These lemon buttermilk scones are light, flaky, delicious and ready in 15 minutes! You don’t even need an electric mixer.
I’m a huge fan of scones. My recipe for Classic Buttermilk Scones was one of the very first recipes I shared here and it’s become one of the most popular. And for good reason – it’s so easy to make, it’s absolutely delightful and it’s ready in no time at all.
One day though, as is usual in the TUB household, I had extra lemons lying around. So I experimented with my time-tested recipe and made a lemon version. And it turned out quite lovely too!
Change #1: lemon sugar
I didn’t change the recipe drastically (why fix what’s not broken, right?). I just added lemon sugar by rubbing lemon zest and sugar together using my fingertips until our whole house smelled like lemon heaven.
Try it even if you don’t really need lemon sugar (though I’m sure we’ll find a use for it). It’s amazing.
Change #2: lemon glaze
Then I added a lemon glaze to make it even more lemony. I like my lemon buttermilk scones plain but if you’re looking for a touch of lemony sweetness, the glaze is for you.
Change #3: frozen grated butter
Instead of using cold and cubed butter, I froze my butter, grated it, then put it back in the freezer while I prepped everything else. It was a tip I saw on The Kitchn. It’s genius (albeit a bit of work)! It results to flakier scones and it’s how I make even my classic scones now.
Change #4: rounds instead of triangles
I bought this cookie cutter from the baking supplies store which I have not used ever and for which Red constantly gives me the side-eye for (what can I say, it was cute and less than $5!). So I finally used it and made round scones.
You can shape your scones any which way you like, no side-eyes from me. Just keep them all the same shape so they bake evenly.
Result: lemon buttermilk scones nirvana
All these little changes resulted to a scone as lovely as the original. It’s not overtly lemony and like my original scones recipe, not excessively sweet. I love it freshly baked, slathered with butter (or clotted cream
Great for Easter!
Speaking of brunch. If Easter brunch is your thing, these lemon buttermilk scones would be perfect. Make them just before guests arrive. Or you can make them the night before – just freeze in Ziploc bags, then reheat when you’re ready to serve. They won’t be as flaky but they will still be delicious.
Elevate your brunch game with these light and flaky lemon buttermilk scones! Enjoy them freshly baked, slathered with butter or clotted cream.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/3 cup (67 grams) granulated sugar
- 3 cups (384 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup (171 grams) unsalted butter, frozen and grated (see notes)
- 1 cup (250 ml) buttermilk
- 1 cup (128 grams) confectioner's sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets and set aside.
- In a small bowl, using your fingertips, rub 1 tablespoon lemon zest and 1/3 cup sugar together until fully combined and fragrant.
- In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, all of your lemon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
- Add the 3/4 cup grated butter and cut with a pastry cutter or a fork until the mixture looks coarse (you should still see pieces of butter/flour "balls" about the size of chickpeas).
- Make a well in the middle and add 1 cup buttermilk. Mix until just combined. Don't over mix.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and lightly knead into a 3/4 inch thick rectangle (see notes). Cut out using a 2 to 3-inch cookie cutter and place on your prepared baking pans. Space them out evenly, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. In the meantime, prepare your glaze.
- Whisk 1 cup confectioner's sugar and 2 tablespoons lemon juice until your mixture becomes pasty. Add more sugar or juice to achieve desired consistency.
- Drizzle on warm scones and serve.
Notes
To make grating butter easier, put the butter in the freezer at least an hour before you plan to grate it. I use a cheese grater. Once you've grated all the butter, put it back in the freezer until ready to use. Of course, you can also opt to just use chilled and cubed butter.
You also have the option to divide your dough into two 3/4 inch thick, 6-diameter rounds. Cut each round into 8 wedges.
Happy baking!
Did you make lemon buttermilk scones? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
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These are delicious!
