My Favourite Blueberry Scones

Made with lots of warming cinnamon, buttermilk and vanilla, these better-than-the-bakery blueberry scones are my favourite. They’re packed with fresh (or frozen) blueberries then topped with a sprinkle of turbinado sugar for a bakery-style finish. Perfect for a chilly morning with hot coffee, a mid-day pick-me-up or a late-night snack!

We have settled into the snowy holiday season. The coats and boots are getting heavier, and my bakes are getting cozier. Enter these blueberry scones, a new and improved version of a recipe I first published during a snow storm in April 2022.

Here’s everything you’ll need to make them

• 2 cups (260 g) all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup (60 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon (5 g) baking powder
• 1 teaspoon (3 g) cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon (3 g) kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon (6 g) freshly grated lemon zest (optional)
• 1/2 cup (120 g) buttermilk (or your milk of choice) plus 2 tablespoons (30 ml) for brushing
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon (5 g) vanilla
• 1/2 cup (115 g) cold butter (one stick) grated on a box grater just before mixing
• 1 cup (130 g) blueberries fresh (or frozen)
• Turbinado sugar for topping

My love for all things blueberry runs deep, and scones are such a delicious and versatile pastry. While entirely optional, I love to add a tablespoon of freshly grated lemon zest for a hint of citrus. If you don’t have turbinado or coarse sugar, you can glaze them, dust them with confectioners’ sugar or just leave them plain – they will still be delicious!

I know scones can sound intimidating to make from scratch, but I promise this recipe will guide you through the process.

How to make blueberry scones in 5 steps

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and prepared a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg and vanilla.
3. Grate the cold butter into the flour mixture and toss everything together with your hands until evenly distributed. Pour the wet ingredients over the flour mixture and stir everything together just until integrated. Fold in blueberries. The dough should be crumbly, but beginning to get sticky.
4. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and use your hands to fold and shape it into a cohesive piece. Cut the dough into wedges then lift each scone with a spatula and transfer them to the baking sheet. Brush them with the remaining buttermilk and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
5. Bake for 28-30 minutes or until the tops are golden and the edges are browned. Let cool and serve warm!

My best tips for baking scones

• Cold butter is key (see note below) and if you have the time, chilling the dough for 30 minutes (or even overnight) before shaping and cutting will give you an even better result.
• I always cut scones into squares or triangles to avoid having to re-shape and cut again. It’s quicker, the dough is only handled once and there are no leftover bits at the end.
• When you cut them, slice with one straight cut each time. Do not move the blade back and forth or use the blade to separate the scones. The additional pressure risks sealing the edges, which will prevent them from rising well to produce those flaky layers.
• Brushing them with a little more buttermilk before baking enhances their dreamy golden colour.

Can these scones be made dairy free?

Yes! I have successfully made this recipe with both vegan butter and dairy free milk. A few things to note: DF baking sticks have a higher water content, which makes them more difficult to grate. However, while you won’t quite achieve comparable layers nor the same level of browning, they will still be delicious!

More reasons to love these blueberry scones

1. This blueberry scone recipe relies on less sugar than most sweet scone recipes.
2. You can use either fresh or frozen berries, making them ideal for your upcoming holiday brunch menus.
3. They can be prepped ahead of time. Mix and cut them the day before, cover and let sit on a baking sheet in the fridge overnight to have them ready to bake first thing in the morning.
4. They freeze like a dream. There’s nothing like a warm and toasty scone for breakfast without having to leave the house!
5. They bake up in just 30 minutes!

These blueberry scones are light yet buttery with a tender, flaky texture. We love them served warm with more butter! If you’re looking for an amazing breakfast sandwich or dinner option, you can find my Savoury Rosemary Parmesan Scones recipe here!

6 more delicious breakfast bakes to try

Lemon Blueberry Quick Bread

Cranberry Walnut Artisan Bread

Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins

Muffin Tin Popovers

Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Overnight Orange Cinnamon Brioche Rolls

If you make these blueberry scones, please tag me on Pinterest or Instagram so I can see! 

And of course, feel free to leave any questions, comments or reviews. This is the best place to reach me, and I’d love to hear from you!

*This recipe has been updated since first published April 14, 2022.