Blueberry Scones

These blueberry scones are crisp on the outside, moist and buttery in the middle, and bursting with juicy berries. Perfect for breakfast or brunch!

Blueberry scones

These blueberry scones are everything a good scone should be. They’re moist and tender (no dry scones here!), with crisp, buttery, and golden brown edges. And they don’t skimp on the fruit—you get a sweet, juicy blueberry in every bite.

I love making these blueberry scones when I’m having friends or family over for brunch. These bakery-style treats look and taste impressive next to a steaming pot of coffee or tea, but in reality, they couldn’t be easier to make. This blueberry scone recipe comes together with 10 basic ingredients in under an hour.

Even if you’re a first-time scone maker, you’ll be able to pull off this recipe. In fact, one of our readers, Jean, commented, “These blueberry scones are amazing. This is my first attempt at making scones and the instructions are very clear.” I hope you’ll try it!

Hands combining frozen grated butter with flour

How to Make Blueberry Scones

This blueberry scones recipe starts with 10 basic ingredients:

Blueberry Scones Ingredients

  • All-purpose flourSpoon and level it to avoid packing too much into your measuring cup.
  • Cane sugar – For sweetness. I also sprinkle coarse sugar on top of the scones to create a crisp, golden brown crust.
  • Baking powder and an egg – To help the scones puff up as they bake.
  • Frozen butter – Yes, frozen! It won’t melt until you get the scones in the oven, which makes them tender and flaky. You’ll grate it on the large holes of a box grater before adding it to the dough.
  • Buttermilk – For moisture, richness, and a slightly tangy flavor. Heavy cream and full-fat coconut milk work too. If you don’t have any of these options on hand, you can make a buttermilk substitute by mixing a scant 1/2 cup milk with 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice. Set it aside for 5 minutes before adding it to the dough.
  • Blueberries – Fresh blueberries and frozen blueberries both work well here. Just a heads up that the frozen berries will give the dough a blueish color! They might not look quite as pretty, but they’ll still taste delicious.
  • Vanilla extract – For warm depth of flavor.
  • And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Tossing blueberries with butter and flour mixture

Preparing the Dough

To make these blueberry scones, start by whisking together the dry ingredients—the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Next, grate the frozen butter on the large holes of a box grater. Use your hands to work the butter shreds into the flour until the mixture looks like a coarse meal. You want some of the butter to stay in larger pieces. When they melt in the oven, they’ll give the scones a flaky texture.

Add the blueberries to the flour mixture and toss to distribute.

Adding wet ingredients to blueberry scone dough

Then, add the wet ingredients. Whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and vanilla in a medium bowl, and pour them over the flour mixture.

Mixing blueberry scone dough with spatula

Use a spatula to mix until a shaggy dough forms. Then, switch to your hands and work in any remaining dry flour.

The dough should be soft, but not sticky. If it feels sticky, work in a little more flour. If it feels dry, work in a bit more buttermilk.

Forming blueberry scone dough into disk

Shaping the Scones

Form the dough into a ball and transfer it to a lightly floured surface.

Flatten it into a 7- to 8-inch disk about 1 inch thick.

Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into 8 equal wedges.

Slicing blueberry scones

Baking the Blueberry Scones

Freeze the scones while you preheat the oven. Place them on a large plate or baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes to chill the butter. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F.

Then, bake the scones. Remove them from the freezer, brush with buttermilk, and sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 18 to 27 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool, or enjoy warm from the oven!

Blueberry scones on baking sheet

Blueberry Scone Recipe Tips

  • Use grated frozen butter. Like a good pie crust, the best scones are flaky. They get this delicious texture when small pieces of butter in the dough melt in the oven, creating air pockets. If the butter melts before the scones go into the oven, while you’re working with the dough, these pockets won’t form. For perfect flaky scones, I use the same trick I did to make the flaky biscuits in my blueberry cobbler recipe: frozen grated butter. It’s very cold, and the small shreds don’t require much handling, so they won’t melt until they’re in the oven.
  • Freeze the scones before baking. It cools down the butter after you’ve worked it into the dough. Remember, cold butter=light and flaky scones.
  •  Work in more liquid or flour if necessary. If your scone dough feels too sticky or dry, don’t hesitate to add more flour or liquid, respectively. The exact ratio you’ll need can vary based on factors like the humidity in your kitchen, whether you’re using buttermilk or cream, etc. Just add a little at a time until you have a soft, workable dough.

Blueberry scones with glaze

How to Serve and Store

You have a few options for serving these blueberry scones:

  • Plain – They’re delicious on their own!
  • With a flavorful spread – Slather them with butter, jam, honey butter, or lemon curd.
  • With a glaze – Drizzle them with my 2-ingredient lemon glaze (pictured). For an extra pop of lemon flavor, sprinkle them with lemon zest too.

Store leftover blueberry scones in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw at room temperature, or quickly defrost unglazed blueberry scones in the microwave.

