Game-Changing Buttermilk Drop Scones

A lightly sweet griddle cake perfect for butter and jam. Buttermilk and sour cream add tangy flavor and a tender, fluffy middle to this cousin of pancakes.

A few months ago I learned about a griddle cake, and it’s changed my life.

Okay, maybe that’s hyperbolic—but only a little. I’ve truly made a batch nearly every week since then.

They’re called drop scones, but they’re really not like scones at all. When you make drop biscuits, you start with a similar batter and get a biscuit-like dumpling hybrid. These are more like pancakes than anything else. In fact, these beauties are also called Scotch pancakes.

So are drop scones the same thing as silver dollar pancakes?

Not really. For one, they’re much thicker and they can hold their own and then some. Traditional pancakes are fork and knife food. If you hold one by the edge it’s going to droop. Do the same to a drop scone and it will hold its shape. That makes them ideal for jam and butter, and for leftovers.

They’re also sweeter, with sugar right in the batter. At the same time, they feel less like a dessert breakfast than pancakes depending on how you dress them up, which makes sense as drop scones are generally served over tea in the UK. Whenever you eat them, they’re small and un-syrupy enough to work for everyday meals.

Drop scones, while new to me, are a time-tested recipe. They appeared to me in a vision, and by vision I mean in my Google Cards after binge-watching Netflix’s “The Crown”. I found this article which gives a recipe that it claims Queen Elizabeth II herself used, once making them for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. I’m a sucker for food history, so I took the bait.

The recipe features some ingredients measured in teacups, which is just fantastic. It’s always fascinating to me when handed-down recipes incorporate non-standard measures like teacups, cans and yogurt containers.

The first time, I made them almost exactly the way the recipe describes for the first batch, and they were delicious. The second time I added some orange zest, and that was pretty nice too! The third time, I realized I had run out of cream of tartar, and that stuff is… expensive. Also, fun fact, baking powder is made of baking soda mixed with dry acid, typically cream of tartar. Hmmm.

Drop Scones version 1.0 cooked in plenty of buttah. A little spongier, little thinner, little less rich. Still delicious.

(Imprecise) Chemistry for non-chemists

I decided to go with two teaspoons baking powder and one teaspoon baking soda. That doesn’t exactly add up—technically the ratio would be somewhere between 6 and 8 teaspoons of baking powder 😳—but the thing with leaveners is that less is often more. Have you ever doubled a batch of leavened waffles? You increase the amount of everything but the yeast. Plenty of breads and other leavened goods behave the same way.

Sooooo, I guessed.

Besides, I wanted to add some acid in the form of buttermilk and sour cream, which meant I could cut down on the dry acid. Buttermilk makes the end product more tender, and plus it reacts with the baking powder to help these little delights rise higher. I only added the sour cream to give the batter a little zip (think sour cream doughnuts).

One more change: I put the batter in time out for 10 minutes. Resting the batter makes certain the flour absorbs the liquid. The batter expands a bit too, filling up with tiny bubbles that will stay as you cook the drop scones.

Results

These tiny changes created puffier, ultra-tender drop scones with more flavor. More even browning with slightly crispier crust. Bliss? Pretty much.

Those dark spots are what happens when the pan is a liiiiittle too hot. Whaddayagunnado? Besides, you know, turn the heat down.

One of the things I love about drop scones is how versatile they can be.

Typically I’ll grab one out of the refrigerator, toast it (!!!), spread on some butter and jam and have it for breakfast. Preferably with scrambled eggs. Perfetto.

A gnawed cross section. For scientific purposes.

I’m also a big fan of snacking on them when I want something sweet after dinner. Toasted with little PB&J on top? Yes, please. Nutella? Let me think about that.

I mean, was there ever really a question?

Next experiment is drop scone sandwiches, but I’m saving that one for a rainy day.

There’s something else.

Right after you take drop scones off the stove. They’re still steaming and you can smell the butter on them. They’re a bit crisp on the outside, a little gooey in the middle. They’re pretty much BEGGING for butter and maple syrup.

