Homemade Perfection: Easy Freeze and Bake Yeasted Blueberry Scones Recipe
Welcome to the delightful world of Yeasted Blueberry Scones, a true culinary gem that beautifully bridges the gap between a classic scone and a light, airy biscuit. If you’re familiar with the wondrous texture of Angel Biscuits – biscuits made with yeast – then you already have a taste of what makes these scones so special. Unlike traditional scones that rely solely on chemical leaveners, the addition of yeast gives these a unique, tender crumb that’s lighter and more akin to a soft roll or a fluffy muffin. You truly get the best of both worlds: the rich, crumbly crust we adore in scones, combined with an interior that’s incredibly soft, airy, and full of flavor. Plus, these yeasted wonders tend to be a little puffier and more substantial, making each bite feel even more indulgent and satisfying. It’s like getting more scone for every delicious calorie, making them a perfect treat for any time of day, from a leisurely breakfast to an elegant brunch.
The Magic of Make-Ahead Yeasted Blueberry Scones
One of the most remarkable advantages of this particular scone recipe is its incredible make-ahead potential. Imagine waking up to the irresistible aroma of freshly baked scones without any of the morning rush or last-minute baking stress! These yeasted scones are perfectly suited for preparing well in advance, thanks to a clever technique that involves assembling the dough, allowing them to rise, freezing them, and then baking them straight from the freezer. This brilliant trick, inspired by the baking experts at King Arthur Flour, is a true game-changer for anyone who loves homemade treats but often finds themselves short on time.
Why Freezing Works Wonders for Your Flaky Scones
The science behind freezing the risen dough is surprisingly simple yet highly effective, contributing significantly to the superior texture of these scones. The theory, as championed by King Arthur Flour, suggests that chilling the dough in the freezer for an hour (or even longer, for extended storage) re-solidifies the tiny bits of butter dispersed throughout the dough. This step is absolutely crucial because those pockets of cold butter are what create the characteristic flakiness and tender layers in many baked goods, including biscuits and pie crusts. When the rock-hard, cold butter hits the intense heat of a preheated oven, it rapidly melts, releasing steam that aggressively pushes apart the layers of dough. This process results in an incredibly tender, flaky, and airy texture that is hard to achieve otherwise. Furthermore, freezing also helps to set the scone’s shape, preventing them from spreading too much during baking, and contributes to that beautiful, golden-brown crust and perfect rise. We’ve tried this method countless times, and we can confidently attest: it works flawlessly!
This make-ahead, freeze-and-bake method is an absolute lifesaver for busy weeknights, special occasion brunches, holiday entertaining, or simply ensuring you always have a delightful, freshly baked treat on hand. You can prepare a large batch, freeze them solid, and then pull out just a few whenever a craving strikes or unexpected guests arrive. It’s the ultimate combination of convenience and gourmet baking, all rolled into one delightful package.
Beyond Blueberries: Customizing Your Yeasted Scones
While the original recipe for Yeasted Blueberry Scones is a perennial favorite, celebrated for its sweet and tangy burst of fruit, don’t feel limited to just blueberries. These adaptable scones provide an excellent base that welcomes a wide variety of mix-ins and flavor combinations. In fact, we often find ourselves reaching for chocolate chips instead of blueberries these days, a testament to just how versatile and forgiving this base scone recipe truly is. Whether you prefer the classic fruity burst of blueberries, the decadent sweetness of chocolate, or something entirely different, these scones provide a perfect canvas for your culinary creativity.
Inspiring Flavor Variations for Your Homemade Scones:
- Decadent Chocolate Chip Scones: For a delightful twist, swap out the blueberries for an equal amount of your favorite chocolate chips. Milk, dark, or white chocolate chips work wonderfully, creating a rich and comforting treat.
- Bright Lemon Poppy Seed Scones: Infuse your scones with a burst of citrusy freshness by adding a tablespoon of poppy seeds to the dry ingredients and a teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest to the wet ingredients.
