Make classic Raisin Scones with just 5 simple ingredients in 25 minutes. A great way to turn pantry staples into a tasty recipe that the whole family will love for dessert, breakfast, or a snack.
Raisin scones are super easy to whip up in under half an hour. Using pantry staples, this is a recipe to have up your sleeve when you want a tasty treat without having to hit up the grocery store!
Warm scones straight from the oven are one of the most simple pleasures in life.
The crusty outside and pillowy inside are the perfect texture that’s satisfying and delicious.
These scones are studded with sweet raisins and pair with almost any jam, jelly, or fruit compote.
Despite what you may think, scones are pretty simple to make!
Mixing flour with cold chunks of butter produces a dough that is buttery and doesn’t need to spend any time rising.
The result is a buttery biscuit-like pastry that’s perfect to enjoy any time of the day.
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Why Make This Recipe
They make a great breakfast or a satisfying snack or dessert.
Scones are a rustic biscuit that doesn’t take any fancy methods or ingredients which makes them easy to prepare and bake.
The entire recipe is made of only 5 simple pantry ingredients.
They are the perfect food to bring to a morning brunch or to a new neighbor.
The sweet raisins are a perfect touch and add just enough sweetness which greatly enhances the scones.
They are best when served warm right out of the oven but can be reheated or toasted if needed.
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour - This is the perfect flour to make the scones fluffy but still dense.
- Baking powder - to make the scones rise and become fluffy.
- Salt - Gives a healthy balance of flavor to the scone dough and allows you to control the salt.
- Butter - Cold butter gets mixed into the flour in small chunks so that it bakes up buttery and crusty.
- Sugar - Gives the scone dough a slight sweetness that pairs well.
- Raisins - Adds a hint of sweetness and texture throughout.
- Milk - Brings the dough together to form and also is brushed on top for glazing.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
How to Make Raisin Scones
Wondering how to make this recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Preheat the oven to 425F and lightly grease a baking sheet.
Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until it’s all worked in and looks like fine crumbs or sand. Stir in the sugar and raisins.
Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the milk, then gently stir with a knife until combined.
Lightly flour the work surface and gently knead the sticky dough a couple of times until it’s workable, then pat it out to about 1-inch / 2.5cm thick.
You can either cut the round of dough in a star shape to make triangular scones, or use a small round cookie cutter to cut out round shapes from the dough. Repeat, patting the dough back together as necessary.
Place the rounds onto the baking sheet and brush the tops with a little milk.
Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Scroll down for the full method.
Cook's Tips
Make sure you are working with cold butter and that you’re not warming it too much with your hands. Butter that is melted or too warm will not give the correct texture to the scones when baked.
When milk is added, it’s important to just stir until combined and not overwork the dough. Overworking will cause the finished product to be tough and chewy.
You can chill the scones before baking if they have sat out too long. This will make sure the butter does not spread in the dough and bakes properly.
Try them with microwave strawberry jam.
These scones would be perfect for a school bake sale, afternoon tea party, birthday, church group, or a charity coffee morning (like McMillan Coffee Morning)! Bring them along with a batch of your favorite chocolate chip cookies, Lemon Blueberry Cookies, Mrs. Fields Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, some Dunkaroo Dip, and slices of this great Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe.
Variations
Don’t like raisins? Add dried cranberries, cherries, golden berries, or currants instead!
Try adding some pumpkin pie spice to change the flavor.
A little ground ginger also tastes great in the raisin scones.
Storage & Freezing
Storing: Raisin scones can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days outside of the refrigerator.
Freezing: Scones can be frozen once cooled. Wrap each scone in a layer of plastic wrap then add to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for 3-4 months. Thaw on the counter before reheating and serving.
FAQs
Scone dough should be more on the wet side in order to hold the proper shape and texture. You should not be able to knead it.
Cold milk helps the butter not to melt or break down which keeps chunks of butter throughout the dough.
More dessert recipes
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
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📖 Recipe
Raisin Scones
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Cookie Cutter
- Baking Sheet
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour (225g)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup butter (55g)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¾ cup raisins (100g)
- ⅔ cup milk (150ml), plus extra for glazing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F / 220°C. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
- Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
- Add the butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until it’s all worked in and looks like fine crumbs.
- Stir in the sugar and raisins.
- Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the milk, then gently stir with a knife.
- Lightly flour the work surface and gently knead the sticky dough a couple of times until it’s workable, then pat it out to about 1-inch / 2.5cm thick.
- Use a small round cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough. Repeat, patting the dough back together as necessary.
- Place the rounds onto the baking sheet and brush the tops with a little milk.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until risen and golden. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Make sure you are working with cold butter and that you’re not warming it too much with your hands. Butter that is melted or too warm will not give the correct texture to the scones when baked.
- When milk is added, it’s important to just stir until combined and not overwork the dough. Overworking will cause the finished product to be tough and chewy.
- You can chill the scones before baking if they have sat out too long. This will make sure the butter does not spread in the dough and bakes properly.
- Don’t like raisins? Add dried cranberries, cherries, golden berries, or currants instead!
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Toon
These turned out great! I added a cinnamon glaze and they were incredible.