Flaky Homemade Raspberry Almond Scones: Your New Favorite Brunch & Tea Treat

Imagine a warm, tender scone, fresh from the oven, with a golden-brown crust and a soft, flaky interior. Now, picture it studded with vibrant, juicy raspberries and infused with the delicate aroma of almond. If you have fresh, ripe raspberries and a few simple pantry staples, then you absolutely must bake up a batch of these **Homemade Raspberry Almond Scones**. This classic heavy cream scone recipe combines the tart sweetness of raspberries with the nutty crunch of sliced almonds, creating an irresistible treat perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting an elegant tea party, preparing a delightful brunch, or simply craving a special homemade indulgence, these scones are guaranteed to impress.

As the vibrant strawberry season gracefully winds down, there’s always comfort in knowing that the sweet, tangy embrace of raspberry season is just around the corner. While I’ve been enjoying my go-to raspberry toast on repeat, my palate recently started craving something a little different – a truly comforting, sweet baked good. And what better fits that description than a perfectly baked scone?

At heart, I’m a self-proclaimed “scone girl.” I find them incredibly gratifying to make. Unlike delicate biscuit dough, which often requires precise handling, scone dough is remarkably forgiving. It’s less intimidating, making it an ideal baking project for both seasoned bakers and curious beginners. Whether your preference leans towards savory scones with rich cheese and herbs or the delightful sweetness of options like these raspberry almond delights or cranberry orange cream scones, you’ll be amazed at how achievable bakery-quality results are right in your own kitchen.

Forget everything you thought you knew about dry, crumbly scones! These homemade raspberry almond scones are the absolute opposite. Each bite reveals a wonderfully flaky texture, rich buttery layers, and a delightful cake-like tenderness that melts in your mouth. They are specifically crafted to be moist and luxurious, making them the perfect canvas for your favorite spreads, from a dollop of clotted cream to a smear of homemade jam. And with their charming burst of pretty pink fruit, these scones are not just delicious but also visually appealing, making them the ideal treat for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day brunch, or any moment that calls for a touch of elegance and sweetness.

Ready to bake the best scones you’ve ever tasted? Let’s dive into the details!

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Why These Raspberry Almond Scones Are Simply The Best

What makes a scone truly exceptional? It’s all about the balance of flavor, texture, and a melt-in-your-mouth quality. Our raspberry almond scones hit all these notes and more. Here’s why they stand out:

• **Unbeatable Flakiness:** The secret lies in cold butter and minimal handling, creating pockets of steam that result in those coveted flaky layers.
• **Rich & Moist Texture:** Thanks to heavy cream and egg yolks, these scones are never dry. They boast a tender, cake-like crumb that is incredibly satisfying.
• **Perfect Flavor Harmony:** The sweet-tart burst of raspberries is beautifully complemented by the subtle, fragrant notes of almond extract and the added crunch of sliced almonds on top.
• **Versatile for Any Occasion:** Elegant enough for a holiday brunch or a formal tea party, yet comforting enough for a cozy weekend morning.
• **Easier Than You Think:** Don’t be intimidated! Scones are surprisingly simple to master, and this recipe guides you every step of the way to ensure success.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Scones

These delectable American-style raspberry almond scones rely on classic ingredients like butter and heavy cream to ensure they are wonderfully moist and packed with flavor. You likely have many of these staples already in your pantry, making them a convenient treat to whip up. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each component is important:

• All-Purpose Flour: This provides the primary structure for your scones. Using a good quality all-purpose flour ensures a tender crumb without being too dense.
• Baking Powder: The crucial leavening agent that gives these scones their impressive rise and airy, flaky texture. Make sure yours isn’t expired for best results!
• Granulated Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness to the dough, balancing the tartness of the raspberries and enhancing the overall flavor profile.
• Salt: A small but mighty ingredient that enhances all the other flavors, making the sweetness brighter and the almond more pronounced. Kosher or fine sea salt is recommended.
• Unsalted Butter: The cornerstone of flaky scones! It must be **very cold** and cut into small cubes. When mixed into the flour, these cold butter pieces create steam during baking, forming those beautiful layers. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall salt content of the recipe.
• Heavy Cream: A quintessential scone ingredient that contributes significantly to their moistness and rich flavor. The high fat content of heavy cream also helps tenderize the dough and promotes flakiness.
• Egg Yolks: Adding just egg yolks instead of whole eggs provides extra richness and a beautiful golden hue to the scones, without adding excess moisture that could make them tough.
• Almond Extract: This is where the magic happens for the “almond” in raspberry almond scones! Just a touch provides a wonderful, aromatic flavor that pairs exquisitely with raspberries.
• Vanilla Extract: Compliments the natural sweetness of the raspberries and enhances the complex notes of the almond extract, rounding out the flavor profile.
• Raspberries: The star fruit! You can use either fresh or frozen raspberries. Frozen raspberries often work a bit better in scone dough as they are firmer and less likely to break apart completely during mixing. There’s no need to thaw them first – simply toss them in straight from the freezer.
• Egg Wash: A simple mixture of egg and a splash of water or milk brushed over the tops before baking. This step is key for achieving that beautiful, glossy, golden-brown crust.
• Sliced Almonds: Sprinkled generously on top just before baking, these add a fantastic nutty crunch and an appealing visual texture to your finished scones. They toast beautifully in the oven.
• Turbinado Sugar: Also known as Sugar in the Raw, this coarse sugar is sprinkled over the scones for an extra sparkly finish and a delightful, subtle crunch on the exterior.