- Festive Cranberry Orange Scones: A holiday favorite, use dried cranberries (rehydrated briefly in warm water if they’re too hard) and fresh orange zest for a tangy, aromatic, and beautifully colored scone.
- Vibrant Mixed Berry Scones: Combine a medley of frozen berries such as raspberries, blackberries, and sliced strawberries for a dynamic and flavorful scone that’s bursting with summery goodness.
- Hearty Nutty Scones: Incorporate chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds into the dough for added texture, a rich, earthy flavor, and a satisfying crunch.
Feel free to experiment with your favorite combinations to create a unique scone that’s perfect for any occasion or personal preference. Just a helpful tip: remember to use frozen fruits or chill your chosen mix-ins thoroughly before adding them to the dough. This helps prevent them from melting, bleeding their color into the dough prematurely, or clumping together during mixing.
- Discover More Biscuit and Scone Recipes
- Lemon Poppy Seed Scones with Pudding Mix
- Warm Cinnamon Oat Scones
- Classic Buttermilk Biscuits for Any Meal
- Sweet Honey and Orange Whipping Cream Scones
The Ultimate Freeze and Bake Yeasted Blueberry Scones Recipe
Freeze and Bake Yeasted Blueberry Scones
Recipe by Cookie Madness
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups 7 oz/196 grams cake flour**
- 1 cup 4.5 oz/126 grams well stirred and aerated all-purpose flour**
- 6 tablespoons 2.6 oz/73 grams granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons 48 grams shortening, cold
- ¼ cup 56 grams cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 teaspoons of quick rising yeast
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon of Imitation Vanilla Butter & Nut by McCormick**
- ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk at room temperature not ice cold, but not warm
- 1 cup frozen blueberries
Instructions
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1. Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the cake flour, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk everything together until well aerated and evenly distributed. This ensures all leavening agents are properly mixed throughout the dry ingredients.
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2. Incorporate Fats and Yeast: Add the cold shortening and butter, cut into small pieces, to the dry mixture. Using a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingertips, quickly work the fats into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter still visible. The key is to work quickly to keep the butter as cold as possible. Then, stir in the quick-rising yeast, ensuring it’s evenly blended with the flour mixture.
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3. Add Wet Ingredients: In a separate small bowl or measuring cup, add the vanilla extract (or McCormick’s Imitation Vanilla Butter & Nut) to ¾ cup of the room-temperature buttermilk. Gradually pour this liquid mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring gently with a spatula or wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing, as this can develop the gluten and lead to tough scones. If the dough seems excessively dry and doesn’t quite come together, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of buttermilk, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough is just cohesive.
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4. Fold in Blueberries: Gently fold in ½ cup of the frozen blueberries (or your chosen mix-in, such as chocolate chips) into the dough. Work quickly and minimally to prevent the blueberries from thawing, bleeding their color into the dough, and causing the dough to become overly sticky.
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5. Shape the Dough: Lightly flour a clean work surface. Turn the dough out and divide it in half. Gently shape each half into a rectangle, approximately 6×3 inches, ensuring it’s about 1-inch thick. Avoid excessive kneading or rolling; just press and pat it into shape to maintain tenderness.
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6. Cut into Triangles: Using a floured knife or a bench scraper, cut each rectangle into 8 small triangles. This method yields perfectly portioned and classic scone shapes.
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7. Rise and Freeze: Arrange the scone triangles on a nonstick or parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about an inch of space between them. Poke the remaining blueberries (or additional chocolate chips, etc.) into the tops of the scones for extra flavor and visual appeal. Loosely cover the baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick foil and let the scones sit at room temperature for 1 hour to allow them to rise. While the rise won’t be as dramatic as bread, you’ll notice they become slightly lighter and puffier. After this initial rise, place the baking sheet with the risen triangles into the freezer for another hour, or until they are completely solid. This freezing step is crucial for the “freeze and bake” method, as it helps solidify the butter, ensuring maximum flakiness later. Once frozen solid, you can transfer the scones to an airtight freezer-safe bag for longer storage (up to 3 months).
