My Easy Date Scones are the only scones recipe you will ever need! These scones are light and fluffy and packed full of dates! No rock hard scones here. Top with butter and runny honey and you have yourself the best brunch you could ever wish for!
I know a lot of people - including me - have trouble with scones (I believe they're called biscuits in America). Some have the knack for scone making while others, well... Lets just say you could break a tooth on them.
Not to worry, I have some hints and tricks to show you how to make the perfect date scones that are quick and easy so you have no fear making scones again!
I adapted the classic scone recipe from the Edmond's Cookbook. A classic and must have in New Zealand. I have made these scones before but alas, they have turned out like rock cakes. A few tweaks here and there and I think I've found the secret.
The secret to really GOOD, easy, date scones
LOTS of dates! I don't want to see a handful. No sir. I want 200g-250g of chopped dates. These can be fresh or dried. The other secret to date scones is softening your dates first by simmering them in boiling water for a good 10 minutes before draining and adding them to the scone mixture.
The secret to really GOOD scones
The key with this scone recipe is to not work the dough. You more you work the dough, the tougher and tighter the scone. If you want denser scones then work the dough for two minutes but if you want light and fluffy scones, don't work the dough at all.
You want to mix the wet and dry ingredients until just combined (the dough with be very sticky and wet) and then blob them straight onto a baking tray. They end up more rustic looking but I like them like that!
How is 2018 going for you? Are you the New Years resolution type? I find New Years resolutions are counterproductive to me. There's just something about making a resolution and my brain that doesn't quite compute. My brain will say "break them". So I end up doing the opposite!
However, I did make myself a promise for 2018 and that was to grow this blog exponentially this New Year. I aim to make that happen but I can only do that with your help! By following this blog, liking, commenting and sharing on social media, trying my recipes and just generally supporting makes all the difference. I hope you'll continue to follow along for the ride!
Easy Date Scones
Ingredients
- 2 and ½ Cups Dates, Chopped (250g)
- ½ Cup Water
- 3 Cups All-purpose Flour (360g)
- 2 Tbsp. Baking Powder (30g)
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 Tbsp. Sugar (8g)
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ⅓ Cup Butter (75g)
- 1 and ¼ Cups Milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220ºC (425°F) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Chop the dates and place them in a saucepan with the water on a medium heat.
- Simmer until tender (around 10 minutes) then drain the excess water and set aside.
- Place the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cinnamon into a bowl. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add in the dates and mix through.
- Add the milk and quickly mix with a fork or table knife until just combined. The mixture will be soft and sticky.
- Place in 12 blobs on the baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes. The outside will be golden brown
- Place on a wire rack to cool and serve warm with butter and runny honey!
Notes
Nutrition
Kelly
For many years I’ve wanted to make date scones just like a friend from NZ used to make. I used same ingredients you listed but took some of the dates with a little flour and blended till fine then added to flour mix. I soaked the rest of the dates and then to finish I made a cinnamon sugar=r syrup and glazed while the scones were warm. These were amazing.
Kerri
Super quick and delicious, done and dusted in half an hour. I used wholemeal flour and it worked well. Thank you.
Emma Burton
Hi kerri, that's fantastic! I love the addition of wholemeal flour
Vaughan Udall
Hi , Ive done this recipe a few times and it’s great. The only thing I’ve changed is not cooking the dates for ten minutes as I find they go too soft and mushy.
I soak then for 5 minutes in hot water and find that much better.
Emma Burton
Hi Vaughan, I'm glad you like the recipe and you make it work for you!
Maggie Manson
Hi Emma best date scones ever. My husband isn't into scones but loved these. Thank you for sharing the recipe. I did soak the dates as someone mentioned. I am going to make the cheese ones this morning.
Maggie
Emma Burton
Hi Maggie, I'm so glad to hear that! Thank you for the kind words and I hope you enjoy the cheese scones.
Irene
Hi!
These look amazing! Just wondering (and I hate being this person lol), can I just omit the dates and use the rest of the recipe as is? I’ve been missing NZ scones like crazy lately and this looks like the perfect recipe 🙌 just without the dates..
Thank you!
Emma Burton
Hi Irene, yes you can definitely omit the dates 🙂
Terri
The scones just came out of the oven and they are delicious! I just returned from a vacation in New Zealand and was excited to bake these. I simmered the dates in orange juice instead of water and added orange rind. Yummy!
