Easy, Irresistible Scones

Best-Ever Scones

When reader Betty Joyce Mills from Birmingham shared her recipe for scones (she stirs a half cup of sweetened dried cranberries into the dough), we thought they were the best we had ever tasted. Never fearing too much of a good thing, we created eight sweet and savory variations.

Recipe: Best-Ever Scones

Bacon, Cheddar, and Chive Scones

Omit sugar. Stir in 3⁄4 cup (3-oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, 1⁄4 cup finely chopped cooked bacon, 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives, and 1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground pepper with the cream.

• Recipe: Bacon, Cheddar, and Chive Scones  

Brown Sugar-Pecan Scones

Substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar. Stir in 1⁄2 cup chopped toasted pecans with the cream.

• Recipe: Brown Sugar-Pecan Scones

Ham-and-Swiss Scones

Omit sugar. Stir in 3⁄4 cup (3 oz.) shredded Swiss cheese and 3⁄4 cup finely chopped baked ham with the cream. Serve warm with Mustard Butter: Stir together 1⁄2 cup softened butter, 1 Tbsp. spicy brown mustard, and 1 Tbsp. minced sweet onion.

• Recipe: Ham-and-Swiss Scones

Cranberry-Pistachio Scones

Stir in 1⁄4 cup sweetened dried cranberries and 1⁄4 cup coarsely chopped roasted salted pistachios with the cream.

• Recipe: Cranberry-Pistachio Scones

Pimiento Cheese Scones

Omit sugar. Stir in 3⁄4 cup (3-oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese and 3 Tbsp. finely chopped pimiento with the cream.

• Recipe: Pimiento Cheese Scones

Apricot-Ginger Scones

Stir in 1⁄2 cup finely chopped dried apricots and 2 Tbsp. finely chopped crystallized ginger with the cream. Drizzle with Vanilla Glaze after baking.

• Recipe: Apricot-Ginger Scones  

Rosemary, Pear, and Asiago Scones

Omit sugar. Stir in 3⁄4 cup finely chopped fresh pear, 1⁄2 cup grated Asiago cheese,and 1 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary with the cream.

• Recipe: Rosemary, Pear, and Asiago Scones  

Chocolate-Cherry Scones

Stir in 1⁄4 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped, and 2 oz.coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate with the cream.

• Recipe: Chocolate-Cherry Scones

Test Kitchen Tips

• Make sure the dry ingredients are well stirred together to distribute the baking powder and salt.
• Quickly cut ice-cold butter into the flour mixture, leaving crumbly pieces the size of small peas. If the butter is softened or cut in too finely, the texture of the scones will be dense and coarse.
• Handle the dough as little as possible—the less you work it, the more tender the scones will be.

Festive Touches
• Add a sweet Vanilla Glaze: Whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 Tbsp. milk, and 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla extract until smooth, adding up to 2 tsp. additional milk for desired consistency. Drizzle over tops of scones.
• Make Bite-Size Scones: Pat dough into 2 (4-inch) rounds. Cut rounds into 8 wedges. Bake as directed for 12 to 13 minutes.
• Sprinkle scones with sparkling sugar before baking.