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8. Preheat Oven: When you’re ready to bake your delightful scones, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
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9. Bake from Frozen: Arrange the desired number of frozen scone triangles on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they have adequate space between them. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the insides appear cooked through and fluffy. Baking from frozen might take a few minutes longer than baking fresh dough, so keep an eye on them for optimal doneness.
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10. Serve Warm: For an extra touch of deliciousness and a beautiful sheen, brush the warm scone tops with a little melted butter immediately after they come out of the oven. Serve them warm, plain, or with your favorite toppings like jam, clotted cream, honey, or a simple drizzle of icing for added sweetness.
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11. A Note on Vanilla: McCormick’s Imitation Butternut & Vanilla extract offers a unique and delightful flavor profile in these scones, adding a subtle depth. While it can sometimes be challenging to find locally and might require ordering online, it’s highly recommended if you can get your hands on it. However, if it’s unavailable, standard vanilla extract will still yield excellent results, so don’t hesitate to proceed with what you have on hand.
Notes for Perfect Scones
**Flour Types and Substitutions: This recipe calls for a blend of cake flour and all-purpose flour to achieve a delicate, soft texture that is characteristic of these yeasted scones. Cake flour has a lower protein content, contributing to tenderness. If you’re fortunate enough to have some White Lily flour (a soft winter wheat flour common in the Southern US), you can use it exclusively. For this, you’ll need approximately 11.5 oz or about 2 ¾ cups of White Lily flour, skipping the blend. If only all-purpose flour is available, don’t worry – your scones will still be delicious and rise beautifully! In this case, use a total of 2 ½ cups (approximately 11.5 ounces) of all-purpose flour. When in doubt, always weigh your ingredients for consistency and the most reliable outcome.
Keep Ingredients Cold: Just like with traditional biscuits and pie crusts, keeping your butter and shortening very cold is vital for creating those wonderful, flaky layers and pockets in the scones. Cube your butter and pop it back in the fridge or even freezer for a few minutes until you’re ready to incorporate it. While buttermilk should be at “room temperature” for yeast activation, ensure it’s not warm; it should still feel cool to the touch, just not icy cold from the fridge.
Do Not Overmix: Overworking the dough is the enemy of tender scones. Excessive mixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, chewy scones rather than light and airy ones. Mix just enough to combine the ingredients until no dry streaks of flour remain. A slightly shaggy dough is perfectly fine and often preferred.
Storage Tips for Frozen and Baked Scones: Once frozen solid, these unbaked scones can be transferred to an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They will keep beautifully for up to 3 months, offering incredible convenience. Remember to bake them directly from frozen; there’s no need to thaw them beforehand. Baked scones are best enjoyed fresh and warm on the day they are made. If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. To refresh them, reheat briefly in a toaster oven or microwave for the best texture and flavor.
Variation: As mentioned in the main article, feel free to use chocolate chips instead of blueberries for a different, equally delicious treat. Other wonderful additions include dried fruits (like apricots or cherries), nuts, or warm spices such as cinnamon or cardamom.
Serving Suggestions for Your Perfect Scones
Once your irresistible Yeasted Blueberry Scones emerge golden and fragrant from the oven, filling your kitchen with a delightful aroma, they are ready to be enjoyed. While they are utterly delicious on their own, especially when brushed with a little melted butter as suggested, pairing them with complementary toppings and beverages can elevate your breakfast or brunch experience to new heights and truly make them shine.
- Classic Pairings: For a timeless treat, serve your scones with a generous dollop of your favorite jam or preserve – strawberry, raspberry, or homemade lemon curd are perennial favorites. For an authentic British tea-time experience, the traditional accompaniment is clotted cream, a rich, thick, and velvety cream that perfectly complements the scone’s texture.
- Sweet Drizzles: Enhance the sweetness with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar mixed with a touch of milk, cream, or lemon juice. A drizzle of warm honey or maple syrup can also add a rustic, natural sweetness that pairs wonderfully with the blueberries.
