I was born and raised in California, but my mother was British. Real British scones are delicious and hard to find in this area, though I rather like the pear-ginger scones at Breadfurst. I'm a lazy baker -- very un-British, I know -- will definitely try the World Market mix. Thanks for that tip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He also buys cream from the store, and whips it at home. Home made whipped cream. Yum.

This is noteworthy?

Yes! In the UK you can’t even buy ready whipped cream.

This whole thread is cracking me up. I moved back to London after living in DC for 5 years and I miss US scones so much. I loved the ones from Breadfurst and the ginger scones from Northside Social.

Anonymous wrote:If you think they're just dry biscuits, you've not had a good one. I *love* scones and, done well, they're not dry or gross at all. Fresh is best. I'm biased since I spent a ton of time in England as a kid and have had really, really great scones. A hot, fresh scone with clotted cream and jam is pure heaven!

+1 Returned from a recent trip to Ireland and their warmed scones were wonderful!!

I love properly made scones, but agree that they are calorie bombs! To mix threads, they are the treat I allow myself after my mammogram! There are a lot of poorly made or stale ones out there!

World Market sells a pretty good mix from England -- I used it a few different varieties to make scones for a school project on England for the kids and they were quite good. (Fresh out of oven best, but still good out of tupperware the next day.) We served them with lemon curd, or with raspberry curd, which they also sell at World Market, imported from England, and was a revelation to me. (TJ's also does an awesome lemon curd.)

We also had devon cream, but the kids didn't like that much and I don't really blame them -- I don't think that travels that well -- the stuff in the U.K. is great, but the stuff in the jar at World Market (imported from U.K.) was pretty bleh.

I think it's sometimes hard to reproduce certain baked goods from England and Ireland here, because I think the flour is milled differently, and the butter is definitely different. The Irish soda bread tastes totally different in Ireland. Next St. P day I may try to make it with Irish butter and see if that helps.

On the Starbucks and similar scones....I actually like the mini vanilla covered ones. But I don't think they are really the same as a English scone. They are more like a shortbread covered in royal icing, which can also be nice, especially with coffee.

Anonymous wrote:He also buys cream from the store, and whips it at home. Home made whipped cream. Yum.

This is noteworthy?

Anonymous wrote:I make them from scratch and they’re delicious.

+1

They are super easy and quick to make.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love a good scone with clotted cream and jam. Now whether to eat them Devonshire or Cornish is a whole other issue.

That’s strawberry shortcake. Nobody is eating that for breakfast unless they’re a glutton. Also, you are more or less admitting scones are gross unless you drench them in whipped topping and sugared fruit.

Authentic scones are *barely* sweet, that's why you can put jam on them. And they are traditionally eaten for tea, not breakfast. As you know, the traditional English breakfast is savory.

So much ignorance!

Why would you eat that? So unhealthy.

Just kidding. I love them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love a good scone. I hate a bad scone. Most scones you can get at Starbucks or the grocery store are bad scones.

Wtf is with the thick sheet of hard icing Starbucks and Panera put on all their scores? So damn gross.

Most American baked goods are too sweet for me. My British DH bakes and makes icing from scratch with butter, and it is soooo gooood. None of the American store bought crap.

He also buys cream from the store, and whips it at home. Home made whipped cream. Yum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love a good scone with clotted cream and jam. Now whether to eat them Devonshire or Cornish is a whole other issue.

Devon all the way. Damn it, now I am dying for a good scone, done properly.

American scones aren't good. British ones with clotted cream and jam? Holy cow.

I'm American but DH is British.

I'm the PP above who lived in England as a kid (and prefers them Devonshire-style), and have had a few good scones here. They have all come from small, local bakeries (in one case, where the head baker was British). No mass-produced crap.

Where can I find this good bakery? I would love to try a real scone, Devonshire or Cornish.

It was in Cape Charles, VA. Not super convenient, sadly.

JennyCakes in Kensington has them, and they're good, but not British scone good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I love scones and turns out I also love Irish soda bread. Love it with my coffee. Love the dryness of it. I don't eat muffins because I find them too sugary, buttery, too moist for breakfast.

I think people who like muffins also like cupcakes.

I don't care much for either.

I realky like muffins but I've never liked cupcakes. I think cupcakes tend to he sweeter than muffins and less flavorful. I hate frosting. I do like the stir-ins of muffins (berries, nuts, chocolate chips, etc.

I also love Irish soda bread. I've had some really good scones and some that are as dry as sawdust.

While we're discussing British breads - I really like crumpets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love a good scone with clotted cream and jam. Now whether to eat them Devonshire or Cornish is a whole other issue.

That’s strawberry shortcake. Nobody is eating that for breakfast unless they’re a glutton. Also, you are more or less admitting scones are gross unless you drench them in whipped topping and sugared fruit.

Party pooper. Eating this once in a while won't kill you. It is like a treat.

Anonymous wrote:So I love scones and turns out I also love Irish soda bread. Love it with my coffee. Love the dryness of it. I don't eat muffins because I find them too sugary, buttery, too moist for breakfast.

I think people who like muffins also like cupcakes.

I don't care much for either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The question should be, "Does anyone really like the American version of scones?" because most of the ones you get here are uniformly terrible.

So why does every neighborhood bakery make them? And every coffee shop sells them?

And most of us have only tried American scones.