Emma Burton
Hi terri, thank you for your kind comments! The addition of orange sounds delightful 🙂
Mary
Tried this today for half the portion (metric measurements worked for this) and turned out just the way I want my date scones -light and airy but moist inside -similar to how cafes in New Zealand would have them. Cooked for 15 minutes but could probably do another minute or two for a golden colour all around. The best thing I liked about this recipe is the simple prep. Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Emma Burton
Hi Mary, thank you so much! I'm so happy you love them as much as I do!
Jenny Robertson
Best scones I have ever made - thank you Emma!
I followed the recipe exactly and the scones turned out perfectly.
Emma Burton
Thank you so much! I'm so happy you love them
Hannah
Super easy and great recipe!! Thank you will definitely be making again
Emma Burton
Thank you Hannah! I'm so glad you loved them 🙂
Beryl Cumming
Tried these today and YUM!!. I soaked the dates in warm squeezed orange juice.
Emma Burton
Orange juice soaked dates is a great addition!!
Phil Bechtel
I've made these multiple times. They're excellent.
Emma Burton
Glad to hear that!
Brian
best date scone ever i followed your recipe
Emma Burton
Thank you! I'm glad you like the recipe
Holly
Such a great recipe! I didn't cook the dates beforehand either but they still turned out delicious! Love the rustic look they have too <3
Emma Burton
Happy to hear that! Thank you for your comment.
rhona macdonmald
Bit disappointing THB. Date texture and flavor were lost with the simmering. Prep time far longer than 15min
Doug
Drizzle with golden syrup will lift any loss of flavour.
Jess
Delish! I used whole wheat flour and it turned out great.
Emma Burton
Awesome! Thank you for sharing your experience with whole wheat flour 🙂
Andrew
Don't need to soak dates! Have made this recipe 3 times and love it, however first time I soaked dates and most of their flavour disappeared in the water. I also used twice as many dates as I like a date 🙂
Emma Burton
Dates are great!
Inandi Wyatt
Tried these for the first time and it was great! I might do just half the dates next time... Also, has anyone tried it with wholemeal flour? Has it worked well?
Deborah Jayne
Lovely scones! Will be making these every week.
Emma Burton
Yay! I'm so happy you love them 🙂
Lin
I made these today & was a little worried about the other comments saying they were undercooked in the middle, so I only used 1c milk & gently patted/cut into scones, baked for 15minutes and they turned out delicious!
Will definitely make again!
Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe:-)
Emma Burton
That's awesome, I'm so happy you loved them! Thank you for sharing your method 🙂
Nola Norton
Perfect. These are the best scones I have made and best I’ve tasted. They were a hit in my house. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. Nola from New Zealand
Emma Burton
Thank you so much! I'm so happy you love them 🙂
Margaret
I baked these for the first time today and they are amazing.. I have made date scones over the years but these ones are so much easier, I love that there is no rolling of the dough .. just drop and bake.
This recipe is a keeper.
Emma Burton
Awesome! I'm so happy to hear that 🙂
Toni
Just realised I don’t have quite that much baking powder left, any chance of using self raising or another substitute??
Emma Burton
Self raising flour would work so long as you have at least another 2 1/2 - 3 tsp of baking powder as well
Markup
Great recipe; but the mixed measurements is a bit of hassle... mixed metric and English measurements. How much is 75g of butter? Well about 5 1/2 Tbsp. 250g dates? 1 1/8 cups. Also, the prep time is a bit optimistic. It took 15 minutes just to rub the butter into the dry ingredients. Maybe I work slow but in the end, it was worth the effort.
Kilisitina Dixon
Made a batch of your date scone recipe. Just beautiful! This recipe is a keeper, and I will continue to make these. Thank you Emma!
Emma Burton
Thank you for commenting! I'm so happy you love them 🙂
Cathy Kwan
I made these vegan and gluten free! I substitued vegan block for the butter and dove farm gluten free plain white flour and they are amazing!! The best scones I have ever made, lovely and fluffy in the middle. THank you for the recipe - I have had many attempts at scones (mainly vegan!) and they have all ended up like rock cakes. These are perfect.
