Classic cream scones

Name: Classic cream scones
Cook time: 8 min
Yield: 12 servings

If you ever wondered how professionals make such amazingly light scones for Devonshire tea, look no further, says Genevieve Knights.

Two scones filled with clotted cream and jam

By Saga Magazine | Published - 9 Jan 2026

The secret to light, fluffy scones is the cream scone recipe. Cream replaces butter and milk, and while you think this might make the cooked scone heavier, it doesn’t.

The dough is easy to roll out and form into shapes then cook into light, airy and simply superb scones.

Cooking Time

8 mins

Serves

Ingredients

200g self-raising flour
¼ teaspoon salt
50g caster sugar
200 – 250ml double cream

Method

Heat the oven to 220°C.
Sift the flour and salt together into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the sugar and 200ml cream then work in with a fork until you have even-sized-looking clumps. If the mix is too dry, add the remaining 50ml cream and mix through.
Place on a floured workbench and knead a couple of times. Dust with flour and roll the mix flat with a rolling pin to 1cm thick.
Cut out 5cm circles with a crimped circle cutter and place on a lightly floured baking tray.
Knead the offcuts gently back together and repeat the rolling and cutting process.
Bake for 6–8 minutes until they have risen nicely and browned around the edges. Serve with red fruit jams and clotted cream.

Scones by Genevieve Knights (Accent Press Ltd), RRP: £7.99 is full of fantastic sweet and savoury scone recipes.

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(Hero image credit: Getty)