluffy. Refrigerate until ready to use. Store refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (18)

Variations and Add-ins

Get creative with your scones and boost the flavor by adding other ingredients! Here are some tasty ideas:

  • Fresh berries - raspberries, blueberries, strawberries
  • Fresh fruits - apple, mango, pineapple,
  • Dried fruits - dates, raisins, apricots, cranberries
  • Nuts - pecans, walnuts, almonds
  • Citrus zest - lemon, lime, orange
  • Chocolate chips - vegan dark or white chocolate
  • Spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom

You can also make savory vegan scones by omitting the sugar and maple syrup and adding herbs or other ingredients such as:

  • Vegan cheese - grated
  • Fresh or dried herbs - chives, scallions, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme
  • Seasonings - curry, chili, pepper, sea salt, dried onion or garlic
Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (19)

🌳 Equipment

Here are the kitchen tools you will need to prepare scones:

Scone FAQ's

What are scones?

Scones are a popular British baked good, often served with tea. If you haven't tried scones before, they are similar to American-style biscuits, usually a bit bigger in size with a denser (not flaky) texture. The best scones have aslightly crisp exterior and a tender, fluffy interior. Scones can be prepared sweet or savory.

Why is a scone called a scone?

According to Wikipedia: "The origin of the wordsconeis obscure and may derive from different sources. That is, the classic Scottishscone, the Dutchschoonbroodor "spoonbread" (very similar to the drop scone), and possibly other similarly named quick breads may have made their way onto theBritish teatable, where their similar names merged into one".

Pronunciations of the word "scone" vary, with some people pronunciating the word "scon" rhyming with "gone", and others say "scone" as in "tone".

What's the best way to store vegan scones?

Store scones in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. For longer storage, freeze them and reheat when ready to eat.

What makes a scone vegan?

In a vegan scone recipe, traditional animal-based ingredients like dairy and eggs are replaced with plant-based alternatives.

If you love this recipe ★★★★★ please be sure to rate it below! Sharing your experience lets me know that you enjoyed it and will help other readers decide if they should give the recipe a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕

Recipe

Easy British Scone Recipe (vegan)

5 from 2 votes

by Connie🥕

Easy British Scones🌳 A quick and easy recipe for making soft, tender and buttery vegan scones. Prepared with just a few basic dairy-free and eggless ingredients, you'll have a batch of warm scones ready in about 20 minutes!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Tea

Cuisine British

Servings 8

Calories 170 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour self-rising
  • 1 teaspoon sugar granulated
  • teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup water hot
  • 2 oz vegan butter
  • ½ cup non-dairy milk plus 2 tablespoon for glaze
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup for glaze

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425℉/220℃

  • Pour flour, sugar, and salt into a mixing bowl.

  • Stir dry ingredients to completely combine.

  • Heat water until steaming hot. Add butter and stir to melt.

  • Add melted butter/water to the milk and stir well.

  • Pour wet mixture into the dry ingredients, adding a small amount at a time while stirring until just combined. Don't over-stir.

  • Dough should be thick and soft, but not wet.

  • Dust a cutting board or clean work surface with a small amount of flour. Form the dough into a large ball. Turn it over (add a little extra flour to keep the dough from sticking to the board if needed).

  • Lightly flatten the dough to about one to 1-½" thick using a rolling pin or pressing with your hands.

  • Begin cutting out scones using a 2"-3" round biscuit or cookie cutter (I used a 2-½" biscuit cutter). Dip the edge of the cutter into flour before using. It keeps the dough from sticking.

  • Place scones onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

  • Lightly brush the tops of the scones with a wash made of 2 tablespoons of non-dairy milk and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.

  • Bake in pre-heated oven for 12 minutes or until scones are lightly golden brown.

  • Allow to cool for a few minutes and enjoy!

Notes

Variations And Add-Ins

If you want to get creative with your scones and boost the flavor by adding other ingredients, here are some tasty ideas:

  • Fresh berries- raspberries, blueberries, strawberries
  • Fresh fruits- apple, mango, pineapple,
  • Dried fruits- dates, raisins, apricots, cranberries
  • Nuts- pecans, walnuts, almonds
  • Citrus zest- lemon, lime, orange
  • Chocolate chips- vegan dark or white chocolate
  • Spices- cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom

For a crispy sweet top, add a sprinkle of coarse sugar on the scones before baking.

You can also makesavory vegan sconesby omitting the sugar and maple syrup and adding herbs or other ingredients such as:

  • Vegan cheese- grated
  • Fresh or dried herbs- chives, scallions, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme
  • Seasonings- curry, chili, pepper, sea salt, dried onion or garlic

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 4gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gSodium: 91mgPotassium: 62mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 329IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 2mg

These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Breakfast/Brunch

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  • Best Ever Vegan Banana Muffins
  • Best Vegan Blueberry Muffins Recipe
  • Vegan Cranberry Oat Crumble Bars

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply🥕

  1. Hilda

    The method mentions butter, but I don’t see it listed with the ingredients. How much I needed?
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Connie Edwards McGaughy

      Oh my gosh Hilda, I'm so grateful you caught that. Seems like no matter how many times I proof read, there's always something I miss! I just updated the recipe. You will need 2 ounces of vegan butter (1/2 stick). Thank you!😘

      Reply

    • Sue

      The oven temp of 220 c is that fan or regular x

      Reply

      • Connie

        That is 220℃ Celsius

        Reply

  2. Connie Edwards McGaughy

    Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (25)
    I was so excited when my friend Pamela shared this recipe with me. Oh my gosh, not only is this the easiest recipe to prepare, it's absolutely delicious. My family loves them so much, I've made these scones three times in the last week!

