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Scone

language culture Maturity 5-7 Next article →

A scone is a delicious baked treat enjoyed in many countries. People love them in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Buttermilk-Scones-batch
Buttermilk-Scones-batch

There is a big debate about what a scone actually is. Some people call it a cake, and many dictionaries agree. Other people think it is a type of bread. Food experts sometimes say it is neither. They say it is richer than bread but not as rich as cake.

Scone with strawberries
Scone with strawberries

This gives the scone its own special texture.

Making a scone is a simple but careful process. Most recipes use wheat flour or oatmeal. Bakers add baking powder to help the dough rise. They might also add milk, sugar, or butter. Some people even add an egg to the dough.

Large Irish Scone with Sultanas
Large Irish Scone with Sultanas

You can bake them on a sheet pan in an oven. You can also cook them in a frying pan. These are called griddle scones. Some people even deep-fry them in oil. This is an old way of cooking them during cold months.

Scones have a very long history. The word might come from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning a large lump. This describes how they used to look as hand-shaped bread.

Pile of scones
Pile of scones

The earliest written record of the word is from the year 1480. A baker named Frank Mathewe had 500 scones in a wooden chest. At that time, bakers stamped the figure of Jesus on them. This showed the bread used the very best flour. The oldest written recipe is from 1669. It was called "Mrs Fellard's scone cake."

Scones come in many different flavors and shapes. In the UK, they are often round and served with cream and jam. This is part of a snack called afternoon tea.

Buttermilk-Scones-batch
Buttermilk-Scones-batch

Some scones are savoury, which means they are not sweet. They might have cheese or bacon inside. In Scotland, people eat tattie scones made with potato flour. In Australia, you might find pumpkin scones. In Canada, people in Newfoundland eat tea buns with blueberries or raisins. Even in Hungary, a similar food called pogácsa is popular.

Different parts of the world have their own special way of eating them. In the United States, scones are often shaped like triangles. They have more sugar and butter than British scones. This makes them very rich and sweet.

Scone with strawberries
Scone with strawberries

Most Americans eat them on their own with coffee. In Argentina, people eat them during a snack time called Merienda. Scones are also popular in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Whether they are sweet or savoury, scones bring people together for a tasty treat.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Buttermilk-Scones-batch.jpg
Buttermilk-Scones-batch.jpg
File:Large Irish Scone with Sultanas.jpg
Large Irish Scone with Sultanas.jpg
File:Scone with strawberries.jpg
Scone with strawberries.jpg
File:Pile of scones.jpg
Pile of scones.jpg
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