Tender, Fluffy Gluten-Free Scones

Looking for the best gluten-free scones recipe? These easy scones are adaptable for a variety of flavors – blueberry, chocolate chip, apple cinnamon, or mixed berry. They are so tender and fluffy, no one will know they are in fact gluten-free! 

Easy recipe for gluten-free scones

Learn how to make light, buttery, flaky scones with this easy gluten-free recipe! Whether you’ve never made scones before, or have been unsuccessful with a gluten-free versions, these scones are about to change your life!

The dough is versatile for savory, like gluten-free cheese scones, or sweet, like chocolate chip or blueberry scones with a creamy glaze. The recipe also includes metric measurements to be used universally.

Gluten-free blueberry scones were such a hit in my gluten-free cookbook, I wanted to share the recipe, along with expert gluten-free baking tips, with our online community!

Ingredients notes eand substitutions

Below are the suggested ingredients for sweet scones, but this recipe may be adapted for many other versions. Scroll down for more variations, including fruit scones, savory, or chocolate chip!

• Gluten-free flour – The most essential criteria for achieving the best scone is starting with a quality flour. Through my baking experiments, I’ve found Cup4Cup to be superior, but for an alternative gluten-free flour blend see my best gluten-free flour resource.
• Granulated sugar – Reduce the amount of sugar for a less sweet or savory scone.
• Butter – For flakiness and easy handling of the dough, the butter should be well-chilled.
• Sour cream – Gives the tang of buttermilk, but keeps dough sturdier to help structure. Plain yogurt may also be substituted.
• Egg yolk – Since gluten-free flour doesn’t absorb liquids as readily, use just the yolk to help with binding, while reducing liquid.
• Mix-ins – Fresh or frozen blueberries, berries, chocolate chips, apples, or dried fruit.

How To Make gluten-free scones recipe

To keep the recipe easy and no-fail, each step is broken down. Make sure the butter and yogurt are well chilled to maintain a tender texture, instead of dense and hard. Also, for best results, do not skip resting the dough in the refrigerator before baking.

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. Begin by whisking together the dry ingredients – gluten-free flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
2. Use a pastry blender, fork, or your fingers to cut in the cold butter until there are small, uniform crumbly pieces.
3. At this point I like to stir in the blueberries, or other stir-ins, to not overmix the dough. This is a great trick for gluten-free muffins as well, such as in this gluten-free blackberry muffin recipe. Also, the flour coats the blueberries, keeping them evenly distributed throughout.
4. Whisk together the wet ingredients – sour cream, yolk, and vanilla extract. Stir into the flour / blueberry mixture.
5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes while the oven preheats. This gives time for the moisture to absorb into the starches, avoiding a gritty texture.
6. On a baking tray with greased parchment paper, shape the dough into a 7″ disc, 1″ thick. Use a sharp knife to cut into 8 triangles.
7. Spread the scones out, brush tops with milk or cream, and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
8. Bake on the LOWER MIDDLE rack for 16-18 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Allow the scones to cool for 5 minutes on the pan before transferring to a wire rack.
9. If topping with the glaze, mix together the ingredients and use a small spoon to drizzle on the frosting.

One dough for many scone flavors!

Gluten-free scones recipes come in many flavors. Just like in this gluten-free strawberry muffin recipe, this versatile dough makes a variety of tastes!

• Gluten-Free Blueberry Scones – Mix in 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries in the dry ingredients before adding yogurt mixture.
• Blueberry Lemon Scones – Add 1 tablespoon lemon zest to the dry ingredients. For a lemon glaze, combine the powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
• Savory Scones – Reduce or omit the sugar and leave out blueberries. For cheddar scones, follow this recipe for gluten-free cheese scones.
• Apricot – Omit the berries and add ½ cup diced, dried apricots.
• Chocolate Chip – Replace the blueberries with 1 cup mini chocolate chips.
• Apple Cinnamon – Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon to the dry ingredients and mix in 1 ½ cups peeled, diced apples.
• Mixed Berry – Mix in 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries in the dry ingredients before adding yogurt mixture.

Storing, freezing, and make-ahead tips

Storing: They may be kept in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days, but will lose optimal taste and texture quickly. Refrigerating will dry out the scones, and is not recommended.

Freezing: If not enjoying the same day, individually wrap the scones after they have completely cooled (at least 3 hours). Transfer to a ziplock freezer bag and freeze up to 3 months.

Thaw on the counter for 1 hour or, for a grab-and-go breakfast, unwrap and defrost in the microwave.

Make-Ahead: To bake the scones right before serving, shape the dough in triangles and place the baking tray in the freezer until they are solid. Wrap the unbaked scones in plastic wrap and transfer to a ziplock freezer bag. Freeze up to 3 months.

To bake, place unwrapped, frozen scones on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 425ºF (220ºC), extending the baking time by a few minutes.

How to serve scones and toppings

Scones taste great at room temperature or slightly warmed. Gluten-free baked goods tend to become crumbly when cold, so I recommend microwaving for 10 seconds for best taste and texture before serving.

If hosting company for breakfast, brunch, or tea, below are suggested toppings for serving.

• Butter, traditional, European (like Kerrygold), or flavored, such as cinnamon butter or honey butter
• Clotted cream
• Jam, jelly, or marmalades
• Lemon curd
• Fresh berries
• Whipped cream
• Powdered sugar
• Nutella

troubleshooting tips

In order to make the best scones that taste anything but gluten-free, some common problems needed to be addressed.

Crumbly –  Gluten-free flour lacks gluten, which makes dough bind together. Make sure your all-purpose gluten-free flour contains xanthan gum to mimic the elasticity in flour. Also using an egg helps as a binder.

Dense – This can be a combination of things, such as not using enough leavener or overmixing. Gluten-free baking recipes need more assist with rising, so adding a touch more baking powder in scones helps. To help with overmixing, add the blueberries with the flour so you are not overworking the dough to incorporate them at the end.

Grittiness – For the scones, I use the same technique as in the fluffy gluten-free biscuits recipe to avoid a gritty texture. Letting the dough sit before baking allows for the moisture to absorb into the starches, avoiding grittiness.

expert tips and tricks 

1. The butter and sour cream / yogurt should be well-chilled for a flaky texture.
2. Add the blueberries or other mix-ins to the flour mixture before stirring in the wet ingredients. This prevents over-mixing to incorporate everything.
3. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes before shaping and cutting. This gives time for the moisture to absorb into the starches, avoiding a gritty texture.

Click here to see the
step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!

More gluten-free breakfast breads 

• Gluten-Free Banana Bread
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Glaze
• Sausage Muffins with Cheese
• Easy Applesauce Muffins
• Gluten-Free Cinnamon Bread

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