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The Recipe · No.194 · Scones

Scones, and where to source it

Scones — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Scones American 5best2buy.com

Scones reward good cold butter and real cream, so don't cheap out on either. The technique that makes them flaky instead of dense: keep everything cold, cut the butter in coarse, and stop mixing the moment the dough comes together.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep20 min
Cook18 min
Makes8 scones
CuisineAmerican
Cost$$
Vegetarian
Contains  dairy · gluten
Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.
Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 8 scones
All-purpose flour
Measured by spoon-and-level; packed flour makes bricks.
2.5 cups
Cold butter
Frozen and grated or cut into pea-size bits to steam-lift the layers.
0.5 cup
Heavy cream
Cold, for both the dough and brushing the tops.
1 cup
Sugar
A little in the dough, a coarse sprinkle on top for crunch.
0.33 cup
Dried currants
Tossed in flour so they suspend evenly instead of sinking.
0.75 cup
Lemon zest
Grated fresh into the sugar to wake the whole thing up.
to taste
Local / market
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat
A reasonable little indulgence.
EffortEasy
Cook it with
Air fryerSheet pan
The Method
  1. Cut coldWhisk the dry ingredients, then work in the cold butter until it looks like coarse gravel with visible flecks. Those flecks become flake.
  2. Bring togetherStir in the currants and pour in cold cream, mixing just until a shaggy dough forms. Overworked dough turns tough, so stop early.
  3. Cut and bakePat into a one-inch disc, cut into eight wedges, brush with cream and sugar, and bake at 400F until golden, about eighteen minutes.
The Toolkit

Bench scraper · Pastry brush

Straight Answers
Can you make Scones in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — bake it in a small pan or dish that fits the basket, at about 25°F below the recipe temperature. Air fryers run hot and fast, so check it early; no flipping needed.

Can you freeze Scones? — Yes

Yes — freeze it well-wrapped, then reheat or toast straight from frozen. Frost or glaze after thawing.

Can you make Scones ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — bake it a day or two ahead; it keeps well-wrapped at room temperature and freezes cleanly. Add any frosting or glaze close to serving.

Is Scones gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free flour blend (check the other labels too).

Is Scones vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has dairy. Make it vegan: use plant milk, oil, or a vegan cheese for the dairy.

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