Light and fluffy, these Sour Cream Scones are just the thing for those warmer weather intimate brunches. Brew some coffee and tea; company’s coming!
Lately, I have been on a scone kick; well, actually more of an over-baking, packing-on-the-pounds, extreme self-indulgence, full on love affair! I love to cook and bake. Sometimes, I’m in the mood to create something with a million ingredients and hours of prep and cooking time.
But, there’s nothing more satisfying than a recipe that has very few ingredients and takes very little time. Another bonus with these scones is that you can add any flavour you happen to be craving at that moment.
After all, it’s always been about you!
As you can see from the pictures, I’ve tried a few different flavour combinations to suit my personal tastes. And that’s a really great thing about this Sour Cream Scone recipe. You can adapt it almost any which way! I’ve made three different versions for this particular post just to show you the versatility of this recipe.
The add-in option can be anything. For the purpose of the photographs, I have made three batches. There’s a batch of blueberry scones, and then there’s those lovely glazed lemon poppy seed scones, and lastly, for those that crave a sweeter scone, I’ve prepared classic chocolate chip.
What else can I add?
I’ve tried just about anything in scones. I tried them with coconut, strawberries, orange and cranberry, and even toffee bits! But, here’s a word of warning. When adding that last flavour ingredient to make these scones your own, limit yourself to half a cup of add-ins.
Also, if you are adding anything with liquid, you will end up changing the density of the dough, which will change the end result.
If you look closely, you will see that the lemon poppy seed scone is not has thick or puffy as the other scones. There is one very good reason for that. I added two teaspoons of lemon juice to the first half of the recipe. Just that little amount of liquid changed the ability for the scone to rise like the others during the baking process.
If you plan to add any liquids, such as the lemon juice, or if you opt to use any extracts, such as vanilla, coffee, or almond extract, stick to only two teaspoons per batch.
Add the liquid to the recipe with the sour cream, egg white, and butter. All of the wet ingredients should be mixed together before you add the flour.
It’s also worth mentioning that while sometimes I form the dough into a disc shape and then slice it into eight wedges, this time I opted for a scoop approach. A large ice-cream or cookie scoop works very well. I have this set here and I used the largest scoop.
Fresh isn’t always better! Sorry.
Fresh fruit does not and will not work in this recipe. Since the dough is dense and heavy, mixing the fruit through completely destroys the integrity of the fruit. Trust me, your strawberries will be pulp, and your blueberries will look like they’ve seen better days. Stick to the dried fruit or currants only.
But with so many other add-in options available, you won’t need to use your fresh berries or fruit. Save those for your salads or to top your yogurt with. For these scones, rifle through your pantry and find the ingredients you don’t normally use. And, if all else fails, keep them plain! They’re delicious with my Easy Homemade Jam!
Conclusion:
Personally, I think life with a freshly baked scone and a cup of tea cannot possibly get any better! When the weather gets a little warmer, there’s nothing more satisfying and relaxing than a scone smeared with butter. I take the scone outside and sit on our balcony.
On Saturday mornings, you find me doing this sometime before 8am. I’m always up and out of bed by 6am, even on the weekends, and I love to have that moment of time to myself.
I have a very rigid routine on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The first thing I do is to brew a hot cup of coffee. I check my blog stats, follow through on my blog commitments in terms of sharing or scheduling posts.
When that’s done, I get myself a scone, brew a second cup of coffee, and sit outside on our fourth floor balcony. It’s perfect – just high enough to be away from the street, but close enough so that I can watch the world go about its business.
I do my best thinking during that time. We live on a busy street, so the hustle and bustle of the traffic, the transit, and people from all walks of life are not yet filling my ears with noise.
I finish my scone (sometimes two!) and take in the quiet while I finish my coffee. On occasion, I’ll bring out my notebook and jot down recipe ideas or make a list of things I need to do over the weekend.
Before I know it, John.e and McKenna are awake and going about their business. I quietly long for Sunday morning when I get to do it all over again, but right now, I have to push everyone to get ready and get us out the door. The Saturday farmers’ market waits for no one!
