How to Eat Scones: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

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1Choosing the Perfect Toppings and Pairings

2Setting up the Scone

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Co-authored byTraci Morgan-ho*rnke

Last Updated: February 6, 2024References

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The best way to eat scones is still a hotly debated topic. Scones are part of afternoon tea or cream tea services, and there is more to scone than you might think. Do you eat them the Devon way or the Cornish way? What kind of jam do you put on them? Do you use double whipped cream or clotted cream? Eating scones is actually quite simple, though, so long as you follow proper etiquette. You will be able to freely indulge yourself in some sweet scones and tea in no time!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Choosing the Perfect Toppings and Pairings

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  1. 1

    Eat scones after tea sandwiches but before sweets. You will typically find scones on the second tier plate. Take one or two to save some space for sweets as well. [1]

  2. 2

    Choose whipped double cream or clotted cream. Go with clotted cream for the traditional British flavor that is the favorite among scone lovers. If you want to stand out, choose the whipped double cream, which will give you a cleaner, earthier taste. Try both creams see which one you like best.[2]

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  3. 3

    Have sharp, tart jam to balance out the cream’s taste. Put on a classic like strawberry or damson jam. Be new wave and choose raspberry or blackcurrant jam, which can make your scone even more delicious.[3]

  4. 4

    Pick a scone, then put 2 tablespoons worth of cream and jam on it. Try to hit that 2:1:1 ratio sweet spot, which means you need about the same weight of toppings as the weight of your scone. [4]

  5. 5

    Drink loose leaf tea after eating the scone. Drinking loose leaf tea enhances the flavor and the overall experience. Brew the tea for 3 to 6 minutes. Be careful, though: brewing the tea for too long might affect the flavor.[5]

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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Setting up the Scone

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  1. 1

    Use a spoon to scoop small portions of cream or jam onto your plate. Use the serving spoons provided for each bowl. You only want to mix the cream and jam on your scone with your spoon. [6]

  2. 2

    Break the scone horizontally with your fingers. Use your knife for slathering only the cream. Don’t worry, the scone is super easy to break apart!

  3. 3

    Start by dressing the scone with cream then jam or vice versa. Use a knife to spread enough cream and jam on a small bite.[7] Choose either the Devon or the Cornish way. If you want to be like the Queen, go with the Cornish method.[8]

    • Devon way: cream first, jam second. You will be able to taste the flavor of the jam better because it will hit your taste buds first.
    • Cornish way: jam first, cream second. You can avoid being messy if you choose this. The jam will hold the cream in place so you don’t have to worry about staining your shirt.
  4. 4

    Eat the bite-sized piece of scone. Have some napkins nearby because scones are very delicate. Enjoy!

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Expert Q&A

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  • Question

    How do I make gluten-free scones from scratch?

    Traci Morgan-ho*rnke
    Gluten-Free Baking Specialist

    Traci Morgan-ho*rnke is a Gluten-Free Baking Specialist based in Milwaukee, WI. She is the owner of MOR Foods, LLC, a Bakery in Milwaukee dedicated to providing delicious Gluten-Free treats. She was inspired to start the bakery after spending years navigating her own son’s food allergies and subsequently built a business based on catering to those with food sensitivities.

    Traci Morgan-ho*rnke

    Gluten-Free Baking Specialist

    Expert Answer

    For a gluten-free scone recipe, start by combining gluten-free flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. Incorporate cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add wet ingredients like eggs and milk, mix until a dough forms, then shape and bake at 410F for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

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      Tips

      • Scones are best while they are still warm.

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      • Use a napkin if eating the scone gets to be messy.

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      Warnings

      • Never eat a scone as a sandwich, as it's considered bad manners.

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Traci Morgan-ho*rnke.

      References

      1. https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/afternoon-tea-101-course-order
      2. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2014/jun/12/how-to-eat-cream-tea-scones-jam
      3. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2014/jun/12/how-to-eat-cream-tea-scones-jam
      4. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10082592/Mathematician-solves-the-great-scone-debate.html
      5. https://afternoontea.co.uk/news-reviews/the-afternoonteacouk-team/afternoon-tea-etiquette-top-10-dos-donts/
      6. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3208603/Don-t-stick-little-finger-milk-second-NEVER-serve-cupcakes-Etiquette-expert-William-Hanson-explains-rules-afternoon-tea.html
      7. https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/how-to-eat-a-scone-properly
      8. https://www.hellomagazine.com/cuisine/2018031346960/cream-jam-first-scone-buckingham-palace

      About This Article

      How to Eat Scones: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (28)

      Co-authored by:

      Traci Morgan-ho*rnke

      Gluten-Free Baking Specialist

      This article was co-authored by Traci Morgan-ho*rnke. Traci Morgan-ho*rnke is a Gluten-Free Baking Specialist based in Milwaukee, WI. She is the owner of MOR Foods, LLC, a Bakery in Milwaukee dedicated to providing delicious Gluten-Free treats. She was inspired to start the bakery after spending years navigating her own son’s food allergies and subsequently built a business based on catering to those with food sensitivities. This article has been viewed 29,349 times.