- Fresh Fruit: A side of fresh berries, sliced peaches, or a vibrant fruit salad adds a refreshing and healthy contrast to the richness of the scones, offering a burst of natural sweetness and acidity.
- Beverage Companions: These versatile scones are the perfect partner for a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee, a robust black tea (like Earl Grey or English Breakfast), or even a comforting glass of cold milk.
Whether you prefer them plain, lightly buttered, or lavishly topped, these yeasted scones are guaranteed to be a hit with family and friends. Their unique texture and delightful flavor make them a standout addition to any morning spread, afternoon tea, or casual snack time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yeasted Scones
Here are some common questions about making, freezing, and enjoying yeasted scones, designed to help you master this delicious recipe and make the most of your baking efforts:
- What is the main difference between yeasted scones and regular scones?
- The primary difference lies in the leavening agent used. Regular scones typically rely on chemical leaveners like baking powder and/or baking soda for their rise, resulting in a denser, often crumbly, biscuit-like texture. Yeasted scones, on the other hand, incorporate active yeast, which gives them a lighter, fluffier, and more bread-like crumb. They often have a slightly chewier texture than traditional scones but still maintain that desirable crisp, rich crust.
- Can I make these scones without freezing them?
- Yes, you certainly can. After the initial 1-hour rise at room temperature, you can proceed to bake them immediately. However, the freezing step is highly recommended as it plays a crucial role in re-solidifying the butter. This, in turn, enhances the flakiness and helps prevent the scones from spreading too much during baking, ultimately yielding a superior texture and a beautifully maintained shape.
- How long do frozen scones last, and how should I store them?
- Once frozen solid on the baking sheet, these unbaked scones can be transferred to an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Stored properly, they will keep beautifully in the freezer for up to 3 months. This makes them an excellent option for convenient meal prepping and enjoying fresh-baked goods on demand whenever you desire.
- What’s the best way to store baked yeasted scones?
- Baked scones are undeniably best enjoyed fresh and warm, ideally on the day they are made. If you happen to have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. To bring them back to their optimal deliciousness, reheat them briefly in a toaster oven or microwave for the best texture and warmth.
- Can I use fresh blueberries instead of frozen?
- While frozen blueberries are explicitly recommended for this recipe (and many others) because they hold their shape better and are less likely to bleed their color excessively into the dough, you can use fresh ones. If you opt for fresh blueberries, a helpful tip is to consider tossing them lightly with about a tablespoon of flour before adding them to the dough. This helps to coat them, prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the scone, and absorb any excess moisture they might release.
- What if I don’t have buttermilk for the recipe?
- If buttermilk isn’t readily available, you can easily make a homemade substitute. For every 1 cup of buttermilk needed in the recipe, pour 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice into a liquid measuring cup. Then, fill the rest of the way to the 1-cup line with regular milk (any fat percentage will work). Stir gently and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. During this time, the milk will slightly curdle and thicken, creating an acidic environment that mimics buttermilk. This acidity is essential for reacting with the baking soda in the recipe to create lift and a tender crumb.
Conclusion: Your New Favorite Make-Ahead Treat
These Freeze and Bake Yeasted Blueberry Scones offer an unparalleled blend of convenience and gourmet quality, making them a must-try for any home baker. They brilliantly bring together the delightful flakiness and rich exterior of a traditional scone with the uniquely tender, airy crumb of a yeast-risen baked good. All of this comes with the added flexibility of preparing them well in advance, ensuring that warm, homemade goodness is always just minutes away. Whether you’re a seasoned baker looking for a new technique or just starting out on your baking journey, this recipe provides a foolproof and incredibly rewarding way to enjoy warm, delicious scones whenever the mood strikes. We encourage you to experiment with different mix-ins, share these delightful treats with loved ones over a cup of tea or coffee, or simply savor a moment of personal indulgence. We are confident that these yeasted scones will quickly become a cherished and frequently revisited recipe in your baking repertoire.