Everyone can benefit from a scone mix in their lives: busy people, people who like to conserve their energy, people who like delicious things. On top of their universal appeal, scone mixes are easy to customize by giving them your own flair!
Whether you’re looking to tailor a ready-made mix to your tastes, customize a scone to a specific occasion, or add some variety to a well-loved staple, here are 5 ways to personalize a scone mix!
1) Add-ins
A scone mix gives you a perfect base to work with—flakey, buttery, delicious in and of itself—with plenty of room to play. It minimizes effort so you can maximize fun!
You can take that buttery blank canvas and make it your own—make it sweeter, savory, fruity, chocolatey; add oats for density, nuts for nutrients, berries just because you like them. This scone is your oyster! But probably don’t add oysters. Unless that’s your thing. Then go for it!
There are basically as many add-ins as there are items in your pantry, so simply ask yourself: what sounds good today? (Or perhaps, what would my guests like to eat? What matches the mood of the event I’m planning? What tasty things do I have an extra cup and a half of lying around in the cupboard…)
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Frozen berries (a note on using fresh ones later)
- Chocolate chips (or butterscotch, peanut butter, white chocolate…really any kind of chip)
- Dried fruit (raisins, dates, figs, apricot, sultanas… throw them in on their own, or kick them up a notch by soaking them in your favorite tea or liqueur!)
- Oatmeal (Preferably rolled oats. Avoid steel-cut! Great for breakfast, less great for scones)
- Fresh or dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, dill, sage, etc.)
- Chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts—roast for extra depth of flavor!)
- Candy chunks (If you can use chocolate chips, why not m&m’s? Or chopped Reece’s peanut butter cups? Hello, dessert scone!)
- Flavored yogurts
- Cocoa powder
- Peanut butter
- Pumpkin puree
Please do be aware that some of the more liquid-based add-ins, such as fresh fruit, pumpkin puree, or yogurt, will change the consistency of your dough and can result in a flatter, more spread-out scone.I learned this the hard way when a batch of fresh raspberry scones came out of the oven looking more like a melted pie than a tray of scones. But you know what? They still tasted great.
If you’re experimenting with things like flavored yogurts (for a cousin of the sour cream scone) or pumpkin puree, you will likely need to decrease or even completely replace the amount of liquid you use.
My own batch of (flatter-than-usual-but-still-tasty) cinnamon oatmeal yogurt scones used no milk at all, and the dough was still too wet. Remember, it should be a dough and not a batter! (Though my accidental batter-based scones have all been perfectly edible—don’t stress about it too much.)
2) Toppings to Taste
You can build on the flavor profile of your add-ins or dress up a classic plain scone with a whole host of toppings! Sprinkle them, spread them, drizzle them, glaze them…pick your verb, pick your flavor, and have some fun!
Just a couple of ideas off the top of my head… (Yes, pun intended. Always.) You could play with:
- Glazes
- Jam
- Marmalade
- Rock sugar
- Whipped cream
- Habanero jelly
- Lemon curd
To name a few.
A simple glaze is classic drizzled over a scone—it adds a visual flair, a touch of sweetness, and a gooey texture that is at once indulgent and elegant.
You could simply combine water or milk with powdered sugar to create your glaze, or zazz up the flavors by using tea, citrus juice, honey or maple syrup, or baking spices. Glaze for days!
There are so many varieties of jam that it’s possible to have a different flavor of scone every day of the month just by switching up the jam you spread on it! You’ve got all the berry classics—strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry…you’ve got seasonal favorites like rhubarb and huckleberry…you can get fancy with things like peach lavender or spiced pear… and if you’re a DIY kind of baker, check out the plum deluxe blog for fun jams you can make at home!
If you like your scones with a healthy dollop of whipped cream, consider flavored whipped creams! You can stir in ingredients like almond extract or cocoa powder, and you can enjoy endless variety by infusing your own cream. A delicious and simple way to personalize a scone mix!
3) Tea Flavorings
We all know tea and scones are a classic duo, but let’s not forget tea in scones!
Incorporating tea into your food is a wonderful way to play with flavors, and there are a variety of simple methods you can use.
Ground Tea Leaves
If you have a spice or coffee grinder, it’s super easy to throw in your favorite loose-leaf tea and zip it up into a fine powder. Once done, simply toss that in with your scone mix when you add in the other ingredients, and there you have it! Instant flavor that is the perfect tea time pairing!
For any scone enthusiasts without a spice grinder, chop your tea leaves as finely as you can. Or leave them whole—it all depends on the texture you prefer!
Powdered Teas
Powdered teas like matcha or chai latte mix are a fool-proof way to incorporate great flavor with almost no effort! Stir a tablespoon or two into your scone mix and call it a delicious day.
Infused Milk
Using tea-infused milk or cream in place of plain milk when assembling your scone mix is another great way to get all the flavor of your favorite tea baked right into your treat. Just like with iced lattes, you can heat your milk, steep your tea leaves, and let the infusion cool, or if you’re a plan-ahead kind of person, cold brewing the tea into your milk the night before makes for a zero-prep flavor-boost the day you bake your scones!
4) Better Butters
Scones are all about butter! So why not boost your butter with extra flavor?
Making a flavored or compound butter to include in your scone mix can open up a world of possibilities!
Mix in cinnamon, lavender buds, or honey for complexity.
Whip it up with garlic, herbs, or sundried tomatoes for savory vegetable scones.
Just remember that the key to flakey, high-rising scones is very cold butter. Usually, I grate my butter and then pop it in the freezer for ten minutes (up to overnight) to ensure it’s as cold as possible and still easy to work with.
To make a flavored butter, you need it to be softened. After concocting your butter creation, be sure to leave enough time for it to refrigerate and firm up again.
5) Shape Your Scones
Scones come in many shapes and sizes. Quite literally.
The choice is up to you! You can shape your dough in a variety of ways to customize your scone mix.
You could pat your dough into a disk and slice it into classic wedges.
You could go for a more rustic drop scone.
You could roll out your dough and use cookie cutters to make shapes.
You could make mini-scones.
Whether you go for tradition, homespun, or a touch of whimsy, the shape of your scone is the fifth and final tip in our 5 ways to personalize a scone mix.
Snap a picture of your customized scone creations and tag us on social media @plumdeluxe with your favorite Plum Deluxe tea—we love to see what you’re sipping and snacking on!
Cheers, friend!
