These delightful easy mini strawberry lemon scones make the perfect dessert for a bridal, baby shower or even a Mother’s day breakfast, brunch or afternoon tea. Super easy to make! Because they are mini scones, they are a bit more healthy and less calories than the big ones. Be sure and use fresh strawberries if at all possible.
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How I’ve lightened these scones:
This recipe is the original recipe from my tea room in California – Afternoon To Remember. I have made a zillion (yes, that’s a word, or at least it’s my word) scones in my lifetime. Sometimes you don’t mess with goodness and the easiest way to “lighten” them up is to just eat less of it. I’ve made them mini size, left off the glaze (which you don’t need anyway) and am not serving them with lemon curd, which again, you don’t really need. So these mini strawberry scones are somewhat healthier and absolutely great on their own. I’ve said a million times, “I’d rather eat a little piece of heaven, than a lot of yuck!” Here’s my little piece of heaven! Only 3 WW Freestyle Smart Points per scone or 83 calories.
Can you make your own self rising flour?
Yes! I know there are a lot of cooks who hate self rising flour (paid link). I’m a cook who doesn’t usually like shortcuts because they mess with the taste. However, in this case, self rising flour (paid link) works great. This is the exact recipe I used in my tea room for many years and we even won Best Small City Tea Room in the U.S. one year. Obviously I think self rising flour (paid link) is perfectly fine for scones, but you can definitely make your own self rising flour (paid link).
Here’s how to make self rising flour:
- 3 c. all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 T. baking powder
- 3/4 t. salt
In a small bowl, combine above ingredients. Makes 3 cups. Proceed to scone recipe down below.
For more tips and recipes on afternoon tea parties, check out my afternoon tea recipes cookbook – Twelve Teas to Remember
Although the recipes in my afternoon tea cookbook Twelve Teas to Remember weren’t created with healthy in mind, if you are looking for a great book on how to create the perfect tea party, afternoon bridal tea or baby shower tea, this is a great resource book for you! You can purchase the book off of my other site or directly from Amazon.
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Tips on making perfect scones every time:
- Use quality fresh ingredients – what you put in the scones matter, don’t sacrifice quality!
- Use cold butter, don’t let it soften – cold butter makes the scones rise higher.
- Drain the fruit very well.
- Add fruit last, barely mix it into the flour mixture.
- Add only enough buttermilk to make dough stick together.
- If dough is too sticky when you pat it on the floured board, add a little more flour.
- Dough too dry and crumbles when you try and pat it on the floured board? Add a few more teaspoons of buttermilk.
- Using frozen fruit? Make sure it does not thaw out. Mix it in quickly and cut scones fast. If it thaws out, the dough is very sticky and a big mess!
- Make sure oven is hot and preheated to 400°.
Frequently Asked Questions:
I’ve heard you can but I just never do. Fresh is always best.
Yes, you can. I do like fresh better but if you use frozen, don’t thaw them. Throw them in frozen, otherwise it will be a goopy mess!
Yes. I have found that it’s best to freeze them after they are mostly baked. Let them cool, then flash freeze on the cookie sheet and transfer to vacuum sealed or plastic bags. When ready to reheat, just place then frozen on baking sheet, cover with foil and heat at 325° until hot (about 15-20 minutes).
Yes! For this recipe, use 3 c. all purpose flour, 1 1/2 T. baking powder and 3/4 t. salt. See above for more instructions.
How to make fresh strawberry scones in pictures:
Time needed: 30 minutes.
Delicious fresh strawberry scones in no time!
- Preheat oven to 400°
This is a very important step! Hot oven plus cold butter equals great scones!
- Mix the dry ingredients.
- Get remaining ingredients ready.
Cut the butter into cubes, slice the strawberries, measure the buttermilk, and zest the lemon with a microplane grater.
- Cut in butter.
Use a pastry blender or fork.
- Add the strawberries.
- Add part of the buttermilk.
Only use how much you need. Start with half, then gradually add only enough buttermilk until the dough comes together.
- Place the dough on the cutting board.
Carefully use your hands to round it into a circle.
- Cut and bake scones.
- Bake at preheat 400° oven for about 8 minutes.
Place mini scones on parchment paper and bake about 8-10 minutes.
Mini Strawberry Lemon Scones
Ingredients
- 3 c. self rising flour
- 1/2 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter cold
- 1 1/4 c. low-fat buttermilk plus a few tablespoons more if needed
- 1/2 c. sliced fresh strawberries
- 2 T. freshly grated Meyer lemon peel or freshly grated regular lemon peel be sure it's fresh!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Combine self rising flour and sugar.
- Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is coarse and crumbly. You can also put about 1 c. of the flour in a food processor , add butter and lightly pulse until crumbly. Then add back into the bowl.
- Add strawberries and fresh lemon zest. (Use a microplane grater for the lemon zest for best results).
- Add about 1 c. of the buttermilk to make a soft dough. (You'll add the rest later if needed).
- Scoop off about 1 c. dough-the part that is well moistened. I actually place the moistened dough in a dry measuring cup for measurement so all the scones are the same size. Lightly flour your hands and board. Dump the 1 c. of dough into your hands and make a ball. You will probably have to push the dough together to keep it from falling apart. Lightly press ball down on a floured board until you have a round disc about 5 inches in diameter. Round the edges with your hands. Don't overwork the dough. This is a quick bread. If you handle it too much, the scones will be tough. Cut the disc into 8 pie shaped pieces.
- Carefully transfer each scone onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Allow a few inches in between scones. Do this for rest of dough adding the remaining 1/4 c. buttermilk to moisten the flour mixture at the bottom of bowl. Please be sure to see note at bottom.
- Bake at preheated 400° for about 8-10 minutes. These do not get very brown. The tops look crunchy but they are still soft inside.
- Allow to cool on baking sheet. Eat some and freeze rest for another time.
