Method
Scones are one of the easiest bakes to make suitable for vegans as they are often made without eggs and the dairy element is easily replaced with vegan alternatives. Scones are more traditionally made with butter and vegan hard vegetable fat blocks do exist (such as Stork baking block or Naturli Vegan Block) but it's fine to use a soft margarine, which are often suitable for vegans (Flora or Vitalite, for example). The only real difference you might find is that the milk glaze doesn't go golden like an egg glaze would, so take care not to overcook them!
Preheat the oven to 220C/200fan/gas 7 and line or grease a baking tray.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.
Add cold baking block cut into small cubes, or the margarine, and rub between fingertips until the mix is like breadcrumbs.
Add the milk and mix to create a soft dough.
Roll the mixture out to 2cm (¾in) thick, then cut out scones with a 5cm (2in) cutter. If your cutter is sticking dip it in flour before pressing into the dough.
Brush tops with milk.
Bake for 12 or so minutes until risen and tops are golden. Cool on a wire rack.
Vegan scone toppings
A dollop of jam will go down well, and vegan cream is readily available in the free from sections of supermarkets, such as Elmlea Plant Double, which can be whipped, and Food Heaven or Soyatoo squirty whipped cream alternatives. Oatly Crème Fraîche also makes a good topping, if you don't mind the slightly sour tang of crème fraîche. If you don't have access to vegan cream some margarine will do.
Turning into vegan fruit scones
Fruit scones are a classic and these vegan scones can easily be turned into fruit scones by adding about 50g dried fruit (sultanas or currants) to the mix after the butter.
Turning into savoury vegan cheese scones
Cheese scones are surprisingly easy to veganise, thanks to the rise in popularity of vegan cheeses, and they make a great addition to a buffet or light lunch. Simply leave out the sugar and instead add about 100g of grated vegan cheese after the margarine has been added, and sprinkle a small handful of grated vegan cheese or nutritional yeast flakes on top of the scones after brushing with milk.
Visit our vegan section for more vegan recipe ideas.