Make Ahead

Royal Wedding Scones

by:
April 25, 2011
129 Reviews
Royal Wedding Scones
Photo by James Ransom
Author Notes

My mother taught me how to cook and bake. LOTS of really good stuff. Mostly Italian things. She was a stay at home mom, and a great cook (she still is, at 78 years old). She didn’t drive, so we spent a lot of quality time in the kitchen. I learned so much about cooking, eating and sharing good food from my mother. And I’ve been trying to do the same with my kids, who have been lucky enough to cook, eat and share good food with both my mother and I.

My initial thought of what my "legacy" should be was Nonna’s Piadina, which my mother taught me how to make when I was a little girl. My kids, on the other hand, urged me to submit my scone recipe, and since nobody makes better piadina than nonna, my scone recipe it is. And I am, after all, the Pound Ridge Scone Lady. ;)

I also thought since the Royal Wedding is taking place this Friday, what better way to celebrate in style than with a plate of fresh baked blueberry scones to share with your friends and family.

I may not have an 18-carat sapphire engagement ring to share with my kids, but I’m grateful I have my baking knowledge to pass down to them, and hope that someday they’ll remember fondly the times we spent in the kitchen together. - mrslarkin —mrslarkin

Test Kitchen Notes

MrsLarkins Royal Wedding Scones are quite possibly the most delicious scone I have ever eaten. They are moist and tender and loaded with blueberries. In the past I have been somewhat challenged making scones that were not as my daughter characterized, like paperweights. I could not find wild Maine blueberries so I used what I could find from the farmers market today. When I took a bite it was like getting a big hug from Mom. Thank you for this wonderful recipe, you could feel and taste the love -- this will be the recipe I will use from now on when I make scones. I am looking forward to experimenting making both sweet and savory ones. We thoroughly enjoyed them this morning warm with butter and some homemade strawberry jam, but they are equally delicious on their own. This recipe is a keeper. - sdebrango —sdebrango

  • Prep time 45 minutes
  • Cook time 25 minutes
  • Serves 8
Ingredients
  • 2 1/2 cups (11.25 ounces) all-purpose unbleaced flour (I use King Arthur Flour)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for sprinkling on tops of scones
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder* (see step 11)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 3/4 cup frozen wild Maine blueberries
  • 1 cup heavy cream, plus more for brushing on tops of scones
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
In This Recipe
Tools
Set a Timer
Directions
  1. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the chopping blade, place the dry ingredients and pulse to combine.
  2. Add the butter, and pulse about 10 or so times. You want to retain some small pieces of butter. Don’t blitz the heck out of it. Transfer the flour mixture to a large mixing bowl. If you've got some really large butter lumps, just squish them with the back of a fork.
  3. Gently toss the blueberries into the flour mixture.
  4. In a large measuring cup, place the heavy cream, egg and vanilla. Mix well. Pour into flour mixture. With a dinner fork, fold the wet into the dry as you gradually turn the bowl. It’s a folding motion you’re shooting for, not a stirring motion. When dough begins to gather, use a plastic bowl scraper to gently knead the dough into a ball shape. If there is still a lot of loose flour in the bottom of the bowl, drizzle in a bit more cream, like a teaspoon at a time, until the dough comes together.
  5. Transfer the dough ball to a floured board. Gently pat into a 6” or 7" circle. With a pastry scraper or large chef’s knife, cut into 8 triangles. I use a pie marker to score the top of the dough circle and use the lines as a guide.
  6. OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED: Place the scones on a wax paper-lined sheet pan and freeze until solid. Once they are frozen, you can store them in a plastic freezer bag for several weeks.
  7. Preheat oven to 425° F. Place frozen scones on a parchment-lined sheet pan, about 1-inch apart. Brush with cream. Sprinkle tops of scones with sugar.
  8. Bake for about 20 - 25 minutes, turning pan halfway through. They are done when a wooden skewer comes out clean.
  9. Serve with clotted cream, creme fraiche, and jam if you wish. These are great the next day, warmed in the microwave for 15 - 20 seconds. They freeze really well, too, and can be reheated in a 350 degree F oven until warm. Enjoy!
  10. For plain scones, just omit the blueberries.
  11. *COOK'S NOTE: Update on freezing scones. I usually use Red Star non-aluminum baking powder. I recently ran out, so I bought some Rumford's instead. After freezing solid, the Rumford scones did not rise at all when baking. So fyi, if you use Rumford's baking powder, bake the scones straightaway, and don't freeze.
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