![Best-Ever Irish Scones filled with cream and jam amongst other scones.](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1214 809"></svg>)
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Hi Bold Bakers!
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE: The Best-Ever Irish Scones recipe that’s as authentic as it gets — I’m Irish, so you’ve come to the authority on the subject. Moist, dense, lightly sweet, these are the best ever.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was updated and improved on 2/24/2023, to include additional related Irish recipes, answers to the most frequently asked questions and Pro Chef Tips.
This is a very special recipe, one that has been frequently requested and highly anticipated. In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, I finally perfected my Best-Ever Irish Scones recipe! These are the most authentic Irish Scones around as they are quite literally a revamped recreation of what I grew up within Ireland similar to my Traditional Irish Soda Bread & Simple White Irish Soda Bread recipes.
To me, Irish soda bread and scones are all about texture. My Best-Ever Scones have all of the signs of what a scone should be: a crunchy, crackly exterior, a moist and dense interior, and a lightly sweet flavor. Overall a bite of these should feel like a big hug!
My Best-Ever Irish Scones, along with my Best-Ever Banana Bread and my Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies, are a tried and true recipe that will quickly become your go-to. Just like a flakey biscuit, scones are made of flour, butter, sugar, egg, and milk.
![Top-down view of a batch of my traditional, Best Irish Scones recipe.](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 809 1214"></svg> "Best Ever Irish Scones — my traditional Irish Scones recipe is perfect for your St. Patrick's Day.")
Table Of Contents
What Are Irish Scones?
Irish Scones are heaven on Earth, and straight out of my childhood in Ireland. They’re scones that have a lightly sweet crust and a wonderfully moist center served with cream, butter, or jam. Bonus points if they’re all homemade! They’re also traditionally round, not triangular like you’d find in the States.
If you need help making them, check out my step-by-step Best-Ever Irish Scones recipe video below.
Ingredients of Best-Ever Irish Scones
- Self-raising flour: Hard to find? Make it with all-purpose flour (or plain flour) with baking powder using my Self-Raising Flour recipe.
- Butter: FROZEN butter (salted is preferred for more flavor) contains colder water (than non-frozen butter) which will evaporate during baking to help scones rise and create layers.
- Baking powder: This helps scones rise high and turn out airy.
- Sugar: It adds sweetness to scones. Use a substitute if needed from The Best Sugar Substitutes for Baking & Free Substitutes Chart.
- Raisins: They’re sweet and soft. Feel free to go with your favorites!
- Milk: I use full-fat/whole milk. Any milk of your choice will work here. (Adjust it accordingly to get the same consistency dough as the video. )
- Eggs: Beaten eggs enhance texture and enrich the flavor. Check out this guide 12 Best Egg Substitutes for Baking Recipes & How to Use Them for substitute in scones.
How to Make Best-Ever Irish Scones?
If you’re looking for a traditional, authentic, and flat-out simple Irish scone recipe, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s how you make them (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):
- Flour power! Add self-raising flour to a large bowl.
- Frozen butter: Grate the frozen butter into the bowl. Frozen butter is my secret ingredient here, and I explain why in the next section.
- Add your fix-ins. Stir in raisins, baking powder, and sugar.
- Milk and eggs. Whisk the eggs and milk in a separate small bowl, add into the mixing bowl, and stir until a soft dough is formed.
- Press and cut. On a floured surface, press the scones and then cut them out with a cookie cutter. Combine the leftover dough and repeat until you’ve used it all up.
- Baking time! Place the scones on a parchment-lined baking tray. After bringing the oven to 425 degrees, bake before cooling on a wire rack.
- It’s time to eat! Once the scones are cooled, add butter, jam, and clotted cream.
FAQs
What Can I Add to My Scones?
After grating in the cold butter, and mixing in the rest of the dry ingredients starting with sweet raisins and followed by the eggs and milk, you can get creative and add in any other mix-ins you like. From adding fresh berries like in my Fresh Blueberry Scones to chocolate chips, you can make so many variations with this recipe.
Check out my other scone recipes, too: Easy Chocolate Chip Scones, Simple Raspberry Scones, Chocolate Scones, and Pizza Scones.
What shape should Best-Ever Irish Scones be?
Once the dough has come together, I roll the dough out and cut them into lovely rounds, only American scones are triangles. I can’t even tell you how nostalgic these scones make me feel.
Why Use Frozen Butter?
While these Best-Ever Irish Scones taste like they are made in a real Irish Bakery, they are so easy to make. The key to them is really that they are made 100% by hand.
In one bowl, I grate frozen butter into the flour.You can also do this whenever you have time and freeze butter curls. This is the trick to making these the biggest and boldest scones. Grating the butter makes a huge difference in the texture of the scones — it creates pockets of butter throughout and adds loads of air and texture to the finished scones.
How to Store Best-Ever Irish Scones?
Store Best-Ever Irish Scones in an airtight container at room temperature (76°F/24°C) for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze scones for up to 2 months. For best results, defrost in a warm oven (300°F/150°C) until heated through.
How to Serve Best-Ever Irish Scones?
After baking, I love to top these with jam and fresh whipped cream. If you happen to have my homemade Microwave Jam or clotted cream, even better! If you’ve ever wondered How to Make Clotted Cream you have to check out this recipe!
St. Patrick’s Day or not, these are sure to become a family favorite! Also, don’t miss my other traditional Irish recipes.
Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips
What’s the secret of soft and airy Best-Ever Irish Scones?
While mixing the ingredients, set your strong hand ready into a “claw shape” to pull your dough gently around, in order to get a light and airy result instead of an overly-dense and toughened one. Add in more liquid as needed JUST until the dough comes together and forms a ball.
What can be substituted for egg wash?
Brush scones’ top with leftover liquid (milk and egg mixture) from making the dough! You can also use melted butter (slightly cooled ), milk or yogurt.
Can I freeze individual raw scones?
Yes, once the dough is proofed and cut into individual scones, you can freeze them as needed. When it’s time to bake, take them out of the freezer to defrost at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes then bake at 425°F (210°C) for roughly 22-26 minutes or until golden brown all over on the outside.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe was updated and improved on 2/24/2023, to include additional related Irish recipes, answers to the most frequently asked questions and Pro Chef Tips.