Date scones

Start your day off right with these buttery, flaky date scones. They're ready in under 30 minutes and packed with sweet, soft dates.

Why would you make these scones with dates?

It's the perfect beginner recipe. Scones are delicious, even when they look a little messy! These traditional British treats are easy to make and ready in no time.

They are ready in no time. These delicious date scones can be made from scratch in just 25 minutes!

You only need six ingredients. When you have a lot going on, it's great to have recipes that require only a handful of basic ingredients!

Easily adjustable. You can easily customize this recipe for date scones by adding ingredients like dried fruit or chocolate.

They are the perfect breakfast or lunch to go. Preparing these scones in advance and storing them in plastic wrap is a great way to enjoy a hassle-free morning breakfast.

Ingredients

Flour - To make date scones, I recommend using all-purpose flour. However, if you prefer, you could also substitute it with self-rising baking flour or gluten-free flour such as oat flour.

Milk - milk provides a creamy flavor and binding to the dough. For best results, I recommend using whole milk.

The high fat content will make your scones even softer!

Butter - For the best flakiness, use cold butter. The butter will melt during baking, resulting in a crisp outer layer and a soft, flaky inside.

For better control of the dough's saltiness, use unsalted butter. If using salted butter, omit adding extra salt to the recipe.

Dates - dates add a little sweetness and soften quite a bit during baking, transforming into amazing soft caramel bites.

I always use Medjool dates for this recipe, as they are larger and sweeter than other types of dates.

Sugar - granulated sugar is perfect for this recipe. If you want to enhance the caramel flavor of the dates, you can replace granulated sugar with brown sugar.

Salt - salt is an important ingredient in this recipe. It adds a ton of flavor and helps with the structure of the dough.

How to make date scones

Start by adding the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl. Mix them together and add the cold butter.

Rub the butter into the flour with your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. This step is crucial to achieve flaky and tender scones.

Add the chopped dates and mix them into the flour.

Pour the milk into the flour and stir until just combined. Briefly knead the dough, but be careful not to overwork it.

Place the dough on a lined baking sheet and shape it into a 1-inch thick disk. Cut the disk into six wedges and brush milk on each wedge.

For a deeper golden color, brush the scones with two coats of milk, allowing the first coat to dry for a few minutes before applying the second.

Place the date scones into the oven and bake them for about 15 minutes or until golden.

Variations and diet options

Spices. The sweetness of dates pairs perfectly with warm spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. I also enjoy incorporating autumn spice blends like speculaas spice mix or apple pie spice.

Dried fruit. Try adding other types of dried fruits like raisins, currants, plums, or apricots.

Chocolate chips. Add a handful of chocolate chips to the dough, or drizzle some melted chocolate over your date scones after they are cooled.

Make them vegan. If you are on a vegan or lactose-free diet, you can substitute the milk and butter for a plant-based variety. I recommend using oat milk or coconut milk for this recipe.

Gluten-free. Because scones are made without kneading or yeast, they are perfect to make with gluten-free flour! This recipe will also work perfectly with oat flour.

Equipment

To make date scones, you'll need a mixing bowl, measuring cups or a kitchen scale, parchment paper, a pastry brush, and a round cookie cutter (optional).

Storage

At room temperature, date scones will stay good for Up To five days. Make sure to wrap them in plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.

Freezing is also an option.

In the freezer, the scones will last for about three months.

Take them out of the fridge and let them thaw completely before serving.

If you're looking to enjoy your scones again, there are a few options! You can either reheat them in a preheated oven or microwave or, if you prefer, enjoy them cold.

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