Delight your taste buds with these Earl Grey Scones! These easy to make scones are made with flavorful Earl Grey Tea and are the perfect treat for any time of day.
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Scones and tea are a favorite at our house, and these tea scones are bursting with another favorite, Earl Grey tea. You will love the delicious crunchy edges and the moist centers. Enjoy them alone or pair them with a cup of coffee or tea for an extra delicious experience.
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What is a Scone?
A scone is a type of baked treat which can be served either savory or sweet. It is typically made from flour, butter, and milk and often flavored with various ingredients like honey, fruit, and even nuts. The shape of most scones is round or triangular, but this is not a hard rule as they can be shaped as a square or even a hexagon.
What is Earl Grey Tea
- Earl Grey is a type of black tea that is flavored with the oil from the rind of bergamot oranges. The blend is thought to be created in the 19th century by Earl Charles Grey, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1834.
- Earl Grey teas are now available in many varieties, such as Earl Grey green tea, Earl Grey oolong, Earl Grey white tea, and Earl Grey rooibos. The distinctive flavor comes from the bergamot orange, which imparts a citrusy taste with slight herbal undertones.
- In comparison to other teas, Earl Grey has an added aromatic quality that adds depth and complexity to its flavor profile. Many people enjoy drinking Earl Grey as a hot tea with milk and sugar. Additionally, many cocktails make use of Earl Grey as an ingredient to give a unique twist to classic drinks like martinis or old-fashioned cocktails.
Baking with tea
Baking with tea brings a delightful tea taste outside of just the drink! Going beyond drinks, tea is a wonderful addition to sweet and savory food recipes as well. Earl Grey tea is a fabulous flavoring for baked goods such as cakes, scones, and other pastries.
Try our favorite Chai Shortbread Cookies that are filled with delicious warming spices that are deliciously tender.
Oat Tea Biscuits are made with the classic Constant Comment Tea and have a delicious orange honey butter topping.
Ingredients
- Flour - For making scones, all-purpose flour is a great choice.
- Sugar - Use regular granulated sugar.
- Baking Soda - This is a great leavening agent for scones, especially when using buttermilk in the same recipe.
- Earl Grey Tea- For this recipe, I cut open 6 tea bags to use for flavoring. Any Earl Grey Tea may be used however if you are using loose tea which is typically larger, simply grind the tea down to create a finer texture that compliments baking. You can buy our favorite Earl Grey Tea at Young Mountain Tea Shop.
- Milk - Buttermilk or heavy cream are the best kinds of milk to use for scones. However, you can use what you have on hand and still bake delicious scones.
- Butter - The experts say that the colder the butter the better for making scones. Some even suggest keeping your butter frozen until use. Butter not only gives moistness to this recipe but also a rich flavor.
- Egg - Just one egg is necessary for this recipe to give it a nice rise and structure.
- Vanilla - Vanilla just adds another complementary flavoring to your scones - Earl Grey and vanilla are a classic combination.
- Salt - Barely a dash of salt is needed to enhance all the flavors of this scone recipe.
How to make Earl Gray Scones Recipe: Step by Step
Step 1 Preheat oven to 400°F.
Step 2 Measure flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and Earl Grey Tea into a mixing bowl. Combine dry ingredients.
Step 3 In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, cream, and vanilla.
Step 4 Use a cheese grater to grate the butter, or a pairing knife to cut cold butter into smaller cubes, then add the butter into the flour bowl. Use a pastry cutter to incorporate the butter into the flour mixture.
Step 5 Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix to combine, forming a dough ball.
Step 6 Flour a clean surface and roll out dough with a rolling pin to about a quarter inch thick. Cut dough across in angles to make 8 pieces.
Step 7 Transfer the scones to a parchment-lined baking pan leaving space between each piece.
Step 8 Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Step 9 Let the scones rest and transfer them to a cooling rack. While still slightly warm, top with glaze if desired.
Scone glaze recipe
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional, add 1 tablespoon of dried lavender.
Simply mix these ingredients together in a small bowl until the glaze is smooth, then using a spoon drizzle over cooled scones. Let sit for 30 minutes, so the glaze can harden.
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How to store scones
- Storing Earl Grey scones is not a complicated process, but it does require some care and attention to ensure that the scones remain soft and delicious for as long as possible. The primary goal is to keep them away from moisture, heat, and light.