See recipe card below for exact quantities.

Essential & Helpful Equipment

You don’t need a gourmet kitchen full of specialized tools to make these homemade raspberry almond scones. Most of what you need you probably already have! However, a few items can make the process even smoother:

• Large Mixing Bowls: For combining your dry and wet ingredients separately before bringing them together.
• Whisk: To thoroughly blend your dry ingredients and then your wet ingredients.
• Pastry Blender/Cutter: While not strictly necessary, a pastry blender is incredibly helpful for cutting the cold butter into the flour mixture efficiently and without overworking it. This is key for flaky scones!
• Alternatively, Two Forks or Your Hands: If you don’t have a pastry blender, two forks can work to cut in the butter. Even better, your fingertips can work too – just be quick to avoid melting the butter with the warmth of your hands.
• Rolling Pin (Optional): While the recipe calls for hand-shaping, a rolling pin can help achieve a more uniform disk if desired.
• Ruler: A simple ruler is useful for ensuring your dough disk is the right diameter (around 7-8 inches) so that your scones are uniform in size and bake evenly.
• Sharp Knife or Bench Scraper: For cutting your scone dough into even triangles. A bench scraper can also help with handling the dough.
• Parchment Paper: Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup.
• Baking Sheet: A sturdy baking sheet to bake your scones on.
• Pastry Brush: For applying the egg wash evenly over the tops of the scones.
• Wire Rack: Essential for cooling your baked scones, allowing air to circulate and preventing the bottoms from becoming soggy.

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Perfect Raspberry Almond Scones

Making homemade scones is a remarkably satisfying process, and these will undoubtedly rival any bakery scone you’ve ever tasted. The key to their success lies in careful handling and keeping your ingredients cold. Don’t worry if a few fresh raspberries get slightly squished during mixing – it just adds to the beautiful pink hue and ensures every bite is bursting with delicious raspberry flavor!

5. Chill and Bake: Carefully transfer the scone triangles to your parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving some space between each. Pop the baking sheet into the refrigerator (or freezer for a quicker chill) for about 10-15 minutes. This chilling step is vital to firm up the butter, which contributes significantly to a higher rise and flakier texture.

Once chilled, remove the scones from the fridge. Brush the tops generously with the egg wash for that beautiful golden sheen. Sprinkle liberally with sliced almonds, gently pressing them in to ensure they stick, and then finish with a scattering of turbinado sugar for an extra crunchy top. Bake in your preheated 400℉ (200°C) oven for 18-22 minutes, or until the scones are gloriously golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let them cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.

👩‍🍳Expert Baking Tip for Flaky Scones

Creative Substitutions & Delicious Variations

While raspberry and almond form a truly classic and winning flavor combination, these scones are incredibly versatile. Don’t hesitate to get creative with a few simple changes, especially if you need to adapt to what you have on hand or simply want to try a new flavor profile:

• Cream Alternatives: If heavy cream isn’t available, you can use whole **milk** or **buttermilk** instead. For best results and to maintain moisture, opt for at least 2% milk or higher due to its fat content. Please note that this recipe has not been tested with dairy-free or plant-based milks, so results may vary.
• Different Berries: Swap out the raspberries for another delightful berry! **Strawberries, blackberries, or blueberries** would all work beautifully. Adjust sweetness slightly if using very tart berries.
• Extract Explorations: Play around with the extract flavors to suit your taste. You can omit the vanilla entirely for a more pronounced almond flavor, increase the almond extract up to ½ teaspoon for an even stronger almond presence, or go for a full vanilla profile if preferred. A touch of lemon zest could also brighten the raspberry flavor.
• Spice It Up: For an added layer of warmth and complexity, consider incorporating some ground spices into your dry ingredients. Ground **cinnamon** or a pinch of aromatic **cardamom** would complement the fruit and almond wonderfully.
• Nutty Swaps: If almonds aren’t your preference or you’re looking for something different, switch out the sliced almonds for other nuts. **Pistachios** (chopped), pecans, or walnuts would offer a different but equally delicious crunch.
• Nut-Free Option: If nuts are not desired, you can easily omit them. Instead of sliced almonds, simply sprinkle the tops (after the egg wash) with a bit more turbinado sugar or even a plain granulated sugar for a lovely crunchy crust before baking.

