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Scone

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A scone is a versatile baked good enjoyed across many nations. It is a staple in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Buttermilk-Scones-batch
Buttermilk-Scones-batch

There is a long-standing debate regarding its classification. The Oxford and Cambridge Dictionaries define it as a cake. However, some people argue it is a type of bread. Food writers suggest it occupies a unique middle ground. It is richer than standard bread but less rich than a typical cake. This distinction creates a texture that is entirely its own.

The preparation of a scone involves specific mechanical steps. Most recipes use wheat flour or oatmeal as the base. A leavening agent, such as baking powder, is added to make the dough rise. Unlike bread, scone dough is not kneaded heavily. Instead, it is worked only lightly to maintain its structure.

Scone with strawberries
Scone with strawberries

Bakers may use an egg wash to create a glaze on the surface. Scones can be baked on sheet pans in an oven or cooked in a frying pan. When cooked in a pan, they are known as griddle scones. In some dialects, the pan is called a girdle.

Scones exist in many distinct varieties. Sweetened versions often include ingredients like raisins, currants, dates, or cheese. Savoury scones are also common and may contain bacon. In Scotland and Ulster, specific types exist, such as soda scones or potato scones. Tattie scones, made with potato flour, are often fried for breakfast.

Another variation is the lemonade scone, which uses clear lemonade and cream instead of butter and milk. Fruit scones contain items like glacé cherries or citrus peel. In Australia, you might even find scones made with mashed pumpkin.

The history of the scone is deep and somewhat mysterious. The word may come from the Scottish Gaelic term *sgonn*, meaning a large lump. This reflects its origins as a rustic, hand-shaped bread. Another theory links the name to the town of Scone in Scotland. This town was the ancient capital where Scottish monarchs were crowned.

Pile of scones
Pile of scones

The earliest written use of the word dates to 1480. A customs account from that year mentions a baker named Frank Mathewe. He possessed 500 "scone Jesus" in a wooden chest. Bakers stamped the figure of Jesus on them to show they used high-grade flour.

As baking technology changed, so did the scone. The earliest written recipe is from 1669, titled "Mrs Fellard's scone cake." It used flour, currants, eggs, sugar, cream, and a pint of ale yeast. The modern sweetened scone emerged after baking powder became widely available in 1843. In the early 19th century, the scone became a staple of afternoon tea. This tradition was reportedly popularized by Anna, the Duchess of Bedford. By 2005, the UK scone market was valued at £64 million, showing a 9% increase over five years.

Regional differences change how scones look and taste globally. In the United States, scones are usually triangular and much sweeter. They contain more butter and sugar than British versions. Americans often eat them alone with coffee rather than with toppings. In Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador residents eat "tea buns," which are similar to American scones. These may include ingredients like lingonberries, molasses, or salted pork. In Hungary, a similar item called *pogácsa* is made using yeast.

Scones connect people through shared culinary traditions. In New Zealand, they are part of "kiwiana" and are featured in the popular Edmonds Cookery Book. In Argentina, immigrants brought them to the country, where they are eaten during *Merienda*. Even in Zimbabwe, the scone is a popular breakfast food. Whether they are round, hexagonal, or triangular, scones remain a global symbol of comfort and heritage.

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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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