Strawberry Buttermilk Scones
These Strawberry Buttermilk Scones prove that you don’t need cream to create tender, moist scones! The results were absolutely incredible!
Using cold butter and buttermilk make this Easy Scones Recipe an irresistible breakfast, brunch, or snack treat!
Why You Must Make
- The base recipe for these scones is from Marion Cunningham, a baker extraordinaire and cookbook author.
- Buttermilk makes the scones extra moist and tender.
- Adding strawberries makes them perfect for a summer breakfast or brunch.
While Bill was hospitalized last month, I wanted to take some goodies to his stellar nursing staff. I got the bright idea to combine my Tuesdays with Dorie recipe for buttermilk scones with my Twelve Loaves theme of strawberries. So I whipped up a batch of these divine Strawberry Buttermilk Scones. They were out of this world!
How to Make
- Dice fresh strawberries and set them on some paper towels to absorb the excess juices.
- A tablespoon of finely grated orange zest adds another hit to the flavor profile.
- Using cold butter makes for flaky scones as the small butter pieces produce steam as they melt in the oven, therefore making tiny air pockets in the dough.
- The buttermilk provides the same tenderness and moisture as the cream in my usual recipe.
- Do not want to overwork the dough once the liquid is added. Just knead enough so the dough comes together, then cut and bake!
Our oldest, Tom, was over to check on his dad and I offered him one of these strawberry scones. There was no arm twisting involved as he shoveled one in before dinner. He hemmed and hawed that he was having his wellness labs drawn at work the next day, so he wouldn’t take any home with him that night. But, what do you know? There was an inquiry about freezing these, then the rest were absconded with. These buttery gems now rival my cream scones as my favorites.
The recipe can be found in Baking with Julia (affiliate link). Note that I added 1/4 cup of diced, then dried (using paper toweling) strawberries to my scones before kneading. I will add even more the next time!
Frequently Asked Questions
First, like with puff pastry, the dough must be cold and the oven must be hot. The little bits of butter will release steam as they bake and help the scones rise along with the baking powder and baking soda.
Plus, baking powder does not have a long shelf life like baking soda. So it will most likely expire before you can even use half the can! So check the expiration date or add some to boiling water to see if it bubbles furiously. If it’s old or doesn’t react strongly, replace it before you start baking.
Scones are best on the day they are baked, so bake on the day you plan to serve them. You can measure out the dry ingredients, etc. the day before, but don’t mix and bake until you’re ready to share them.
As mentioned above, keep the dough cold. You can even refrigerate the cut scones on the baking sheet before baking if the dough gets warm.
Using pastry flour instead of all-purpose flour will make them more tender as the former has less gluten. Next, do not overmix so you have little bits of butter throughout the dough. Finally, make sure the oven is preheated to the temperature in your recipe before baking.
You May Also Like:
- Lemon Blueberry Scones from Sally’s Baking Addiction
- Glazed Lemon Tea Scones
- Cranberry Eggnog Scones
- Best Scones Recipe with fresh blackberries
- Vanilla Scones
- Brown Butter Peach Scones
- More of the Best Breakfast Recipes
- More Favorite Brunch Recipes
Strawberry Buttermilk Scones Recipe
These Strawberry Buttermilk Scones prove that you don't need cream to create tender, moist scones!
Ingredients
For the Scones:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon grated orange or lemon zest
- 6 ounces butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 4 + tablespoons diced strawberries, dried with paper towels
For the Topping:
- 2 ounces butter, melted, for brushing
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Stir flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and zest together with a fork.
- Add butter pieces and work it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
- Pour in 1 cup buttermilk and the zest, and mix until ingredients are just moistened. If the dough seems dry, add another tablespoon buttermilk. Mix in diced strawberries.
- Gather dough into a ball, turn it onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead briefly. Cut dough in half.
- To Make Triangular-Shaped Scones, roll one piece of dough into a ½-inch-thick circle that is 7 inches across.
- Brush the dough with half of the melted butter, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar, and cut the circle into 6 triangles.
- Repeat with the second half of the dough.
- Place the scones on an ungreased baking sheet and bake scones 10 minutes or until golden. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Notes
Add more strawberries if desired.
Adapted from Marion Cunningham.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 sconeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 297Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 417mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 4g
100 Comments on “Strawberry Buttermilk Scones”
You’re so sweet Liz. How thoughtful of you to bake for those nursing angels:) Your Strawberry Buttermilk Scones look so lovely. I’m sure they were enjoyed and much appreciated. Thank you so much for sharing with us Liz. Sounds like they sure were a hit at your house too!
So pretty these scones, like the strawberry in it…these are sure perfect with cup of coffee or tea…
Hope you are having a great week Liz 😀
Strawberries are a nice touch to these scones – love your creativity! I was betting for raspberries though. With that choco cake coming up later in the month, I might be right 🙂
What a stunning colour combo of pale scones against strawberry – my kind of breakfast 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
What a coincidence, I too made scones for a recovering friend who recently had an operation. My scones were gluten free because she is gluten intolerant. I am quite intrigued by your recommendation as these being your favourites, I too adore a light, tender scone. The strawberries in the pastry sound lovely too. I will bookmark these for when we get our first Ontario berries in the springtime (which really seems like a lifetime from now.
I love buttermilk scones, these are so pretty and perfect for spring!
What wonderful looking scones! We’re starting to get decent strawberries in our market (not yet great, but quite acceptable), so your timing is perfect. Thanks!
It’s a fabulous idea to add strawberries to scones, Liz. I bet you were the nursing staff’s favourite person the day you took these! Very pretty photos, too!
Those scones are the perfect spring treat. I think I need to get off the computer and get to baking!
I have always loved scones! And I just spied the first strawberries at the grocery! And I’m looking at snow outside. These might make me feel like spring is coming!
Oh I do love me some scones! I tried to make them one time and they were TERRIBLE! Too cakey. Maybe these or your cream scones would help me get out of my rut!
This is my favourite combo of scones. They look awesome.
I am sure everyone enjoyed these fragrant scones Liz! They have the air of spring!
Lovely version, Liz! I can see these making an appearance at a strawberry tea. I love that your son absconded with them – that’s a great testimonial.
Oh yum! Strawberries! What a good addition,, I imagine they would have made the scones that much better! 🙂
I love how you added the strawberries – they add such prettiness to the scones. I like how these are made with buttermilk as it adds great smoothness to the scones. As you would know, when you’re a nurse, it’s always wonderful when someone brings in a gift of appreciation xx
I love scones and these are a real treat. I’d still eat them with jam and cream. 🙂 I’m traditional like that.
Scones are my love language–these look delicious. I had a surgery a few years ago and was in the hospital for several days. I made a batch of yummy crisp sugar cookies dipped in chocolate and individually wrapped. Every time a nurse/therapist etc. came in I had them take a cookie. I got amazing care!! Sweets speaks!
Nice scones! I’ll bet they’d be perfect with a cup of citrusy tea!
I smell the season coming…can’t wait for strawberries to show up. Your scones looks just perfect. I don’t know if I made scones before. Thanks! 🙂 ela