Strawberry Scones are a delicious way to bake with strawberries. These scones are made with whole grain flour and vegan friendly, with soft centers and crisp edges. They’re a must!
This post was originally sponsored in partnership with California Giant Berry Farms, published in 2021. As always, all opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the partners that help me bring you new recipes!
Check out this video to learn more about California Giant and their history as berry farmers!
Baking scones is one of my favorite things. And if you’re thinking, “How the heck do you make scones?” I feel you. I was there. I was a scone lover and home baker who did not know how to make them for the longest time.
Four years later and baking scones at home is one of my favorite weekend activities.
Tips for Selecting Strawberries
When selecting strawberries at your local grocery store look for:
- fresh green caps
- natural sheen
- plump berries
- bright red coloring
Strawberries don’t ripen after harvest, so skip the berries that have the white at the tops next to the green caps, or if the entire berry is lighter in color.
Why You’ll Love these Scones
- Soft centers with crisp edges – these tender scones aren’t like traditional British scones (dry and biscuit like), they’re soft, moist and won’t crumble into tiny pieces.
- Made lightened up compared to a traditional recipe – these fresh strawberry scones are made with whole grain flour and less granulated sugar, but still come with lots of flavor!
- Use your choice of butter or coconut oil – you can use traditional butter, vegan plant based butter or coconut oil. Whichever fat you choose, it must be frozen.
- A great weekend baking activity – scones are perfect for slow mornings and enjoying with your favorite coffee or cup of tea.
If this is your first time baking scones, don’t worry! They are easy to make and don’t require much time at all. This is a pretty basic scone recipe.
Ingredients List
- whole wheat white flour or whole wheat pastry flour – You can also use half all-purpose/half whole wheat. A 1:1 gluten-free baking flour should work here as well with similar results.
- granulated sugar – Just 1/4 cup is needed for a lightly sweetened scone. You can use up to half a cup if you’d like a sweeter scone. But we’re also topping this strawberry scone recipe off with a glaze as well.
- baking powder & salt – baking powder gives the right height for baking scones.
- frozen butter, vegan butter or coconut oil – using frozen fat is a must for scones, because it gives the scones their biscuit-like texture. Traditional butter, non-dairy butter or coconut oil may be subbed.
- fresh strawberries – Use fresh strawberries so they can be easily diced and folded into the scone dough. Or, feel free to use a mix of fresh berries you have on hand.
- non-dairy milk – if you’d like to keep this recipe dairy-free, use a non-dairy milk. Canned coconut milk will give these scones a rich texture. If you can tolerate dairy, you can also use heavy cream.
How to Make Scones: 3 Methods
There are various methods you can use to begin making the scone batter. I’ll share a few tried-n-true methods below, depending on what equipment you have on hand.
Food Processor – The quickest method that requires the least amount of hands on time/labor would be using a food processor. You can cut in the cold butter (or coconut oil) by pulsing the food processor and the S blade will cut the butter into tiny pieces into the dry ingredients. Then add the rest of your wet ingredients until the dough comes together.
Grating the butter – Another fairly easy way to cut in the super cold (frozen) butter is by grating it along a cheese grater. You want to use the large shred side of a box grater. Add the grated butter to the flour mixture and go through with your hands and rub the flour and butter together try to make sure there aren’t any big chunks left.
Pastry Blender – For this method you’ll cut the butter into about 1” cubes, then you’ll work the pastry blender (sometimes called a “dough blender” or “pastry cutter”) into your large bowl of dry ingredients until the butter is in small pieces. Then begin adding your milk and fold in the strawberries.
Scroll to the recipe card below for the full recipe including ingredients, amounts and step-by-step instructions.
Whichever method you choose, you just want to make sure you don’t have super large chunks of butter left. And you also want to make sure you’re using frozen butter.
If you’re using frozen coconut oil, the food processor is going to work best. While I have grated frozen coconut oil before, it is somewhat challenging and melts too quickly.
TIP: To freeze coconut oil, scoop out tablespoons of softened coconut oil onto parchment paper lined plate or wide bowl then place in freezer for one hour.
Lemon Glaze
I love a light lemon glaze with this strawberry scones recipe. Simply mix some confectioner’s sugar with lemon juice and lemon zest in a small bowl until thoroughly mixed. Then drizzle over the fresh scones before serving.
Tips for Baking Scones
Frozen fat is a MUST and will keep the texture of the scones from turning into more muffin-like.
If your dough becomes too soft, or room temperature, place the dough into the fridge for 20 minutes prior to baking. This will make sure the scones keep their shape.
Be careful not to add too much liquid. When adding the milk to the dough, only add just enough so that the batter is not too dry or overly wet. I used 3/4 cup and 1 tablespoon for this recipe, using whole wheat pastry flour. If you’re using whole wheat white flour, or half all-purpose with whole wheat, the liquid amount may be slightly different.
Fold the strawberries in gently as you pour the milk and continue mixing without adding all of the milk, unless it’s needed. If your dough is super wet, you’ll need to add more flour.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface when shaping into a circle.
Use a large sharp knife to slice the dough and wipe clean between each slice if needed.
After visiting Great Britain I don’t understand why America chooses to make triangle scones, but apparently we do.
Scones are Best Enjoyed Fresh
Scones are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. If you need to store them, place in air tight container on the counter, and enjoy within 3 days.
Scones can be lightly toasted using a countertop oven, or enjoy at room temperature.
How to Freeze for Later
If you want to save some scones for later, wrap completely cooled individual scones tightly and place in an airtight container or freezer bag. Scones will keep in the freezer up to 3 months.
