Toffee Scones - An Easy How-To Recipe - Teas The Season (2024)

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One of my favorite scones is a Toffee Scone. Here’s an easy how-to recipe to make these delicious scones. They are always a favorite for my family and when I give an afternoon tea. They start with a basic sweet scone recipe and add toffee pieces. This scone was referenced in the recent Teas The Season post on Having A Virtual Mothers Day Tea https://teastheseason3.com/have-a-virtual-mothers-day-tea/

Here’s Toffee Scones – An Easy How-To Recipe.

Ingredients

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Baking Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Butter
  • Egg
  • Buttermilk
  • Vanilla
  • Toffee Bits (without chocolate)

I make this recipe in my food processor but you can make these scones by hand. Instructions for the hand method are listed in the recipe notes. Either way they are absolutely delicious.

One of the critical things for a great scone is very cold butter. Since it is critical to make sure your butter is chilled to the last possible moment, you will want to have everything ready to combine. This recipe is laid out with that in mind.

Assemble the Dry Ingredients

In the bowl of your food processor, place the flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Pulse to combine.

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Assemble the Liquid Ingredients

Measure your buttermilk into a bowl or in your measuring cup. Add the egg and vanilla and whisk with a fork to combine. Set aside.

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Measure out the Toffee Bits

You will want to measure out your toffee bits and set aside. These little bites of goodness can be hard to find. I use Heath Toffee Bits….without the chocolate. I love English Toffee and this recipe gives me the taste of the toffee in a scone. This product is hard for me to find at times and when I do, I grab at least a couple bags and toss them into my freezer. Walmart carries them all year round https://www.walmart.com/ip/Heath-Bits-O-Brickle-English-Toffee-Baking-Bits-8-Oz/10311959

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Prepare the Butter

You will want to prepare your butter at the last minute. Remember that you want this to be very chilled when you incorporate this into your scone. Cut the butter up into small pieces so its easy to incorporate, whether you are using your food processor or doing this with a pastry cutter.

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Putting the Scone Dough Together

Since you have already pulsed and combined your dry ingredients, you are ready to put the whole thing together.

The next step is incorporating the butter into the dry mixture. Place the butter in the bowl and pulse until you get pea sized pieces.

Once you have achieved this, pour in the milk, egg and vanilla mixture and pulse until you begin to see the crumbs come together. Don’t over pulse this mixture. You still have the toffee bits to add.

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Add the toffee bits and pulse just to combine.

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Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. The mixture will be crumbly but will come together easily.

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Form the dough into a rectangle or a circle. Use your hands or a rolling pin to pat into the shape. The dough should be 1 – 1 1/4 inch thick. Cut into triangles and place on a prepared baking sheet. I like to use my silicon pad but you can line with parchment as well.

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Baking and Storing the Scones

Bake in a 325 degree oven for 15 minute or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Remove the scones from the baking sheet and complete cooling on a baking rack.

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These scones can be made ahead and frozen unbaked. To bake, take out of freezer and place on baking sheet. Bake as directed for 15 minutes in a 425 degree oven. The scones will spread a little when baked but still retain their shape and height.

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You can also freeze baked. Just bring to room temperature and then reheat in a 300 degree oven for 10 – 15 minutes. And enjoy.

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I serve these scones many ways. Of course traditionally, with curd and cream or jam but also with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream. And sometimes, just with simple butter.

Toffee Scones – An Easy How-To recipe brings a basic recipe to life with that nice sweet taste of toffee. Give me a nice afternoon, a hot cup of tea, a toffee scone and sweet conversation….life is full! Enjoy.

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Print Pin

5 from 7 votes

Toffee Scones

A sweet scone with toffee bits added. Not overly sweet, this scone gives you a great basic recipe with toffee taste.

Course afternoon tea

Keyword afternoon tea scones, anise, scones, toffee pieces, toffee scones

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cup all purpose flour, sifted
  • cup sugar
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • tsp baking powder
  • 6 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ¾ cup toffee bits

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425°

  • Place flour, sugar, baking soda and baking powder in bowl of food processor. Pulse to mix.

  • In separate bowl, mix buttermilk, egg, and vanilla. Set aside.

  • Measure out ¾ cup of toffee bits

  • Cut butter into pieces. Place in bowl of food processor and pulse until mix resembles small peas.

  • Pour in milk, egg and vanilla mixture. Pulse until incorporated into large crumbs.

  • Add toffee bits and pulse until mostly incorporate. Don't over mix.

  • Pour out mixture onto floured surface. Knead until completely incorporated. May be crumbly.

  • Using hands or rolling pins, form into large rectangle or circle. Sprinkle top of mixture with a light dusting of flour. Cut into triangles.

  • Place on prepared baking sheet – lined either with silicon baking pad or parchment paper.

  • Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

  • Let cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes. Remove to rack to finish cooling.

Notes

These scones can be make ahead and frozen unbaked. When you want to bake them, just remove from freezer, place on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes in 325 degree oven.