However, these are biscuits. Real scones are more dry, meant to hold up to a dollop of cream or jam with your tea. These are buttery and soft, just the way a tender biscuit should be. The lemon is perfect; personally, I’d wait to glaze until they’re cooled off, that way you retain that buttery, crunchy top.. Also, these need to bake for at least 20 minutes (at least here in southeastern PA) they looked anemic at the 12 minute mark.
Hi Annie! Thanks for the tips!
O.m.g. these are amazing. My first time ever making scones! The grating the frozen butter is tenuous but so worth it.
Hi Alysia, so glad you liked it! The grating makes all the difference 🙂
Delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe. I halved it because there is just my husband & myself. Also, I left the butter in the freezer until I was ready to grate it into the flour mixture. And I made a traditional round, cut into triangles. Yummy!
Hi Sharon! Thanks! The frozen butter is a game changer isn’t it? 🙂 Glad you guys liked it.
I did make these as I had everything on hand. I was a little disappointed. They were much more biscuit like with frosting compared to the scones I get at my local bakery. I did take them to work. They did eat them….of course, they eat anything!
Just made these scones. They are delicious! Mine didn’t hold their round shape very well. They tilted a bit, however, that didn’t effect the taste! Lol! I double glazed them because I wanted more lemon. Next time, I will add more lemon zest as we really like lemon flavor and lemon juice and extract to the dough. My husband thought they tasted more like a biscuit versus a scone. Bet he still eats them though!
Thanks Sue! I think you can’t go wrong with making these more lemony 🙂
The scones are delicious. My partner made them and he is not a baker. Lemon sugar was a great idea and grating frozen butter made life a breeze. It is the first time I have had fluffy scones. Thank you for sharing your recipe. They will be a must when I make high tea for mom and her friends.
Hi Lynn! Glad you liked them 🙂 Lemon sugar is wonderful isn’t it? And frozen butter is a game changer for sure. Hope you’re having a lovely weekend!
I’m sold on grated butter, my scones are the best I’ve made to date ! Light and flakey and the glaze was the finishing touch. My daughter loves scones and my previous efforts from a booklet she handed me turned out less than good. She will love these while recooperating from back surgery. Thanks for a great recipe, look forward to more
Hi Maggie! I’m so glad you liked them. Grated butter is a game changer isn’t it? You are most welcome and sending you good vibes for your daughter’s easy and speedy recovery.
Neophyte “husband” baker. Followed instructions and baked, flakey exterior and chewy interior. Had wife doing “Happy Dance”.
Thank you
Hi David! You are most welcome! A happy dance is always a good sign 🙂 (PS: This made my day, now I want to do a happy dance too lol. Thank you!)
My husband would be in heaven. He loves all things lemon. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Donna! This is one of my favourite recipes ever 🙂 Hope you and your husband like them!
These were a huge hit at my brunch and everyone wanted the recipe. I made them ahead and froze them, baked them off and frosted them the day I was serving them and they were perfect. This is the perfect scone recipe!!
I’m glad you guys liked the scones MJ! 🙂
These lemon scones are the best ever. Thanks Jolina for a great recipe.
Hi Diana! So glad you like them! 🙂
These were the best scones ever! The lemon sugar trick took them over the top. I have made them several times now. Great recipe!
Hi Diane! So happy to hear that! I’m glad you like them 🙂
Oh my gosh, no scone is safe around me! These sound amazing. I may make these as a surprise for my husband’s birthday this weekend! 🙂
LOL no scone is safe around me either. Thanks Jeni! Hope you and your husband like these 🙂
These sound so delicious! I immediately want to eat these scones with a good cup of coffee. =) Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Hi Aarika! My pleasure 🙂 It’s incredibly flaky too because of the grated butter. Hope you like it!
These look delish! Love the lemon flavour.
Lemon and buttermilk are such a great combo! These scones look wonderful!
First of all, your photos are absolutely GORGEOUS! And this looks so delicious, too!
Scones are one of my favorite tea time treats. These Lemon Buttermilk Scones look and sound incredible. I will definitely be making a batch very soon!
I love using buttermilk in my cooking. And I love the idea of lemon scones. I love your photos, very enticing.