Allow the scones to thaw in the fridge overnight then warm up in the toaster oven or microwave.
More Scone Recipes to Love
- Lemon Poppy Seed Scones
- Triple Chocolate Scones
- Classic Blueberry Scones
- Simple Chocolate Chip Scones
If you make this strawberry scones recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star review here on the blog! I love seeing what you’ve made and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Xx Ashley
PrintStrawberry Scones
This Strawberry Scones recipe is made healthier using less sugar but still loaded with flavor! Made vegan friendly using coconut oil or plant based butter and bursting with strawberries. Soft centers with crisp edges! These are best strawberry scones.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 scones 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: English-American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat white flour or whole wheat pastry flour (see notes)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (cane, coconut, etc.)
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 6 tablespoons frozen butter, vegan butter or coconut oil (must be frozen)
- 1 heaping cup chopped fresh strawberries
- 2/3 – 3/4 cup cold non-dairy milk, plus a little more if needed
- sprinkling sugar or optional lemon glaze
lemon glaze
- 2/3 cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- zest of lemon, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF and line baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- Make scone dough: In a large bowl or bowl of food processor, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add frozen butter or coconut oil and pulse until there are just small pieces. See notes in post for other methods you can use. i.e. grating the butter or using a pastry blender. Remove the S-blade and fold in about half of the strawberries. Slowly begin to add the milk (2/3 cup) and gently mix. Then add the remaining strawberries and more milk (as needed) until the dough comes together. If the dough is overly wet, you won’t be able to slice them very well. You can stir in some more flour if this happens.
- Shape dough: Using floured hands, transfer dough to parchment paper and shape into an 8” disc. Top with more strawberries if desired. Using a large sharp knife, slice into 8 triangles and transfer parchment paper to baking sheet. Carefully separate the scones so they’re about 2” apart. Place baking sheet in fridge for 15 minutes prior to baking to chill the dough a bit more.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until tops are golden. Allow scones to cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the glaze: Combine powdered sugar with lemon juice – add a touch more lemon juice if you want a thinner glaze, just be patient when mixing the first 2 teaspoons. Drizzle glaze over cooled scones. ENJOY!
Notes
Flour: I used whole wheat pastry flour because it is what I had on hand. You can also use whole wheat white flour, or half all-purpose/half whole wheat. A 1:1 gluten-free baking flour should work here as well – increase baking powder to 1 tablespoon.
Milk: If using regular non-dairy milk, you may only need 2/3 cup + a little more. If using something richer like canned coconut milk or half & half, you may end up using 3/4 cup. Just keep an eye on dough as you slowly add milk. The wetter the dough is, the harder it will be to slice.
Butter: Butter is the easiest fat option to use (versus freezing coconut oil). If using plant based butter, I find that it melts faster than conventional butter. So if using plant based butter, you will want to chill the cut scone dough before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 scone
- Calories: 271
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 351
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Unsaturated Fat: 4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 23
Keywords: baking with strawberries, vegan scones, how to make scones
drew walterhouse says
yum
★★★★★
Jo Thrasher • Jo Eats says
Love how positively bursting with berries these are!
★★★★★
Cristi says
First time making scones!! I had to add extra flour but I think it’s because I poured the milk in to quickly but they turned out good! The fresh strawberries made them not so dry!!
★★★★★
Ashley says
So glad you liked them Cristi! Getting the hang of making scones can be tricky but it sounds like you made the right choice by adding a touch more flour. Thanks so much for your comment and review!
MS says
This was a great recipe!
I did mine with 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup all purpose flour, used light cream and half+half instead of milk, and frozen mixed berries (chopped and coated in flour before mixing in). I grated frozen butter into the mix, and used a little less than the recommended amount of liquid. Split the dough in half, made them in two rounds, and popped them in the freezer for about 15 minutes for the gluten to rest. I think the less liquid led to the more pronounced crumb-y appearance on the top, but the taste was great! The texture inside was quite nice as well.
Next time, I’m going to coat the berries in sugar instead of flour, and maybe add some ginger as well. I didn’t make any glaze for this, so I feel like I could increase the sugar a bit.
Even with completely frozen butter, it started melting on me a bit so I think next time I have to work a little quicker lol. Used my hands instead of a food processor.
All in all, a fantastic base recipe. Can’t wait to make again!
Ashley says
Thanks so much for your feedback! I am glad you liked them! 😀
Brenda says
Can I use all purpose flour for this instead of whole wheat?
Ashley says
You can yes, you’ll just likely need maybe 1/4 cup more flour than the whole wheat varieties.
Stephanie says
This was my first time attempting healthier scones, so I wasn’t sure how they would turn out. They were surprisingly excellent! I used ww pastry flour which I tend to have better luck with. The taste was right on. They were a bit softer than traditional scones, but my kids prefer that, and i liked it too. Great way to use up strawberries that are about to turn.
★★★★★
Ambrosia says
Just wondering, how would adding a couple bananas in change the amount of wet ingredients?
Ashley / Fit Mitten Kitchen says
If doing mashed banana, I would start with adding only 1/3 cup milk and see how much more you need after. Could possibly need a couple more tablespoons of flour as well. Let me know if you try!
MAM says
Delicious! I substituted a half cup of the flour with all purpose flour. Also used an unsweetened coconut cream & almond milk for the non-dairy milk and added 1 tsp of vanilla. Used only 1 tsp baking powder and added 1/4 tsp of baking soda, did not want my scones to be too fluffy. First used just raw sugar for sprinkling on top and then made the lemon glaze for the top, and tasted even better!
★★★★★
Ashley says
Thank you for your review and leaving your substitutions! Helps so much!