Sour Cream Scones
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2/3 cup sour cream, 5%
- 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dried berries or fruit, optional
- 4 teaspoons course white sugar, optional
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking sheet or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift and combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Separate the egg yolk from the white. Save the yolk for the last step before baking.
- In another bowl, whisk together the egg white, melted butter, and sour cream. (If you are adding an extract – vanilla or anything else, add it now, but no more than 2 teaspoons)
- Once mixed, add the dry ingredients, and your add-in, to the wet ingredients and stir until most of the ingredients have come together. DO NOT over mix the dough. Mix just until the flour is incorporated.
- Using a large ice-cream scoop, scoop the dough out onto the baking sheet. I used a half cup scoop size.
- Add one tablespoon of water to the egg yolk and whisk to combine. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the top of each scone with the egg yolk mixture. Sprinkle over about a half teaspoon of course sugar, if using.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately remove from baking sheet and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Mrs F says
Ohhh!!! I’ve been waiting for your scone recipe!!!
Byron Thomas says
I’m eagerly awaiting to see what your creative mind decides to add to this base recipe!
john_e (@john_s_ewing) says
Mmmmm, more scones, please.
john_e (@john_s_ewing) says
Mmmmm, more scones, please.
Byron Thomas says
I’d be happy to make more scones, but if I do, you can’t blame me for what you think is an increasing waistline! 😉
Margaret Vieira says
These have become my new weekend treat. The kids love them with chocolate chips and with dried fruit as well.
Margaret Vieira says
These have become my new weekend treat. The kids love them with chocolate chips and with dried fruit as well.
patti400 says
These scones look wonderful!
[email protected] says
Thank you, Patti. 🙂
WhitBit's Indian Kitchen says
Love scones! I bet these would taste great with cream cheese spread in the middle. But that’s just the little piggy in me.
Insanely Roy says
These looks great. and sounds pretty doable to me.
I am new to baking so most often than not I get intimidated by baked goodies. 🙂
Framed Recipes says
Byron, I am going to try this recipe. I am thinking dried blueberries for us and chocolate chips for my Sonshine. Bookmarking the page. – Sreelatha
[email protected] says
Chocolate chips in scones are great!
Sheena @ Tea and Biscuits says
There’s nothing better than a freshly baked scone and a nice cup of tea! 🙂 Have you ever tried cheese scones? They are very popular back home in Scotland.
[email protected] says
You’re absolutely right, Sheena. I’ve tried cheese scones once. I made some with cheese and chives to serve with a soup. They were delicious!
Meri Rasoi - By Saumya Mishra says
Love the recipe!!! Scones look great 🙂
Dawn @ Words Of Deliciousness says
Your scones look yummy. I too love making scones and have tried many different combinations. I will have to give your recipe a try!
Priya Shiva says
These look delicious! I love baking and would try it out this weekend 🙂
Madiha Nawaz says
I love baking but have never tried making scones. Your recipe however is going to be the first I’ll get my hand at trying out making scones 🙂 As always, detailed and easy to follow instructions and beautiful photography!
Thanks so much for sharing!
[email protected] says
Thank you, Madiha. So kind of you to say so. Be careful when you make these; scones are addictive. 😉
Renee says
Uggh, my oven is the one appliance that needs replacing. It is so inaccurate in temperature that it’s hard to bake. But, once I get it replaced, I will be making this scone recipe!!!
[email protected] says
Oh, Renee, I would be lost without my oven! I feel so badly for you. I hope it’s repaired soon and that you make these scones and come back and let me know how they worked out for you. The recipe is fail-proof, so I’m sure they will be perfect!
Marissa @ OMG FOOD says
I’ve baked lots of things, but I’ve never made scones! That may have to change. It’s been hot in Boston lately, but that probably won’t stop me from turning the oven on anyway. Now I gotta think of which flavors to add in! 😀
[email protected] says
Crank the AC and bake, Marissa! The options for addi-in flavours are endless, but my go-to favourite is dried strawberries.
oliviascuisine says
I’ll take 2, please! And a cup of hot coffee! YUM!
Jolly says
Wow looks really delicious. I would like to try this soon !!
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
Oh yummy!
Scones and jam with a bit of clotted cream. Just like my gran used to make.
Yours look scrummy!
