Earl Grey Scones are tender scones flavored with earl grey tea and drizzled with an easy lemon glaze. They can be ready in 30 minutes and are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet treat!
My ideal Saturday morning involves sitting on my couch with a cup of tea and at least two of these Earl Grey Scones. They are tender, flavorful, and taste like you just picked them up from your local bakery! This is one of my favorite scone recipes along with my Turtle Scones.
If you're looking for more scone recipes check out these Gluten-Free Maple Walnut Scones, Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Scones, or Strawberry Scones.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- These scones are perfect for breakfast, brunch or dessert. This Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash is another one of my favorite breakfast and brunch recipes.
- They are versatile. The glaze can be flavored with honey, almond extract, or lavender to subtly change the flavor.
- The smell of the scones baking is so incredible you will want to have a batch in your oven at all times!
- Earl Grey is a unique flavor that will wow anyone.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Measuring the all-purpose flour correctly is very important. I suggest weighing your flour out. If you want to use a measuring cup, make sure you spoon the flour into the cup and level it off with a knife. Don’t use the cup to scoop directly from the flour.
- I always make sure to use unsalted butter when baking because there is no “standard” for the amount of salt they can add to butter. So if you add salt to a recipe and then use salted butter you could end up with a very salty end product.
- You can use loose leaf earl grey tea or tea bags. I used tea bags and cut them open to get the leaves out. These Earl Grey Macarons are another great tea infused recipe.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- The lemon juice in the glaze can be swapped out for honey, vanilla extract, almond extract, or lavender.
- You can use different types of tea leaves to change the flavor of the scones.
- You can add dried lavender to make these Lavender Earl Grey Scones.
- Cranberry or white chocolate can be added in to change up the flavor profile.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Step-By-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set it aside.
STEP 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and Earl Grey tea leaves to remove any clumps.
STEP 3: Add the cold, cubed butter and, using your hands, start to work it into the dry ingredients. You’ll basically be pinching it with your fingers until it is the consistency of bread crumbs.
STEP 4: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the vanilla and 1 cup of the buttermilk. Begin to stir and only add the last ¼ cup as needed. Combine the mixture until the dry mixture is just barely wet. I use my hands for this part. Make sure that you don’t knead the dough! You just want to gently combine the ingredients. Turn the mixture out onto a floured surface. Pat the dough into a circle about 1 to 1 ½ inches thick. Using a sharp knife or a bench scraper cut the circle into 8-10 even triangles. Place the scones on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
STEP 1: In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add the heavy cream or milk one tablespoon at a time, whisking until free of lumps and runny consistency. Use a fork or a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the scones.
Expert Tips
- Keep your butter cold. If your butter gets too warm it will melt out of the scones while they bake and your scones won’t be as tender as they should be.
- Do NOT knead the dough. You only want to gently mix the dough until the ingredients are barely combined. If you knead the dough you will have a tough scone.
- Don’t add all of the liquid at once. Depending on the weather that day, the flour you’re using, and other factors the dough might not need all of the liquids. If you add all at once you can end up with a wet dough. So add about a cup, mix and then decide if you need to add more.
Recipe FAQs
They were probably over mixed. You need to handle the scone dough as little as possible.
You can make the dough ahead of time and hold it in the fridge and freezer and then baking when you are ready to serve. Scones are best served as soon after baking as possible and don't hold over well.
Room Temperature: The scones can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days, but they don't hold over as well as some other baked goods and are best eat the first day.
Refrigerator: If stored correctly in an airtight container the scones will last up to 1 week in the fridge.
Freezer: If stored correctly in an airtight container they will last up to 2 months in the freezer.
More Recipes You'll Love
If you tried these Earl Grey Scones or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I so appreciate hearing from you!
Recipe
Earl Grey Scones
Ingredients
For Scones:
- 3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (66 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 4 sachets Earl Grey tea
- 1 ½ sticks (170 grams) unsalted butter cold and cubed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup buttermilk
- heavy cream as needed
- coarse sugar as needed
For Glaze:
- 1 cup (113 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- heavy cream as needed
Instructions
For Scones:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees (F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and Earl Grey tea.
- Using clean, dry hands, work the butter into the dry mixture. There should be pea-sized pieces of butter with a few slightly larger chunks.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the vanilla and 1 cup of the buttermilk. Begin to stir and add the last ¼ cup slowly, you may not need all of it. The mixture should not be too wet.
- Turn the mixture out onto a clean and floured surface and gather the dough together. Pat the dough into a circle about 1 inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut the circle into equal-sized triangles and place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Brush the top of each scone with heavy cream and sprinkle with the coarse sugar. (OPTIONAL)
- Bake the scones for about 17-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let the scones cool slightly before glazing.
For Glaze:
- In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add the heavy cream or milk one teaspoon at a time, whisking until free of lumps and a runny consistency.
- Use a fork or a spoon to drizzle the glaze over the scones.
Notes
- Keep your butter cold. If your butter gets too warm it will melt out of the earl grey scones while they bake and your scones won’t be as tender as they should be.
- Do NOT knead the dough.You only want to gently mix the dough until the ingredients are barely combined. If you knead the dough you will have a tough scone.
- Don’t add all of the liquid at once. Depending on the weather that day, the flour you’re using, and other factors the dough might not need all of the liquids. If you add all at once you can end up with a wet dough. So add about a cup, mix and then decide if you need to add more.
- The provided nutrition information is an estimate. The calorie accuracy is not guaranteed.
Vicki says
I just made these with plant base butter and almond milk, delicious. I used lemon juice added to the almond milk as a substitute for buttermilk. Will definitely make again..
Ellie Haley says
So glad they worked out well even with the substitutions!
R.Gordon says
Can the buttermilk be substituted in your scone recipes? Thank you.
Ellie Haley says
I have never used anything other than buttermilk in scones, so I can't answer that question for you. So sorry!
LAura says
I have been looking for a good earl grey scone RECIPE and i just Loved these. EVERYONE I cooKed them for did as well! Super easy. I ADDED a bit of lavender in the douGH. DEFINITELY will be making These again!! ThanK You 😊
Ellie Haley says
Yay! So glad you liked them!
Alexa Weeks says
Loved this recipe! Thank you!
Ellie Haley says
So glad you enjoyed it!