HOLD UP. Understand that if you do this, you’ll be breaking a rule. Maybe even a cardinal rule? Now that you know that, also know that rule is the same kind that says not to put pesto on a sandwich or dip fries in your Frosty. BREAK IT, with zeal, ASAP.

So, what’s your favorite breakfast food? Let me know in the comments! I’m always developing recipes, so I’d love to know what you like.

As always, I want to hear from you! If you make this recipe, make sure you come back and let me know how it was, or you can post a photo on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #whipsmartkitchen & tag me!

So let’s drop some scones!

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Game-Changing Buttermilk Drop Scones

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Leannda Cavalier
• Prep Time: 20
• Cook Time: 12
• Total Time: 32
• Yield: About 12 drop scones 1x

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Description

A lightly sweet griddle cake perfect for butter and jam. Buttermilk and sour cream add tangy flavor and a tender, fluffy middle to this cousin of pancakes.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup full-fat buttermilk,* divided in half
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 Tablespoon sour cream
• 2 tablespoons melted butter, plus more cold butter for the pan

Suggested equipment

• Standing mixer or beaters
• Cast iron skillet (other heavy-bottomed skillets or griddles will work too)
• Spring-loaded ice cream scoop (or large spoon/ladle)

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Instructions

1. Beat together eggs, sugar, and half of the milk (on medium speed, if using a mixer) until smooth.
2. Gradually beat in the flour, scraping the sides as needed, until well-mixed.
3. Continuing to beat the mixture, slowly and carefully add the rest of the milk and the sour cream.
4. Beat in the salt, baking soda and baking powder.
5. Fold in the melted butter. Allow the mixture to sit, loosely covered, in a warm place for about 10 minutes.
6. Heat a large pan over medium-low heat until the whole pan is hot, about five minutes. Add a pat of butter and swirl it around to coat the bottom lightly.
7. Slowly pour 1/3 cup of batter into the pan (this is how much most spring-loaded ice cream scoops hold). When bubbles begin rising to the top and the sides begin to firm up at about a minute, slide your spatula under it quickly and flip it. Continue to cook 30 seconds more, or until the sides are no longer gooey. Use your first one as a test. The finished drop scones should be golden-brown.
8. Repeat the previous step until all of the batter is gone, adding more butter as necessary.

Notes

• * I find it annoying to keep a half gallon of buttermilk in my fridge when I rarely need half of it. If you feel the same or you’re just in a pinch, you can just add a tablespoon of white vinegar to just under a cup of whole milk. Stir once and let it sit for 10 minutes. This is a game-changer.
• The more butter you use in the pan, the more spotty your drop scones will be. Sometimes if there’s too much on the pan, I’ll blot it a bit with a thickly folded paper towel. If you like them a little on the greasier side and won’t miss the honey-colored glow, go for it!
• If your pan is too hot, you’ll end up with dark, unevenly browned, tough drop scones. If it’s too cool, you’ll end up with undercooked, unbrowned ones. Pay attention to how the first one browns and adjust the stove accordingly.
• Want to eat with everyone else? Before you start cooking, heat your oven to 170º and place a cooling rack in there. Put the drop scones on it in a single layer as you go to keep them warm until you’re ready to serve them.

• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Griddling
• Cuisine: Scottish

Keywords: game-changing buttermilk drop scones, buttermilk drop scones, drop scones, scotch pancakes

One last thing!

Thanks for reading this far! I’m so happy you’re here. I really want you to get the most possible out of WhipSmart Kitchen—and really anything kitchen related in general. That’s why I created The WhipSmart Kitchen Guide to Mise en Place: How to Get the Recipe Right Every Time.

I know so many people struggle with cooking, and I truly believe most people could be better cooks with just a few adjustments, and maybe a shift in focus. This guide is designed to help you figure out what’s holding you back, and build your confidence by dipping your toes in.

I really hope you enjoy it!