Scones are a delightfully sweet pastry that are a key component of the cream tea, a quintessential part of English culture (particularly in Devon and Cornwall) that consists of tea served with scones, clotted cream, and jam that dates back to around the 11th century.
However, despite their ancient origins, scones have been at the center of modern controversy. While controversy ia a strong word, there is an ongoing debate as to the correct order in putting the toppings on the scone.
In the UK and Commonwealth, some argue that the correct way to eat a scone is by first putting on the jam and then the clotted cream on top.
However, others argue that you should first put the cream on then the jam. While the debate will forever rage on, Taste.com.au conducted a poll, and the vast majority said that they first put on the jam, with the cream on top. Furthermore, the Queen herself also takes it this way, suggesting that it’s the true way to eat a scone during cream tea.
Royalty aside, if you’ve decided to make scones but have too many left, or you want to bake them now and save them for later, you may be wondering, can you freeze scones? Yes, you can!
Can You Freeze Scones?
Yes, you can totally freeze scones. Compared to many other types of baked good, they’re not only very easy to freeze, but freeze quite well.
This is because compared to many sweet goods like pastries, cupcakes, or cakes, scones contain very little moisture. So, when you reheat frozen scones, you won’t notice major changes in their texture and flavor.
However, that’s not to say that they won’t undergo any changes whatsoever. They will, but only negligible ones.
You may notice that when baking scones that have been frozen, they don’t rise as much as freshly baked scones.
However, as the taste and texture are mostly unchanged, this shouldn’t deter you from freezing them if you need or want to.
Is it Best to Freeze Cooked or Uncooked Scones?
Both baked and unbaked scones can be frozen. But you may discover that one of these solutions works better for you depending on how much time you are willing to spend reheating the scones and getting them ready for breakfast or lunch.
I think it’s best to freeze them uncooked because when you bake them, you can enjoy freshly baked scones. And we all know that this is when they have their best flavor and texture!
On the other hand, if you don’t want to bake the scones after they’ve been frozen, freezing already made scones is a better choice.
Reheating baked scones in the oven takes about 8 minutes, and reheating them in the microwave takes even less time.
Scones that haven’t been baked yet will take at least 15 minutes to bake after thawing. The baking time will be extended by 5 minutes if you bake them without thawing them first.
How to Freeze Scones
While I prefer freezing unbaked scones, I will go through how to freeze both baked and unbaked scones. Both of these methods work for all sorts of scones – sweet or savory too.
Freezing Unbaked Scones
After the scones have been prepared and properly shaped according to your scone recipe, it’s time to freeze them.
- First, use parchment paper or cling wrap to line the baking pan and place the scones on the baking sheet with sufficient space between them.
- Then, put the scones in the freezer for at least an hour. The scones should be frozen until they are firm. This will prevent the scones from sticking together once they’ve been assembled.
- Next, place the frozen uncooked scones in a plastic bag or container. If you have a lot of scones, layer them with baking paper between each layer.
- Make sure you’re storing the scones in an airtight container or freezer bag. Wrap it in cling wrap if necessary. If the container or plastic bag is not well-sealed, the scones will not only get freezer burn, but they will also acquire aromas from other frozen items.
- The date should be written on the container or plastic bag. If you’re freezing a variety of scones, make sure to specify that as well.
- Use them within three weeks to a month.
Freezing Baked Scones
Freezing baked scones is very straightforward and requires fewer steps.
- First, after the scones have baked, allow them to fully cool.
- While they’re cooling, prepare freezer-safe bag(s) or an airtight container by labeling it with the contents and the date.
- Place the cooled scones into the bag(s). For the best results and to make sure they don’t freeze together, you can separate them from one another by using parchment paper.
- Finally, place them in the freezer and use them within three months.
Top Tips for Freezing Scones
First, while the oven is preheating, thaw the scones. While it doesn’t save you loads of time, it can cut down on the cook time by 5 or so minutes.
All you need to do is place the frozen scones on a baking sheet and put them into the oven while it’s pre-heating. The slowly rising temperature allows for an even defrosting.
Next, to get the most out of your scones, after they’ve defrosted and you’re just about to put them into the oven, brush the unbaked scones with egg wash, cream, or milk, then sprinkle some sugar on top.
If you like sweeter scones, a simple vanilla glaze made with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla essence is also an alternative. After the scones have cooled, drizzle them with the glaze.
Lastly, you can also wrap the scones individually. This works best for scones that have already been baked that you want to keep for longer. It also allows you to take them out one at a time when you feel like snacking on a leftover scone.
How to Defrost Frozen Scones
There are a few different ways to defrost scones.
The best way is to grab the number of scones you need from the freezer and place them on a dish to thaw. Allow two to three hours for the scones to defrost at room temperature, covered with a clean tea towel.
If you need to thaw your scones fast, the second method is ideal, although you may lose some texture quality in the process.
Simply place the desired number of scones on a plate and thaw them in the microwave for a few seconds. It’s important to keep an eye on them because it’s possible to over-microwave them and end up with rubbery scones.
How to Reheat Scones
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and place the scones with some space between them.
- Place the baking sheet in the center and allow them to cook until golden brown or about 15-20 minutes. But the baking time can vary depending on the size of the scones.
Can You Refreeze Scones?
It’s not recommended that you refreeze scones. The texture and taste will be altered much more if they’re refrozen.