Emma Burton
I love it! I'm glad you could make this recipe work for you and thank you for letting me know so other readers can make the same substitutions if they want 🙂
Inas
Thank you Emma, I’ve made these scones and I’ve added half an chopped apple with it ... very delicious.. I’m only making these scones..
Any chance for a cheese scones recipe as well?
Thanks
Emma Burton
Great addition! I'm glad you like the recipe :). I do have a recipe for cheese scones https://www.lightscamera-bake.com/easy-cheese-scones/
Kay
I'm so glad I came across your recipe. I have tried to make Date scones for some time now and they are never that good, but I have have to say these are the BEST I have ever made and my husband thinks so too! I'm glad that i read through the reviews before making them. I was concerned with the amount of Baking Powder and see that someone else had queried that too. I baked mine at 225c fan baked oven for 15 mins and I made 11 🙂 Thank you for a fabulous and tasty recipe!
Emma Burton
I'm so happy you loved them and I'm glad the comments have been helpful to you 🙂
Elizabeth
Wow these were delicious! I have never commented on a recipe before, but these were really good. I wanted to surprise my Kiwi boyfriend with a treat from home during Covid lockdown and he loved them 🙂 Elizabeth in Paris
Emma Burton
Thank you so much! That means a lot and I'm glad you could give your boyfriend a taste of home 🙂
Desiree (UK)
So so soooo good! These were so light and fluffy on the inside with that slight crunch on the outside and perfect flavour and mild sweetness in my opinion. Also beyond easy to make.
Emma Burton
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I'm so happy you love them 🙂
Liz Hester
Thanks Emma best date scones ever. Flavour great but the texture of mine was a bit doughy
May not have had the right amount of flour please would you give us the weight we need. Perfect amount of dates made them tonight and have already eaten two. Really cheered me up. Liz in New Zealand
Emma Burton
So glad they've cheered you up in the lock down! You may have needed to bake them one or two minutes longer you you may have slightly overworked the dough. 450g of flour is the exact measurements in case this was the cause 🙂
Danielle Pruden
Another Covid-19 baking session here. 10 out of 10 scones ! This is the 2nd batch for me and absolutely love these ! Highly recommend and will definitely become your go to scone recipe. Thanks for creating such a delicious recipe !
Emma Burton
Thank you for lovely comment! I'm so happy you love the scones 🙂
Eileen
I too...like grant have made these scones today while in Covid-19 lockdown...I don't normally comment on recipes but these are so good that I felt I had to let others know....they are delicious and turned out amazing..my husband says the best date scones he has had....(and he;'s had a few) thank you for this recipe...EI..
New Zealand
Emma Burton
Hi Eileen, That's awesome to hear thank you and I really appreciate you taking the time to comment!
Grant
COVID-19 Cooking I made my scones to the recipe, although I only had skim milk available. Cooked at 220 in a fan forced oven for the full 15 minutes so the tufts were browning up nicely. Conclusion.....Sensational! ... the best scones I have ever cooked. I couldn't believe how light and fluffy they were. Thank you for putting in all of the hard yards to get it just right. This is my go-to scone recipe forever. Grant @ Encounter Bay SA
Emma Burton
Yay! I'm so happy to hear that and thank you for your lovely comment 🙂
Julie Mclean
I made the date scones today .they turned out nice on the outside but doughy on the inside . What would cause this to happen ?
Emma Burton
Sorry to hear that! This could be due to over working the dough or not baking quite long enough. They may have just needed another 2 or 3 minutes in the oven. Hope this helps! 🙂
Sue
Just wondering whether that really is 2 tablespoons of baking powder or should it be 2 teaspoons? Two tablespoons seems an awful lot...
Emma Burton
I know it sounds like a lot but you need the 2 Tablespoons 🙂
Laura G
Hi there, the tablespoon to gram conversion doesn't seem to be right.. 1T of baking powder is just over 15gm. Can you please confirm the gram measurements you have listed?
Emma Burton
Good spotting, You are correct. The gram measurement should be 30g of baking powder and I will adjust now.
Kat Kershaw
hi, i have made this recipe with Gluten free flour and followed the recipe and they came out scrummy!
look just like the photos. Thank you, as i LOOOOVE date scones.
and yes, i have made a few rock scones in my day! X Kat
Emma Burton
Yay! i'm so glad you like the recipe and that is fantastic that it worked for you with gluten free flour also!!