These scones can also be baked and then frozen. Bring to room temperature and warm in 300 degree oven for 10 -15 minutes prior to serving.

This recipe works well in a food processor or can be done by hand. Simply follow the same recipe, but cut the butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter until pea sized pieces of butter. Pour in the liquids to combine. Add the toffee bits and mix. As with the food processor recipe, turn out the mixture to a floured surface and finish for baking.

Toffee Scones - An Easy How-To Recipe - Teas The Season (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making scones rise? ›

To ensure taller scones, start with a thicker dough disc and place the scones on a tray with sides, allowing them to slightly touch one another. This arrangement encourages the scones to push against the pan and each other, promoting height.

What to avoid when making scones? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Scones
  1. Using anything but cold ingredients. The secret to the flakiest scones is to start with cold ingredients — cold butter, cold eggs, and cold cream. ...
  2. Only using all-purpose flour. ...
  3. Overmixing the dough. ...
  4. Not chilling the dough before baking. ...
  5. Baking them ahead of time.
May 1, 2019

What is the best flour for scones? ›

Use all-purpose flour for a higher rising scone that holds its shape nicely, both in and out of the oven. To make more delicate, lower-rising, cake-like scones, substitute cake flour for all-purpose flour. Reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1 to 2 tablespoons, using just enough to bring the dough together.

Should scone dough rest before baking? ›

With chilled dough, you'll have pockets of butter in the dough (this is a good thing!) that create a super-flaky, oh-so-delicious end result. For extra precaution, it helps to chill the dough again before it's baked. If you are using fruit, make sure to drain it well: Be sure to drain your fruit very well.

Should you chill scones before baking? ›

Not chilling the dough before baking: to really ace your scones, it helps to chill your dough again before it's baked. Using cold ingredients does help, but your hands will warm up the dough when you're working with it and the extra step of chilling will help you get the best result.

Is it best to use cold butter for scones? ›

Get Flaky Scones with COLD Butter

Butter must be COLD from the very start to when the dough enters the oven. The cold butter melts upon entering the oven and the water content in butter evaporates in steam. As the steam escapes, it bursts up and creates that beautiful tall, flaky, fluffy texture.

Why do you rub butter into flour for scones? ›

Why? When cold butter is rubbed into the flour, it creates flaky pockets of flavour (which soft, room temperature butter can't do). Once the cold butter and liquid (e.g milk) hits the oven, the water in the butter and cold liquid begins evaporating.

Why are my scones not light and fluffy? ›

Some common reasons for dense scones are not using enough baking powder, overworking the dough and not baking with the oven at the correct temperature.

Why are scones bad for you? ›

Although convenient and tasty, scones are a complete loss. They are typically extremely high in calories from the heavy butter and cream. And, although scones with fruit might seem healthier, most are even higher in calories and still high in saturated fat. Steer clear of scones.

How thick should scone dough be? ›

It is far better that the scone mixture is on the wet side, sticking to your fingers, as the scones will rise better. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and flatten it out with your hand, or use a rolling pin, to a thickness of 1-2 cm (1/2 – ¾ inch).

What is the best temperature for baking scones? ›

I preheated the oven to 405 degrees (it runs hot so this is the setting that gives me 425 degrees). The scones came out of the freezer, were set onto a parchment lined cookie sheet, placed into the oven. I set timer for 18 minutes and moved on.

Is heavy cream or buttermilk better for scones? ›

Heavy Cream or Buttermilk: For the best tasting pastries, stick with a thick liquid such as heavy cream or buttermilk. I usually use heavy cream, but if you want a slightly tangy flavor, use buttermilk.

Is it better to sift flour for scones? ›

Sifting flour is usually a good idea, says Penny Stankiewicz, chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. “It lightens the flour and aerates it, making it easier to mix into any emulsion.

Should you sift flour for scones? ›

The less you knead the mix, the less the gluten will tighten up – which means your scones will stay loose and crumbly, rather than tight and springy. Make sure you sieve the flour and baking powder into your bowl. This means that the two will be well mixed together, which gives you a better chance of an even rise.

Why are my scones not fluffy? ›

Placing a dough in a cool oven that then slowly heats up actually affects the rising agent. Make sure your oven is at the right temperature you will be baking the scones at before you put them in. Also having an oven that is too hot or too cold will affect the baking of your scones immensely.

How do you make scones rise and not spread? ›

Pack the scones closely on the baking tray so they will support each other as they rise rather than spreading. Make scones the day you need them – they taste far better warm.

What is the best raising agent for scones and why? ›

A mixture of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar, or baking powder (which is a ready paired mixture of the two) are used as the raising agent in scones.

What gives scones their texture? ›

Get Flaky Scones with COLD Butter

The cold butter melts upon entering the oven and the water content in butter evaporates in steam. As the steam escapes, it bursts up and creates that beautiful tall, flaky, fluffy texture. I like to cube then freeze my butter before assembling the dough.

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