When stopping by the local bakery, you're often presented with several breakfast options—one of which being scones. Scones, the adult-friendly version of a muffin or biscuit, seem to be the relatively healthy option amongst all sugary breakfast foods.
The truth, however, is that many pre-made and processed scones contain high amounts of fat, sugar, and white flour—none of which appears at the top of the health food list. So while some scone varieties are more healthful than others, making homemade scones is the best way to create scones that are as wholesome as you'd like.
When choosing a scone recipe, you have several options. Scones can be made in sweet and savory flavors, with ingredients that are sure to satisfy your tastebuds. While sweet scones are delicious, we believe that savory scones are the true star. Made with savory and filling foods like cheddar cheese and bacon, savory scones are sure to leave a lasting impression on guests. To help you create the breakfast of your dreams, we put together a list of our favorite savory scone flavors for you to try at home.
Scones Vs. Biscuits
Biscuits and scones may look similar. They're both tall, flaky, and golden brown. However, there are a few crucial differences that separate the two. In the United States, a biscuit is a fluffy, round pastry that's often served as a breakfast staple or a dinner side. It's easy to see how people can confuse the two breakfast treats as both use similar ingredients. Yet, it's the ratios in which they are used that make the difference. Southern biscuits have much more butter and acidity than scones, making them extra fluffy and flaky.
Conversely, scones count on denser ingredients like eggs, heavy cream, and sugar to create a more sturdy pastry. Over the years, when baking scones, a higher sugar ratio in the scone dough became more common. This high ratio is what contributes to their crunchy exterior.
Common Scone Ingredients
While each scone recipe uses a mixture of unique ingredients, a few remain the same throughout. A basic scone batter is commonly made up of flour, baking powder, sugar, and heavy cream. Let's take a closer look at each.
Flour
Flour is one of the main dry ingredients in biscuits, scones, and most baked goods. And it's the best place to start if you're interested in making your scones a bit healthier. When choosing which flour to use, you can decide to substitute whole wheat flour for white or just a part of it. If you're not a fan of whole wheat flour, there are several other flours made with wholesome ingredients to choose from. Here are a few of our favorites.
Paleo Baking Flour
If you're eager to bake scones and want to make sure that everyone has a chance to enjoy them, start by using our Paleo Baking Flour. This flour will take the guesswork out of grain-free baking and make it easy to create all of your favorite baked goods. Ideal for making scones, it uses a mixture of almond flour, organic coconut flour, and tapioca flour to create a blend that will result in the perfect moist and savory scones.
Fine Pastry Flour
The ideal flour to bake with when you're making a delicate pastry like a scone, this flour is milled from soft white wheat with low protein content. This makes it the ideal flour if you're hoping to achieve a moist and tender baked dessert. Enriched, unbleached, and unbromated, our Fine Pastry Flour is a premium baking flour that you can feel good about consuming.
Gluten Free Biscuit and Baking Mix
There's something special about fresh-baked scones straight from the oven. So if you're eager to make a tasty baked dessert but don't have the time to create a flour blend that will meet your dietary needs, we have you covered. A gluten free mix made specifically for creating biscuits and scones, this Gluten Free Biscuit and Baking Mix, is sure to take your recipes to the next level.
Sugar and Salt
Sugar and salt are two essential ingredients that can make or bake a scone recipe. And sugar, in particular, is largely responsible for a scones flaky texture. Though scones can be made without these two ingredients, the result will be pretty bland. When adding sugar and salt to your scone batter, be sure to follow the recipe's instructions. Unique ingredients, add-ins, and temperature levels can affect how much sugar and salt are needed in a recipe.
Baking Powder
Baking powder is a popular leavener for baked goods like scones. Unlike other brands that use sodium aluminum phosphate or sodium aluminum sulfate as their active ingredient, our baking powder is formulated with monocalcium phosphate and sodium acid pyrophosphate to create a gluten and aluminum free product. Additionally, like our other gluten free products, it is routinely tested and produced in a gluten free facility to ensure purity.
Heavy Cream or Buttermilk
For the best-tasting scone, using a thick liquid like heavy cream or buttermilk as part of your wet ingredients is a must. Using heavy cream will lend a sweet flavor to your baked goods. In comparison, buttermilk will add a slightly tangy flavor.
If you're following a low-calorie diet, switching to low-fat milk or cultured buttermilk can help eliminate most cholesterol and fat while also significantly cutting the calories. However, when making traditional rich scones, heavy cream or buttermilk is required. Thinner liquids like milk will change the flavor and appearance of your scone and produce a more flat, dry, and bland result.
Savory Scone Flavors to Try at Home
Now that you have a better idea of what it takes to create a delicious scone, it's time to try out a scone recipe for yourself. The savory scone recipes listed below are an excellent way to start your scone baking journey and get others excited about it as well. From bacon to cottage cheese scone, these recipes will leave your stomach grumbling and mouth-watering.
Bacon Cheddar Scone
Who doesn't love a great bacon and cheddar combo? The perfect breakfast scone, this Bacon and Cheddar Scone Recipe uses whole wheat flour and graham flour to create a crispy and savory scone loaded with health benefits. Make a batch of these scones for your family to enjoy, or bring this dish to your next brunch gathering. Guests are sure to love it!
Chorizo and Cheese Savory Scones
Chorizo is a delicious breakfast food that is often featured in several Mexican Dishes. It mixes well with eggs, is regularly enjoyed on toast, and can even be added to taco recipes. To create a savory scone that will have everyone's senses in awe, add chorizo to it!
This Chorizo and Cheese Savory Scone is the perfect recipe if you're looking to enjoy dessert and breakfast all in one. Made with whole food ingredients and flavorful chorizo, it's an award-winning recipe, literally. A runner-up in our 2012 recipe contest with Lavida Foods in the UK, our Gluten Free All-Purpose Flour has won 2 Free From Food UK Awards!
Herbed Cottage Cheese Scones
Light, fluffy, and full of flavor, these Herbed Cottage Cheese Scones are the perfect welcoming gift to anyone who enters your house. Serve them up for breakfast and brunch, or enjoy them as a savory midday snack.
This savory scone recipe can also work as the perfect side to a hearty dinner like roasted chicken with just a few simple tweaks. When making this herb scone recipe, customize it to your taste preferences and switch up the herbs to include your favorites. You can even try and experiment by making cheddar chive scones.
Whole Wheat Scottish Oatmeal Scones
For a healthy twist on your favorite scone breakfast, make these Whole Wheat Scottish Oatmeal Scones. Made with whole wheat flour and Scottish oatmeal, these vegan savory scones are hearty, delicious, and loaded with nutrients. Bound to start your morning off right, the ingredients used will keep you feeling full and energized all day long.
Gluten Free Scones with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Cheddar
A savory scone recipe that everyone can enjoy, these Gluten Free Scones with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Cheddar make for the perfect treat—especially if you're following a gluten free diet. In this recipe, sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, and sharp cheddar cheese come together to create an unparalleled taste.
Made with our Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour, it's an easy-to-create recipe that can be enjoyed alone or served alongside eggs and bacon for an even more filling breakfast.
The next time you're craving a savory and filling baked good, reach for your favorite flour and create one of these tasty scone recipes. Easy to make at home, they're the perfect breakfast food to bake fresh and enjoy on the go. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we hope you have a fun-filled and savory day!
If you enjoy savory flavors and have a favorite scone recipe of your own, we'd love to hear about it. Share your favorite recipes and scone ingredients with us in the comments below.
