Lemon Blueberry Scones

Tender and just-sweet-enough blueberry and lemon scones make a lovely addition to any breakfast or brunch lineup. The trick to making a scone recipe a little less rich than typical is to add yogurt to the batter in place of some of the butter. We use lemon yogurt to layer in even more lemon flavor. They make for a delightful two-bite berry treat.

Ingredients for Lemon Blueberry Scones

• All-purpose flour: Flour is the base of this scone recipe. You can substitute a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the all-purpose if you need.
• Sugar: What’s the difference between biscuits and scones? Well, American scones are typically a little sweeter than biscuits and this recipe is no exception to that rule.
• Baking powder and baking soda: Two leavening agents work together to give these scones a fluffy lift while still preserving the tart flavor of the lemon in the finished product.
• Lemon zest and juice: Zest in the dough and both zest and juice in the glaze add layers of lemon flavor to these sweet scones.
• Lemon yogurt: Just as for the buttermilk in buttermilk biscuits, the acidity of yogurt creates tender scones and works with the baking powder and soda to help them puff. Using lemon yogurt adds a layer of flavor, but you can also use plain yogurt.
• Egg: A beaten egg helps bind the dough for lemon blueberry scones together.
• Butter: Just a quarter cup of melted butter, less than many scone recipes, adds some necessary fat to give these scones richness.
• Blueberries: Use fresh or frozen berries to give these scones their sweet polka dots. If you’re using frozen, don’t defrost them first. The juice they’ll release will stain the dough gray.
• Confectioners’ sugar: Combined with lemon juice and lemon zest, confectioners’ sugar is the base for a sweet and tart glaze on top of the finished scones.

Directions 

Step 1: Mix the dough

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In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, lemon zest and salt. In another bowl, combine the yogurt, egg and butter. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the blueberries.

Step 2: Form and bake the scones

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Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 15 to 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Combine the glaze ingredients and drizzle over the warm scones.

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Recipe Variations

• Add some chocolate: Fold a handful of white baking chips into the dough along with the blueberries. The sweetness complements the tart fruit flavors beautifully.
• Shape them differently: For more traditional scones, shape the dough into a round and then divide it into a dozen small triangles or eight larger wedges.
• Try different flavors: Use the formula in this recipe to bake sweet or savory scones of a different flavor by substituting plain yogurt for the lemon yogurt and replacing the lemon zest and blueberries with a different combination. Try diced apple and cinnamon, green apple and grated cheddar or cranberry walnut with orange zest.

How to Store Lemon Blueberry Scones

Store your leftover scones in an airtight container at room temperature and finish them within three days for the best texture.

Can you freeze lemon blueberry scones?

Yes, and scones freeze beautifully. Freeze them unbaked on parchment-lined baking sheets and then, once they’re completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag for storage. Bake them as instructed from frozen. You might need to add a minute or two to the bake time. You can also freeze baked blueberry lemon scones, but if you know you want to make them ahead of time hold off on glazing them until they’re defrosted as the moisture released in the freezing and thawing process can make the glaze runny.

Lemon Blueberry Scones Tips

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What is the secret to making good scones?

Tender, flaky scones are such a delight for breakfast, brunch or alongside a cup of tea in the mid-afternoon. The key to good scones is using cold ingredients and mixing the dough only until the ingredients are just combined. Overmixing and overhandling will result in tough scones.

How do I make scones rise better?

Baking powder gives scones their lift, but you can get even more rise out of our blueberry lemon scones recipe by baking the scones closer together. If their edges touch, they can rise higher.

Why are my scones dry and crumbly?

Proper baking times and temperature are vital to light, fluffy scones. Even a couple of minutes in a too-hot oven can make the difference between a scone with a crisp exterior and a tender middle and one that is dry throughout. Use an oven thermometer to verify that the temperature on the dial is accurate and a kitchen timer to set up your scones for success.