But the big question is do you pronounce it scone so it rhymes with phone or scone so it rhymes with gone??? ? x
[email protected] says
Hi Claire… to be completely honest, the first time I ever heard someone pronounce it scone (like gone), I thought they were trying to be funny. It took me a few days to accept that’s how they said it. I pronounce it scone (like phone).
Michelle says
Love it! Huge fan of scones myself
shobha says
I have never tried my hand at making these.. they look awesome !
Heather says
These look ridiculously easy and A-MA-ZING!!!! I love the used of the reduced fat sour cream because obviously that means you can eat MORE to make up the difference 🙂
[email protected] says
That’s the way I think too!! 🙂
rosemolloy59 says
These look amazing Byron, scones are one of my favourite things ever, I just had a cup of tea I would have loved one of these.
Rachel | Birdseed Kitchen says
Hi Byron. Thank you for this delicious scone recipe! I made them last night and substituted Greek yogurt for the sour cream, and they were everything I’ve been looking for in a scone. Now I don’t have to buy them at the coffee shop all the time.
I have tried to make scones before, and they always turned out dry. These are definitely going in my regular rotation.
If I come up with some new variations, would you mind if I post them to my blog, with credit and links to you for the wonderful base recipe?
Cheers,
Rachel
[email protected] says
Thank you, Rachel.
Yes, of course – what is food if it’s not meant to be shared and loved? Go ahead, make the recipe, and share it to your blog and with your readers. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Rachel | Birdseed Kitchen says
Thank you so much!
And I should add that these scones freeze very well, too. I thought freezing some would keep me from eating them all, but after discovering they reheat well in the toaster oven, I was unstoppable. 🙂
Sara says
Just fyi, it is more likely that your lemon poppyseed scones didn’t rise because the lemon juice you added likely reacted with your baking soda/powder upon addition which would then leave you without a leavening agent during baking, rather than the extra 2 table spoons of liquid causing it. Try it again with a non-acidic liquid add-in and see whether it rises normally or not.
Patti L. says
Today…11/18/19 ~ Please post this on Facebook…
How will this recipe turn out (texture) if sour cream is Not used, and yogurt IS used?
The two are similar in consistency. Thank you. I hope I find your reply!
S Smith says
I’ve made these using a variety of substitutions with whole-wheat flour, orange & lemon zests, cranberries, blueberries & even more savoury & less sweet and will now be trying out gluten free substitutions to see how that goes. I love this recipe, it’s great as it is & very versatile with substitution. Yummy they are!
[email protected] says
Thank you! 🙂
Patti L. says
Lord B !! I’ve waited for this scone recipe to pop up since seeing it on one of your jam recipe post.
I’m sure I wrote a request for the recipe in the comment box.
Patience is a virtuous SCONE. SOUR CREAM TYPE!! How cool can THAT be? ~ YOU be cool 🙂
~ ~ ~ Thank you.
Terri Losito says
Just made these tonight for the weekend. I didn’t have an ice cream scooper so I used 1/2 cup measuring cup but didn’t fill it all the way. Just did it to get a shape and then flattened it a little bit. I just wasn’t sure when they would be done inside. There were large so I baked them for 20 minutes and then shut the oven for another 5. They were golden brown. I made chocolate chips scones. There was left over dough so I made a small one to try out. YUMMY! I may have overcooked them just a little bit but they’re very good. What is the difference between this recipe and your basic scone recipe? Are the textures different? I will try that one next with some orange flavored cranberries and walnuts YUM!
mobasir hassan says
Truly appreciate the way you made this wonderful sour cream scones. Everything is so nicely described which really helped. Thanks and looking forward for more such recipes in future too.
Keira says
These looks tasty.
Brandie says
The blueberry scones are to die for. They need a little more time to bake than the recipe says. They’re the bomb!! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Barbara Ann Gladney says
awesome
rosanna says
I used an ice cream sccoper I had in house I think it was a little smaller than 1/2 cup. After reading some of the reviews here’s a couple of things I should have done. First from one of the readers I should have added a little of milk to my mixture it was a litttle dry, second I should have patted them down a bit. They were tasty but since I didn’t pat them down they weren’t completely cooked in the center. I am new at making scones….will try again…liked the lemon poppy flavor!