- For short-term storage of freshly made Earl Grey scones, the best option is to wrap them in a clean kitchen cloth and store them at room temperature.
- If you want to keep Earl Grey scones for longer periods of time, put them in an airtight container, bag, or plastic wrap before storing them in the refrigerator or freezer where they can last up to 3 months. The key is to make sure that the Earl Grey scones are completely cooled down before putting them away since any trapped heat could cause the Earl Grey scones to become soggy.
- To revive baked Earl Grey scones that have been stored in the refrigerator or freezer, simply warm them up in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.
Tips for Making the Best Scones
Making Earl Grey scones is an easy and delicious way to enjoy a special treat! Whether you’re a baking aficionado or just getting started, here are some tips that will help you make the best scones possible:
- Use high-quality Earl Grey tea for the best flavor. When baking with tea I like to use tea from tea bags as they are already ground to the perfect size.
- Make sure to use cold butter when making scones – this helps create a flaky texture.
- Don’t over-mix the dough as this will lead to tough scones.
- Brush the tops of the scones with cream or butter to give them a golden color once baked.
- For an extra layer of flavor, try topping them with a lavender glaze! The citrus notes of Earl Grey complement perfectly with the sweet and fragrant taste of lavender.
- If you like citrus try these Mandarin Orange Scones, or these Blueberry Lemon Scones.
Scone FAQ's
Yes, you can freeze unbaked and baked scones.
1. For unbaked scones set the scones on a plate or tray and lay a piece of plastic wrap over them. Set in the freezer for several hours until frozen, then remove them, wrap them in plastic wrap then place them in a freezer bag. Bake as directed in the instructions adding a couple of extra minutes for baking.
2. Bake baked scones - Wrap the cooled baked scones in plastic wrap then place them in a freezer container for up to three months. Let defrost on the counter before eating.
Place the baked scones on a baking sheet and set them in a 300-degree F. oven for 10 minutes. Or simply warm them up in the microwave.
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Recipe
Earl Grey Scones
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Ingredients
- 2 cups AP flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 teabags Earl Grey Tea 1 teabag=1 teaspoon
- ½ cup milk can use half and half, cream, or buttermilk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter very cold
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Scone Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons milk can use cream
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon dried lavender optional
Instructions
How to make Earl Grey Scones
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Measure flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Open the Earl Grey Tea bags and add the dry to the flour mixture. Mix well to combine.
- In a small bowl, whisk together egg, milk, and vanilla.
- Use a cheese grater or pairing knife to cut cold butter into the flour bowl. Use a pastry cutter to incorporate the butter into the flour mixture until you get pea-sized crumbs. You can also use two knives and cut the butter into the flour in a criss-cross fashion.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix to combine until the mixture is moistened forming a dough ball.
- Pour the dough onto a floured clean surface and work the dough into a ball with your hands. Then roll out the dough into an 8-inch circle with a rolling pin to about a quarter inch thick. You can also just use your hands to create the dough circle.
- Cut dough to make 8 triangles using a sharp knife or a bench scraper and transfer the scones to a parchment-lined baking pan leaving space between each piece.
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Let the scones rest and transfer them to a cooling rack. While still slightly warm, top with glaze if desired.
How to make the scone glaze
- In a small bowl add all of the glaze ingredients and mix until smooth. Drizzle over the scones when cooled.If using the lavender, you can add to the glaze or sprinkle on top of the glaze.
How to make Mini Earl Grey Scones
- For smaller scones, press dough into two 5-inch discs and cut each into 8 wedges.
Notes
Nutrition
First published: Jan. 28, 2023, Last updated: March 26, 2023, for better readability.
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About Jere'
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.
Vladka
I used your tip on storing Earl Grey scones in an airtight container in a freezer and then I just simply warmed them up in the microwave before serving. They were delicious.
Jere Cassidy
I do this too. I love having a warm scone.
Jennifer
Early Grey is my favorite kind of tea so I thought, why not scones? Wowsers, are these good! So moist and not too dense. The glaze puts them over the top!
Trqci
The best of everything in these scones! I loved the addition of earl grey in the scones to give them an amazing flavor and roll all the flavors of breakfast into one treat! They were delicious!
Heidi
I love Early Grey tea, so I loved these scones! They were just the right flavor and texture. I had a few left over to heat up for breakfast this week!
Shelby
Ohh I had never thought to use tea to make scones but these earl grey scones came out with the most comforting flavor!