Serving Suggestions: Elevate Your Scone Experience

While these raspberry almond scones are absolutely divine on their own, serving them with a few thoughtful accompaniments can truly elevate the experience. Think of it as creating your own mini high tea! Here are some delightful ideas:

• Clotted Cream: The ultimate traditional scone pairing. Its rich, thick, and slightly tangy flavor is a perfect counterpoint to the sweet scone.
• Jam or Preserves: Enhance the fruity notes! Use your favorite store-bought raspberry jam, or try one of these fantastic homemade options:
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
  • Refrigerator Blueberry Earl Grey Jam
• Whipped Butter: A simple spread of softened, whipped butter adds a luxurious creaminess. For an extra special touch, consider a flavored butter:
  • Whipped Strawberry Basil Butter
  • Roasted Fig and Rosemary Butter
• Powdered Sugar: For a quick and elegant finish, a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of sweetness and a beautiful visual appeal, especially when the scones are still warm.

Storing Your Homemade Raspberry Almond Scones

For the absolute best flavor and texture, scones are truly best enjoyed the day they are baked, ideally still slightly warm. However, you can certainly store them to enjoy later! When properly stored, these delicious raspberry almond scones will maintain their quality for up to 3 days at room temperature.

To ensure your scones stay as fresh as possible:

1. Cool Completely: This is a crucial first step. Ensure your scones are entirely cool to the touch before attempting to store them. Any residual warmth will create condensation, leading to soggy scones.
2. Prepare the Container: Choose an airtight container large enough to hold your leftover scones without crowding. Place a clean paper towel at the bottom of the container. The paper towel acts as an absorbent layer, helping to wick away any excess moisture that might build up.
3. Arrange Neatly: Lay the cooled scones in a single layer on top of the paper towel. Try to avoid stacking them directly on top of each other, as this can compress them and cause them to lose their flaky texture. If you must stack, place another paper towel between layers.
4. Cover and Seal: Place another paper towel on top of the scones, then seal the container tightly with its lid.
5. Store at Room Temperature: Keep the sealed container at room temperature, away from direct sunlight or heat, for up to 3 days.

To Freshen Up Stored Scones: To bring them back to their tender, fresh-baked glory, you can gently reheat stored scones. Place them in a preheated 300℉ (150°C) oven for about 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through. This will restore some of their crispness and warmth.

Can I Freeze Raspberry Almond Scones?

Absolutely! Scones are fantastic candidates for freezing, whether baked or unbaked. This makes them perfect for meal prepping ahead of a special occasion or simply having a delicious treat ready whenever a craving strikes.

For Baked Scones:

1. Cool Completely: Just like with regular storage, ensure your baked scones are fully cooled before freezing.
2. Individual Wrapping: To prevent freezer burn and protect their delicate texture, wrap each scone individually in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil.
3. Freezer Bag: Place the wrapped scones into a large freezer-safe bag or an airtight container. Label with the date.
4. Thaw and Reheat: When ready to enjoy, remove from the freezer and thaw at room temperature for a few hours or overnight. For best results, reheat them in a 300℉ (150°C) oven for 10-15 minutes until warm and slightly crisp.

For Unbaked Scones (Freeze Ahead):

This method is excellent for freshly baked scones on demand!

1. Prepare and Cut: Follow the recipe instructions up to the point of cutting the dough into triangles.
2. Flash Freeze: Place the unbaked scone triangles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they don’t touch. Flash freeze them for 1-2 hours until solid.
3. Store: Once firm, carefully transfer the frozen unbaked scones to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 1-2 months.
4. Bake from Frozen: When you’re ready to bake, there’s no need to thaw! Simply preheat your oven to 400℉ (200°C), place the frozen scones on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and proceed with the egg wash, sliced almonds, and turbinado sugar. You will need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time (totaling 23-32 minutes), as they are baking from a frozen state. They might brown a bit more, but they’ll still be delicious and incredibly fresh!

Frequently Asked Questions About Scones

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