    Reply

Easy British Scones Recipe (vegan) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between British scones and English scones? ›

British scones are traditionally drier, lighter, plain in flavor, and significantly less sugary than American scones and are commonly served for breakfast or with afternoon tea as a bready snack. America's Test Kitchen claims that butter is one of the major differences between English and American scones.

What to avoid when making scones? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Scones
  1. Using anything but cold ingredients. The secret to the flakiest scones is to start with cold ingredients — cold butter, cold eggs, and cold cream. ...
  2. Only using all-purpose flour. ...
  3. Overmixing the dough. ...
  4. Not chilling the dough before baking. ...
  5. Baking them ahead of time.
May 1, 2019

What is a vegan scone made of? ›

To Make the Scones

In a large bowl, sieve together the self-raising flour, baking powder, fine sea salt and caster sugar. Add the cubed vegan butter and rub it into the flour with your fingers until the mixture resembles sandy crumbs. In a measuring jug, whisk together the soy milk, vanilla extract and lemon juice.

Is heavy cream or buttermilk better for scones? ›

You could use buttermilk instead of heavy cream in this recipe if you prefer. Its acid reacts with the baking powder to keep the dough tender. But since we use heavy cream and an egg, this dough is richer than traditional biscuit dough and doesn't need much tenderizing.

What do Brits call American scones? ›

A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)

Both baked goodies use flour, fat, liquid and a leavening agent. The main differences are that scones tend to have less butter (because you'll add butter to it when you eating it — or else, clotted cream or jam) while American biscuits tend to have more butter and light layers.

What is the American version of a scone? ›

If you've had afternoon tea in the UK and a flaky buttermilk biscuit in the US you can't deny the similarity, they're both incredibly simple, and I am sure an argument could be made that biscuits probably originated from the idea of British scones.

What type of flour is best for scones? ›

We recommend using all-purpose flour. There is some debate as to what flour one should use to go around achieving the perfect scone. This is because within different flours comes different levels of protein.

Why are scones bad for you? ›

ANY TYPE OF SCONE

Although convenient and tasty, scones are a complete loss. They are typically extremely high in calories from the heavy butter and cream. And, although scones with fruit might seem healthier, most are even higher in calories and still high in saturated fat. Steer clear of scones.

Are the scones at Panera vegan? ›

Because our scone mix recipes are made with cream, butter, and wheat flour, our scones are not suitable for vegan or gluten conscious diets. However, we do have vegan bagel and bread options and gluten conscious cookie choices that can help round out your afternoon tea menu while meeting your dietary needs.

How do queens eat scone? ›

Well, according to Darren McGrady, a former chef who worked for the Royal Family for over 10 years, the Queen prefered jam first. He tweeted: “The Queen always had home-made Balmoral jam first with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent and all royal tea parties.”

What are Victoria scones? ›

Victoria scones are also sometimes called empire scones and are a cake baked to celebrate Queen Victoria's coronation and Jubilee. The scone is shaped into a round with a cross cut across the top. A glace cherry is placed in the center of each segment. To represent the jewels in her crown.

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of buttermilk in scones? ›

Just use the same amount of yogurt as the recipe calls for buttermilk. For the right thickness, you might need to mix it with a little water. Sour cream: Sour cream substitute works well too! Just like with yogurt, use the same amount of sour cream as you would buttermilk.

Is it better to make scones with butter or oil? ›

For example, if you substitute oil for butter or margarine, you can significantly reduce the amount of saturated fat in your baked goods. This streamlined recipe for Light Scones uses just 3 tablespoons of canola oil, which contains a fraction of the saturated fat found in butter or margarine.

What is the difference between a scone and a shortcake? ›

Whereas a scone has a shorter, more biscuity crumb, a shortcake is almost half cake and half scone. (These shortcakes also have cream in the dough, to add a further layer of indulgence.

Do the royal family say scone or scone? ›

“I say it like 'cone' personally but Her Majesty did always say 'scon'. “I think more people say 'scone' but the ones who say 'scon' swear they're the only ones that say it right. Posh people definitely say 'scon', but ultimately both are valid.”

Are American biscuits British scones? ›

"The ingredients for British scones and the American biscuit are very similar," says Holly Snyder, senior culinary product developer at Amazon Fresh. "The proportions of those ingredients are the key difference; scones usually have less butter and more liquid than American biscuits."

How do you eat scones in England? ›

Scoop out clotted cream and jams onto your plate, enough for one scone. Break apart a small bite-sized portion of scone with your hands or if using a knife, cut the scone horizontally. Use a knife to slather on cream and jam onto the broken-off piece of scone. The bite-sized piece of scone should be eaten in 1-2 bites.

What do British call biscuits and gravy? ›

Scones and Gravy: The English Equivalent.

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