Lemon sugar and lemon glaze? Be still my heart! Honestly I would top these with lemon curd as well, because I literally can’t get enough lemon flavor with my pastries. Hellooo weekend brunch!
Yes bring on the all the lemon 🙂 Have a lovely weekend Liz!
Scones are my favorite be it breakfast or brunch! You made some beautiful light looking scones, I can almost imagine myself having some with cream, oh yum!
These look mouthwateringly delicious.
These are lovely scones, and I LOVE the lemon 🙂 I’ve never used grated frozen butter, but will definitely try that technique!
Those look so tasty! I just want to reach right through my screen and grab one 🙂 (If only I could!)
These look incredible! I actually have all the ingredients right now and can’t wait to make it!
Yum I am loving this recipe this looks delicious!
These look Amazing!!! I definitely need to try these!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
These look amazing! I love how quickly these can be made – what a great recipe for a morning scone craving. 🙂
how have I never made lemon sugar?! Holy moly. I can only imagine how great your house smelled! These look so awesome. I am a sucker for anything lemon! Pinned!
It smelled like a house made of lemon sugar haha 🙂 Thanks for the pin!
Yes! These look so good! I recently discovered the freezing butter then grating it trick, too. It works so well for making scones. I might have to make these for Easter morning! 🙂
I love everything about these! I just made biscuits the other day, I’m such an addict. Next time I will have to make them lemony.
Oh man, these look delicious. I especially like the way lemon sugar sounds! I feel like that could be useful for so many deserts and breads.
Thanks for sharing this yummy looking recipe! 🙂
Absolutely! I’ve used it for cakes and cupcakes and muffins too 🙂
Lemon, buttermilk scones?! Yes, please! Sounds so yummy. I’m not a huge cook, but def want to give this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!
My husband loves to make scones! Reminds him of his childhood! I will have to try this and see!
We love homemade scones and adding the lemon and sugar well I can just imagine how good they are.
I’ve never been a huge scone fan, but LEMON scones?! These I have to try. Lemon is my weakness… (Pinned for later!)
Saving this IMMEDIATELY! These look amazing and I LOVE scones! Thanks for sharing!
That recipe is making my mouth water. I’ve only ever had store bought scones! I bet you making it yourself taste 10 times better!
Hi Marielle, homemade scones are so much better than those from the store (unless you mean from a lovely little local bakery then I support those haha) but seriously, they are so easy to make. Hope you try them out!
I love scones and you are making me crave for a zesty version. I have to try this recipe – it is easy and straightforward.
These look mouth watering!! I’m going to have to try this weekend!
Exciting times! Would love to hear how it goes.
These look so good!!! I need to make these for breakfast asap!
I love pretty much anything lemon and these look so good!! Thanks for sharing!!
Yum! These look delicious. I’ve always wanted to try making scones but it’s always intimidated me a bit, I don’t know why lol. Pinning this recipe! Wish me luck
I was like that too but I promise these would totally convert you into a homemade scone baking ninja! 🙂 It’s super easy and so good. Hope you try it!
This looks delicious. Love lemon and buttermilk just adds so much flavor.
These look delicious. I love lemon flavored basically everything!
These look yummy! Frozen grated butter, seems so logical now, why hadn’t I thought of that!
It’s genius right?? TBH it is a little bit of work grating and all that BUT totally worth it 🙂
Umm…yes. Brunch always, and scones with clotted cream forever. These look divine.
Ahahha yes I think exactly like that too 🙂 We should start a movement – Clotted Cream Forever!
These look divine! I love lemon flavored treats and make them often. That lemon sugar sound delightful.
Oh and that lemon sugar smells amazing too! You are going to be enveloped in lemon sugary smells 🙂
Oh this looks so good! I like the addition of the lemon, it seems like a surprising combination.
These look and sound absolutely delicious! I’ve never made homemade scones, but my Scottish grandmother would surely approve!
