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Buttermilk Lemon Scones are quite simple to make and turn out light and fluffy if made with a delicate touch. They’re perfect for Mother’s Day brunch.

a piece of homemade buttermilk lemon scone

Everyone loves a good scone, don’t they? I’ve always loved going to afternoon tea and I’ve already taught my kids to love it too. Its probably one of my most favorite things to do, and one of the best parts of an amazing afternoon tea are the scones.

scone ingredients in food processor

I’m always a little afraid when I attempt to make things like scones, pie dough, or biscuits. You see, you have to be very gentle with the dough. The trick to a light and fluffy pastry is to have little chunks of butter folded in, and the final result is 100% dependent on your mixing technique. In the photo above, you can see how crumbly my dough was when I tossed it onto the counter top.

cutting hear shaped scones out of dough

At that point I gently used my hands to work in the remaining flour and then shape it into a flat disk. Don’t you just love the cute little hearts?  I bought that cutter specifically to make these scones.

heart shaped buttermilk lemon scones on baking sheet prior to baking

I love adding a layer of crunchy sugar on top. Mmmmmm.

looking down at a baked buttermilk lemon scone in the shape of a heart

Now, some day, I promise I’ll make some creme fraiche and then I’ll come on here and tell you all about it, but I just didn’t have a full day to devote to the process so I just made standard old whipped cream to put on top and boy was it good.

a close up of a buttermilk lemon scone with a cream topping with lemon garnish

Can you imagine how happy any mom would be on Mother’s Day to be served warm buttermilk lemon scones alongside her coffee and other treats during breakfast in bed? I might just whip up a batch so my kids can serve them to me.

looking down at a buttermilk lemon scone with cream on top

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Buttermilk Lemon Scones

Prep20 minutes
Cook15 minutes
Total35 minutes
Servings 16 scones
Buttermilk Lemon Scones are quite simple to make and turn out light and fluffy if made with a delicate touch. They're perfect for Mother's Day brunch.

Ingredients 

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • zest from one large lemon
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter cold, cut into 1" cubes
  • 1 whole egg
  • buttermilk about a cup, see instructions
  • large sparkly sugar crystals for the top
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Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare your baking sheet by lining with parchment paper.
  • Add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest to a food processor with the dough attachment in place. Pulse a few times to combine the ingredients.
  • Add cold butter cubes and pulse until the mixture has little pea sized dough balls.
  • Using a glass (or see through) measuring cup, add the egg and lightly beat. Then, add enough buttermilk such that the combined volume of the egg and the buttermilk is 9 ounces. Stir to combine.
  • Slowly add the buttermilk egg mixture to the dry ingredients while pulsing after each pour just to combine. Be very careful not to over mix. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Not all of my dough was combined and I worked it together once on the counter. Pat the dough so that it is about 1" thick. Slice into biscuits or use a cutter to cut out shapes.
  • Sprinkle the scones with the sparkly sugar and bake in preheated oven for about 15 minutes until lightly golden brown.
  • Serve with whipped cream, butter, or creme fraiche as well as fruit preserves.

Notes

Nutritional info based on one scone

Nutrition

Calories: 172kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 23mg, Sodium: 39mg, Potassium: 179mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 266IU, Calcium: 71mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave me a comment below
Buttermilk Lemon Scones are quite simple to make and turn out light and fluffy if made with a delicate touch.

Hi! I’m Krissy.

I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make.

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4 Comments

  1. hi- you might want to recheck your ingredient amounts that you have listed here- we tried making this recipe and it was awful– the scones had a horrible baking powder aftertaste and were too dry. We mixed everything together but 2 TB baking powder seems off. Great pics on your blog though!

    1. Hi Kaitlin, Sorry to hear that! I just spot checked a few scone recipes online and found that for the amount of flour I used, the going rate is between 1-2 T. So, mine may have been a bit on the high side. I don’t remember not liking the taste though. Hopefully you’ll make them again with less and tell me if they work? thanks!!! Krissy

  2. Hi, this is my first time trying a recipe of yours and my first time making scones. This recipe was delicious! And so easy to make. I didn’t even use a food processor I just used a wooden spoon and my hands to kneed the dough. We had hem warm from the oven with a little bit of whipped cream and boysenberry preserve, yum! Making two more batches for my neighbors. Thank you!