The Scone Styles To Know For Sweeter Tea Parties

Want to opt for timelessness?  Classic plain scones are the heart of traditional British tea time and can be traced back to Scotland in the 1500s, but it is now a staple treat across the globe. However, these early versions were likely made from oats and cooked over an open fire.

Now that they're oven-baked and made from flour, this seemingly modest tea-time treat is light, fluffy, and sweet, with rich clotted cream and your favorite fruity jam. To make the best basic scone recipe, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and butter — until they form a breadcrumb-like texture. Stir in cream and eggs to bring the dough together, then knead lightly, ensuring the scones maintain their soft crumb. Cut into perfect rounds, pop them into a preheated oven until they turn a golden hue, and then serve warm. Halve and lavish them with a generous spread of clotted cream and jam.

With its simple elegance, the classic plain scone complements tea of all varieties. It also offers an opportunity to indulge in a mildly decadent ritual that has been going on in Britain since the 1840s. This classic scone reminds us of the power of simplicity in a culinary world often driven by innovation.

Do you love sweet, fresh blueberries? Then try blueberry scones for your next tea party. Each bite introduces you to the joy of encountering fresh, succulent blueberries. Their natural sweetness perfectly complements the lightly sweetened dough, resulting in a balance that neither overwhelms nor falls flat. When baked, the texture of the blueberries contrasts with the crumbly scone, adding a burst of juiciness.

These scones can be enjoyed in their purest form, paired with powdered sugar, vanilla icing, or a drizzle of lemon glaze for extra sweetness. For your tea party, you can serve them as an indulgent breakfast, a sweet afternoon pick-me-up, or as a charming addition to any brunch spread. The blueberry scones recipe serves as a delightful reminder of the simple pleasures of baking! If you're a sucker for blueberries, this scone is a must.

These scones are best served with many different tea parties, such as afternoon, garden, birthday, baby, or a bridal shower! If you're hosting an outdoor event in a garden or patio, blueberry scones can complement the natural surroundings. In fact, the freshness of blueberries would be a good match for a nature-themed tea party. Or, if you're hosting a book club or a tea party with a literary theme, perhaps themed around a British author like Jane Austen, blueberry scones could give an authentic touch to your gathering.

Calling all cheese lovers, it's time to experience easy cheddar scones! The allure of these easy cheddar scones lies in the cheese and buttery dough blend. The golden, cheesy exterior hides a soft, melt-in-your-mouth interior, creating a sensory journey that will impress any cheese enthusiast, especially if you want to avoid sweets and sugar. Add ingredients like chives, jalapenos, or bacon paired with cream cheese or butter.

The recipe is straightforward and can be prepared beforehand, leaving you free to focus on other aspects of the party, with basic ingredients such as flour, baking powder, butter, eggs, heavy cream, cheddar cheese, and roasted sunflower seeds. These scones can be served warm or at room temperature, making them a hassle-free addition to the tea party spread. 

There's just something comforting and homely about cheddar cheese scones. Their soft, crumbly texture combined with the saltiness of cheese provides a substantial snack that is sure to be a guest-pleaser, and help your tea party stand out.

Immerse yourself in the aromatic world of lavender scones, a treat that carries the fragrant essence of lavender flowers. These scones are a fragrant take on the traditional scone, infusing the dough with lavender flowers. The flowers not only impart a unique floral taste but also a soothing, therapeutic aroma.

The lavender, while distinct, isn't overpowering. Instead, it brings a freshness to the scones, making them ideal with your afternoon tea or a standout in a high tea menu. Their light purple hue, achieved by the lavender infusion, adds a vibrant, whimsical touch that beautifully elevates any tea party spread.

These scones are an ideal choice for a tea party for several reasons. Firstly, their flavor complements a range of teas, from bold black to softer chamomile or rose tea. Secondly, their delicate aroma contributes to a calming atmosphere if that is what you want to go for as your party theme. Cue the soothing background harp and everyone will feel like they just left a spa after attending your tea party.

Coconut scones are a taste of the tropics, skillfully incorporating coconut's mild sweetness and delicate flavor into a scone's familiar form. Enhanced further with a generous glaze of coconut icing, these scones can carry an added sweetness. The scones' golden-brown exterior and white glaze promise a supple contrast in texture — a tender interior meets a crisp crust and a glossy, sweet glaze.

Coconut scones' light, sweet flavor pairs beautifully with various teas, but work especially well with chai. You can also service coconut scones with tropical jams or spreads, allowing your guests to customize their scones to their liking. These also provide a conversation starter, because their unconventional flavor could lead to discussions about tropical vacations, favorite exotic flavors, or other fun topics. And, these scones are especially good for tea parties where it's hot outside! 

Cranberry orange scones feature the tartness of fresh cranberries, further elevated with an orange glaze, intensifying the citrus flavor. The soft interior is punctuated with bursts of tart cranberries, providing a textural contrast. Their golden-brown exterior, coated with a glossy orange glaze, is visually enticing and provides a hint of crispness.

Their sweet and tangy flavor pairs exceptionally well with various teas. The tartness of the cranberries and the sweetness of the orange can enhance the flavors of delicate and robust teas, from green and white teas to stronger black and oolong teas.

In addition, their bright, vibrant colors and seductive aroma make them a visual centerpiece of any tea party spread, catering to a wide range of palates, making them a crowd-pleaser at any gathering. You can serve them as is or with cream or butter. They are fun, cheery, and most of all — unique! That's what makes them so fabulous and can be enjoyed all year long.

Earl Grey scones basically incorporate Earl Grey tea into a pastry. Renowned for its subtle bergamot flavor, Earl Grey tea lends these scones a citrusy, slightly floral note that complements the rich, buttery base. The result is a scone that is a delicate balance that provides a familiar yet novel tasting experience.

Earl Grey scones are a testament to creativity and culinary innovation. They pair exceptionally well with pairing with a wide range of delicate and robust teas, including Earl Grey of course. But, try them with a lighter black tea such as Keemun, Lapsang Souchong, or Yunnan. These scones also provide a talking point. Their unique incorporation of tea into a traditional pastry may stimulate intriguing conversation, making the tea party more memorable.

Earl Grey scones' flavor and presentation perfectly balance classic British tea time and modern conversation. While their form and texture align with a scone's comforting, traditional expectations, their infusion of Earl Grey certainly adds a unique twist. Nostalgic or craving the British Victorian era now? Well, if you opt for a vintage tea party, wear your laciest, most beautiful antique dress and take a trip to the past.