Lemon Scones
Fresh lemon scones with a sparkling sugar top make a delicious breakfast treat for a holiday brunch.

Homemade scones have long been one of my family's favorite breakfast pastries to make on the weekends.
My girls learned to bake with these easy blueberry scones and since then I've added several flavor variations to our routine.
When we harvested the Meyer lemons from our patio tree, I used them to make this fun lemon scone recipe with poppy seeds sprinkling the dough. They're my new favorite!
But don't worry, you can use regular lemons to make them any time of year.
Why This is the Best Recipe
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Real lemon flavor comes from using actual lemons in this recipe.
- Light Texture: Homemade scones have an amazing texture that can't be beat. They are light and have a delicious buttery crisp to the edges.
- Not Too Sweet: If you prefer breakfast pastries that are not too sweet, this is the perfect option for you. You could even skip the sugared topping if you prefer.
Want to Save This for Later?
Ingredients
This easy recipe only needs a few ingredients:
- Flour
- Sugar: I used regular sugar for the scone dough and sparkling sugar for the pretty topping. You could use regular sugar for both.
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- Butter
- Fresh Lemon: I used fresh Meyer lemons from our patio tree to make Meyer Lemon Scones, but a regular lemon would work just fine.
- Poppy Seeds
- Baking Powder
- Kosher Salt
Prep the Dough
Whisk together the flour, sugar, poppy seeds, lemon zest, baking powder, and kosher salt in a mixing bowl.
Pour in the heavy cream and lemon juice.
Stir the dough together until there are no more dry pockets of flour in the mix.
Pat the dough into a round disc and then divide it into 10 scones.
Baking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375ยฐF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place the scones on the baking sheet. Brush melted butter over the tops and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake the scones for 15 - 20 minutes or until just lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Variations
I use this same method to make all my scone recipes. If you want to add variety to your breakfast pastry platter for a party, you could easily add:
- Blueberry Scones: Made with dried blueberries that rehydrate once baked.
- Peach Scones: Made with fresh peaches and shaped in a scone pan (optional).
- Almond Cherry Scones: One of my favorite flavor pairings, I made these heart shaped for Valentine's Day (optional).
Serving Suggestions
These sweet lemon scones are perfect all by themselves with a cup of tea or mug of coffee.
However for the royal treatment, you might consider serving them alongside a ramekin of mock clotted cream or fresh lemon curd.
I also think my blueberry preserves or blackberry freezer jam would make a gorgeous pop of color on the breakfast tray and pair perfectly with the lemon flavor.
More Easy Breakfast Pastries
Looking for more sweet ways to start your day? Don't miss these other delicious breakfast pastries:
๐ Recipe
Lemon Scones
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds optional
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- Additional sugar for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ยฐF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, lemon zest, and poppy seeds if using. Whisk it together.
- Add the heavy cream and fresh squeezed lemon juice to the bowl. Stir it together until the dough forms and the dry ingredients are just incorporated.
- Use a large spoon to gather rounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. You will get roughly 10 medium-sized scones.
- Brush the tops of the scones with the melted butter and sprinkle with additional sugar.
- Bake the scones for 15 - 20 minutes or until just lightly browned. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Save This Recipe to Your Recipe Box
Find this delicious recipe next time you visit by saving it to your very own recipe box on my site. All your favorites stored in one easy place!
Comments
No Comments