      11 votes - 89%

      Co-authors: 8

      Updated: February 6, 2024

      Views:29,349

      Categories: Eating Techniques

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      How to Eat Scones: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      How are scones usually eaten? ›

      Scoop out clotted cream and jams onto your plate, enough for one scone. Break apart a small bite-sized portion of scone with your hands or if using a knife, cut the scone horizontally. Use a knife to slather on cream and jam onto the broken-off piece of scone. The bite-sized piece of scone should be eaten in 1-2 bites.

      What is the queens way to eat scones? ›

      So when it comes to the big question of jam or cream first you would imagine her is the definitive answer. And now her head chef Chris Tombling has revealed that at Buckingham Palace the cream is always smeared onto the scone first, followed by a good dollop of jam.

      What is the correct order for scones? ›

      “The only way to serve a scone is by putting on the jam first. It's easily spreadable, and visually, it looks much better with the jam on the bottom and a good spoon of Cornish clotted cream on top. We take a lot of pride in our clotted cream.

      How do you eat American scones? ›

      In England the scones were either plain or fruit (raisins or sultanas) and that was the custom that I was used to. American scones are usually designed to be eaten alone, though a light glaze or frosting drizzle on top is very common.

      Do you warm up scones before eating? ›

      Secondly (and perhaps most importantly), scones should always be served fresh, preferably straight out of the oven. If you must reheat your scones, then you should only ever do so in a pre-heated oven and NEVER the microwave.

      What is the Devonshire way of eating scones? ›

      The Devon Way of serving Cream Tea is to split the scone in half, spread clotted cream on each half, and then add a dollop of jam on top. The Cornish Way, on the other hand, is to split the scone in half, spread jam on each half, and then add a dollop of clotted cream on top.

      What is the correct way to eat a scone in Cornwall? ›

      According to research, what's widely known as the “Devon method” is putting your clotted cream on first and covering that up with jam whereas the “Cornish method” involves spreading your scone with strawberry jam and then topping that layer with clotted cream.

      How are scones traditionally served today? ›

      Traditionally scones are served warm with strawberry jam and clotted cream. However as these little buns are neither truly sweet or savoury it makes them wonderfully versatile, and they can be served in numerous different ways.

      How do the royals eat scones? ›

      Well, according to Darren McGrady, a former chef who worked for the Royal Family for over 10 years, the Queen prefered jam first. He tweeted: “The Queen always had home-made Balmoral jam first with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent and all royal tea parties.”

      How does the king eat scones? ›

      It's the royal way.

      The late Queen Elizabeth II was a fan of a jam-first scone, and according to the royals' former chef Darren McGrady, it's the way they're served at Buckingham Palace garden parties. King Charles also appears to also be Team Jam.

      How do Scottish people eat scones? ›

      Although the English eat scones mainly at teatime, the Scots eat them at almost any time: with midmorning coffee, with soup and salad at lunch, at afternoon tea or high tea, and even with a glass of wine at the co*cktail hour.

      Are scones better warm or cold? ›

      'Firstly they should always be nice and toasty,' he said. 'To have your scones at their best, eat them while they are still warm. This ensures that they are still light and fluffy. '

      How do the British serve scones? ›

      From what I've gathered, the proper way to eat a scone is to split it and spread clotted cream (or butter) and jam on both sides. Never sandwich the sides back together. If serving with clotted cream, spread the jam first, then the cream. If serving with butter, it's butter first, then jam.

      How scones are served? ›

      Scones are commonly served with clotted cream and jam; grated cheddar cheese is another popular accompaniment.

      How were scones traditionally served? ›

      Traditional scones are bread-like biscuits that could be broken off of a larger dough. The earliest scones were unleavened and typically made with oats and milk. They were often cooked on a griddle and served with butter, jam, honey, or clotted cream.

      How are scones served in England? ›

      Scones are a British afternoon tea staple and they're delicious served with jam and clotted cream. Not quite cake, but not really a biscuit or pastry either, scones have a unique texture that's entirely their own. Scones are traditionally made with flour, butter, sugar and milk, but where did the recipe originate from?

      References

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