Blueberry scones recipe

More Favorite Baking Recipes

If you love this recipe, try one of these easy baked goods next:

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Blueberry Scones

rate this recipe:
4.80 from 127 votes
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Serves 8
Buttery, flaky, and crisp around the edges, these easy blueberry scones are a delicious treat for breakfast or brunch. Enjoy them plain or topped with my quick lemon glaze.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • ¼ cup cane sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 stick, frozen
  • 1½ cups blueberries
  • ½ cup cold buttermilk, plus more for brushing*
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Coarse sugar, for sprinkling, optional

Instructions

  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • On the large holes of a box grater, grate the frozen butter. Add to the flour mixture and toss to coat. Use your hands to work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the blueberries and toss to incorporate.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and vanilla, if using. Pour over the flour mixture and use a spatula to mix until a shaggy dough forms. Knead with your hands to incorporate any remaining dry flour. The dough should feel soft but not sticky. If it’s sticky, work in a bit more flour. If it’s dry, drizzle in a little more buttermilk. Form the dough into a ball.
  • Transfer the dough ball to a lightly floured surface and form it into a 7- to 8-inch disk about 1 inch thick. Slice into 8 equal wedges and transfer to the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space around each scone.
  • Freeze the scones for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Remove the scones from the freezer and brush with buttermilk. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if using. Bake for 18 to 27 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
  • Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

*If you don't keep buttermilk on hand, substitute heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk. Another simple substitute is a scant 1/2 cup milk mixed with 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice. Set the mixture aside for 5 minutes to thicken before adding to the dough.

 

221 comments

4.80 from 127 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Ashley Epps
    05.23.2024

    5 stars
    Lovely recipe! Turned out great. The whole family loved them! Will definitely make again.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.24.2024

      Hi Ashley, I’m so glad they were a hit!

  2. Jen
    05.22.2024

    4 stars
    Loved this recipe. Made them vegan with flax eggs and they turned out delicious. Our teenage son ate the leftovers by the end of the day. Love how little sugar this recipe uses.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.23.2024

      Hi Jen, I’m so glad the scones were a hit!

  3. Vita M
    05.22.2024

    5 stars
    Quick, easy, delicious. Used kefir instead of buttermilk.

  4. Anna B
    05.21.2024

    5 stars
    These were so yummy. This was a fun and easy recipe to make. Will definitely be making again and trying other flavors.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.22.2024

      I’m so glad you loved them!

  5. Nicole
    05.21.2024

    5 stars
    My kitchen smells amazing! I used dried blueberries and added some finely chopped pecans. Yum, yum.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.22.2024

      Hi Nicole, I’m so glad you loved them!

  6. Christine
    05.21.2024

    So delicious! My family loved them. I think the lemon glaze is a must!

    Thanks!

  7. Alison
    05.20.2024

    4 stars
    Tasty scones! I made a slightly different way (dropped onto tray versus in a circle with triangular pieces) but still were good!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.22.2024

      Hi Alison, I’m so glad you enjoyed them!

  8. Sally
    05.20.2024

    5 stars
    We loved these scones! I made the lemon-blueberry variation

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.22.2024

      Hi Sally, I’m so glad you enjoyed them!

  9. Katie Thiel
    05.18.2024

    5 stars
    These were so tasty!

  10. ALee
    05.17.2024

    5 stars
    I made the scones without the glaze. The flavor is good and was easy to make.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      05.17.2024

      Hi ALee, so glad you enjoyed them!

  11. Ellen
    05.16.2024

    5 stars
    What a great centerpiece for our Mother’s Day brunch. Added chopped up bits of candied ginger. Huge hit!

  12. Holly Braband
    05.15.2024

    5 stars
    This is a great, versatile recipe. I subbed heavy cream and made a cinnamon white chocolate scone my husband had been requesting. It was a hit with the whole family!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      I’m so glad they were a hit!

  13. Laura
    05.15.2024

    I think my dough was too sticky (a me problem!) but the scones were still delicious and I’m excited to try this recipe again and improve on my first attempt!

  14. Laura Silverman
    05.15.2024

    5 stars
    So easy and delicious. I’ll definitely be making these again. Can’t wait to try them with other berries.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed them!

  15. Laura Silverman
    05.15.2024

    So easy and delicious! First time making scones. I’ll definitely be making these again.

  16. Jenna Noebel
    05.14.2024

    5 stars
    The blueberry scones were quick to pull together, easy and are beyond delicious! They were the perfect homemade touch to Mother’s Day brunch! I will certainly be making them again and they were such a hit that the recipe was requested by my mother-in-law!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      I’m so glad they were such a hit!

  17. Rachel B
    05.14.2024

    5 stars
    These are the first scones I attempted to make, and they were easy and made a wonderful food for our women’s get together. Delicious; thank you!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed them!

  18. Lisa
    05.13.2024

    5 stars
    Fantastic recipe. They were even better second day. I did a simple glaze with lemon zest on top. Grating the butter was a great tip!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      Hi Lisa, I’m so glad you loved them!

  19. Marcy S.
    05.13.2024

    5 stars
    I made these and they were so yummy! I used half whole wheat flower and added a little less sugar. I love using the cheese grater for the butter – it makes scone making so easy!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      I’m so glad you loved them!

  20. Amber B.
    05.13.2024

    5 stars
    I made these for mothers day (and the cooking club) and was a little skeptical of myself, I love cooking where I can adjust flavors as I go, but baking is intimidating to me. I had nothing to fear though, the recipe is easy to follow and the scones turned out delicious. I added some lemon zest, and I can’t wait to try more variations on this recipe next time.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      Hi Amber, I’m so glad you had scone success!

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.