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
if I can get my hands on a jar), perfect for brunch.
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.
Quick & Easy Lemon Buttermilk Scones
Ingredients
For the Scones:
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ cup unsalted butter frozen and grated (see notes)
- 1 cup buttermilk
For the Optional Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar sifted
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
For the Scones:
- Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets and set aside.
- In a small bowl, using your fingertips, rub lemon zest and sugar together until fully combined and fragrant.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, all of your lemon sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
- Add the 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 buttermilk. Mix until just combined. Don't over mix.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and lightly knead into a ¾ 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.
For the Optional Lemon Glaze:
- Whisk confectioner's sugar and 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 ¾ inch thick, 6-diameter rounds. Cut each round into 8 wedges.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy baking!
Did you make lemon buttermilk scones? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
Looking for more breakfast and brunch inspiration? Here are other breakfast and brunch ideas and bread and biscuit recipes.
We also recently did a fabulous round-up of the Ultimate List of Breakfast Ideas. Check it out!
Clarice
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
Jolina
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!
T.M. Brown
This looks delicious. Love lemon and buttermilk just adds so much flavor.
Alicia
These look delicious. I love lemon flavored basically everything!
Sophia
These look yummy! Frozen grated butter, seems so logical now, why hadn’t I thought of that!
Jolina
It’s genius right?? TBH it is a little bit of work grating and all that BUT totally worth it 🙂
Poppy
Umm…yes. Brunch always, and scones with clotted cream forever. These look divine.
Jolina
Ahahha yes I think exactly like that too 🙂 We should start a movement – Clotted Cream Forever!
Cindy Gordon
These look divine! I love lemon flavored treats and make them often. That lemon sugar sound delightful.
Jolina
Oh and that lemon sugar smells amazing too! You are going to be enveloped in lemon sugary smells 🙂
Emily
Oh this looks so good! I like the addition of the lemon, it seems like a surprising combination.
Alex
These look and sound absolutely delicious! I’ve never made homemade scones, but my Scottish grandmother would surely approve!
Jolina
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!!)
Nicole Burkholder
That GLAZE! I find most scones to be too dry, but yours looks amazing!
Saidah Washington
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
Liz Mays
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.
Juli
Ummm these sound amazing!!! I love lemon anything and I love scones, but combined? Genius! And I love the tip for grating the butter…!!!
Jolina
Me too! I’m telling ya, that grating butter thing is a game changer 🙂
Dawn
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?
Jolina
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!!!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
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 😉
Jolina
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?)
Annemarie LeBlanc
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!
Jolina
Awesome! I hope you like them. Would love to hear how it goes 🙂
Danielle
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!
Jolina
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!