Hope you get to one day soon Alex! These are easy and so good. And hope your grandma approves 🙂 (Oh no now I feel the pressure lol!!)
Yum! My sister will enjoy this and I’ll try to make this for her.
Awesome! Hope you and your sister like them 🙂
These look absolutely perfect in every way! Such a lovely bake!
That GLAZE! I find most scones to be too dry, but yours looks amazing!
I haven’t had scones in like forever and I definitely haven’t had the lemon ones. I have all the ingredients for this except for lemons but it’s definitely recipe I’m going to save and try
Okay, I need these in my life right now. Seriously, these are perfection!
Oh wow, these look so good. I know I’d love that flavor and I think these would be great for when guests are over.
Ummm these sound amazing!!! I love lemon anything and I love scones, but combined? Genius! And I love the tip for grating the butter…!!!
Me too! I’m telling ya, that grating butter thing is a game changer 🙂
Amazing! I love scones. I really need to attempt to make them again. Last time was a hot mess.
Hi Neely! I hope you try these ones (or my recipe for classic ones). I’ve gotten lots of positive feedback so if you ever want to try again, got the recipes for you! 🙂 I promise they are simple, easy and delicious.
Oh my yummy I’m drooling over here! I bet these smell just as good as they taste!
It’s really one of my favourite things about baking I think, the smell of freshly baked goods 🙂 And this is no exception!
These look absolutely awesome! I need to make these soon.
Girl, I’m all about this round thing instead of triangles!! Seems so much easier!! And I’m all about that! You know I love this recipe cause lemon. Duh. If we lived closer, I’d be on your doorstep asking for some 🙂 Pinned! P.S. watched TWD finale and have so many thoughts. At least it was a bit more action than what was going on this past season. Other than that, not the best season at all, was it?
Hi Dawn! Yeah, round scones look prettier and held their shape better me thinks 🙂 TWD…hmmm…no words. I love the show and all (but mostly Daryl I think hahaha) and I just hope things pick up next season!! And what’s up with those weird garbage group eh? So strange. Though I must admit at one point in my life my mom had me get a haircut just like their leader LOL!!!
I know, right?? What the heck is up with those garbage people? Like, where did they come from?? UGH! Ever watch Z Nation? It’s like a less serious (and sometimes silly) zombie show. The garbage people seem like that should be on that. It all seems too weird. And Rick? No words for me on that one. I just hope next season is better-I’m hanging on by a thread here. Only that I’ve been watching it so long, I might give up on it. P.S. Love to see a pic of that haircut 😉
Hahaha I’m sorry I brought up that haircut LOL!! (PS: I need to check out Z Nation, maybe I’ll give it a shot, who knows?)
Yummy is not enough to describe these scones. I love lemon flavored pastries and these lemon buttermilk scones are to die for. Thanks for the recipe! I will include this in our menu plan for next week. I’m looking forward to a delicious breakfast or snack!
Awesome! I hope you like them. Would love to hear how it goes 🙂
These look really tasty. I’m a sucker for lemon. I hate to admit, but I just bought an unhealthy lemon cupcake! I need to try this. Thanks.
Hey, don’t beat yourself up Tonya. Lemons are fruits (or are they vegetables?? One or the other I’m sure LOL) so I’m sure they weren’t that unhealthy 🙂
I love scones!!! For sure trying these.
Oh boy, this looks delicious and makes me question why I started a detox today. Well, in 21 days, when I break the cleanse, you can bet I’ll be craving some lemon glaze!!
My boyfriends parent have lemon trees that are producing so much fruit; I have more lemons than I know what to do with. I’m so glad I came across this recipe. It sounds wonderful and a perfect way to use some of my lemons!
Uhm….you can send them to me? 🙂 🙂 🙂 I’m so jealous of people with lemon trees! And yes, this is a lovely lemon scone recipe (and if you want more lemony things you can search the blog, I have a whole category dedicated to lemons – I’m the self proclaimed president of The Lemon Club haha). Hope you guys like this Danielle!