I’m an Afternoon Tea girl since forever. My High School friends and I would occasionally do afternoon tea during weekends desperate to play grown up. Wearing makeup, high heels, shopping and acting grown up high on high tea was the ultimate teenage weekend day for us. Bear in mind that I grew up in the 80s so the makeup was a tastefully dubious blue eyeshadow and pink frosted lipstick and the high heels were pastel pink pumps. We would spending our parent’s hard earned cash on Duran Duran records (yes these were pre CD times), frill skirts and tube skirts. Hot huh? 
A high of a more gustatory variety is finding the perfect scone. There are so many bad scones, masquerading as light scones but really playing the part of rocks or weapons. During afternoon tea, when faced with a three tier layer of sweet goodness, I always eat the sandwiches first, and then go for the scones as they are warm. The cakes go last as they are dessert of course. If the scones are good then I will eat them but if they aren’t fabulous I simply won’t waste the stomach space. I’ve left behind more scones than I have boyfriends
One place that does a terrific scone is the Tea Room at the QVB and Gunner’s Barracks (scene of the infamous kookaburra sandwich stealing incident). In fact they do my favourite scones ever. Their recipe was no doubt a highly protected secret but I thought I might cheekily ask if I could get the recipe. After all it never hurts to ask right? Fearing rejection I was delighted to hear a perhaps and then a resounding yes. I was even offered a scone making lesson at the Tea Room QVB location!
There they make 210 scones a day for hungry hordes of diners and they serve over 1,000 afternoon teas a week. Mother’s Day was their busiest day with 361 diners. They serve their afternoon tea on Royal Albert china with clotted cream and a variety of hot and cold morsels. The scones are the first job for the pastry chefs every morning. Chef Jason Gannon shows me how to make these fabulous Tea Room scones and gives me tricks for making them at home for us mere mortals that don’t have ovens large enough to walk in!
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite part of an afternoon tea? The scones, sandwiches or cakes?
The Tea Room Scone
Recipe courtesy of The Tea Room
Makes about 30 scones
Ingredients
- 900g/32ozs self raising flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 220g/7.7ozs unsalted butter at room temperature but not too soft
- 620ml/21 fl ozs. buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 50ml/1.7 fl ozs. milk
1. If you have a fan forced oven, place a saucepan of water at the bottom of the oven-this creates steam. Preheat oven to 165C/330F. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Crumbing the butter with the dry ingredients
Mixing in the buttermilk
2 .Crumb together all dry ingredients with butter. Use buttermilk to combine.
3. Roll out dough to 2cm thickness. Cut to desired size (The Tea Room size is using a 6cm diameter cutter)
4. Place on tray lined with baking paper.
5. Make egg wash, whisk 1 egg and milk together
6. Brush egg wash on top of each scone
7. Place in preheated oven at 165C/330F for 18-19 minutes. Let rest before serving.
Tip: Never microwave scones, always reheat them in oven at 185C/365F for 5 minutes.
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99 Comments | Add your own
What beautiful scones! That is one of my favorite teatime treats!
Cheers,
Rosa
Why the cakes of course, like you I only care for scones if they are very very well made which is quite a rare thing.
I think those who bake bad scones should have them thrown at them.
Ooooh nothing better than a warm scone with some jam. I’ve actually never actually made scones, this looks like a great recipe (plus you’ve pre-approved it) so it’s bookmarked!
I like both the savoury and sweet parts of afternoon tea. I find that the sweets are done better though… sandwiches can be boring at times. My rule is if they can make me love the sandwiches then they’ve got a winner.
I enjoy a good scone and I agree it’s hard to find perfection in the scone world, I have never attempted to make them but this recipe looks so easy it would be silly not to! Thanks for sharing
thats a big recipe but one that i must try. tq. I grew up in the 70′s and midis and maxis were the in thing then. o and hippies too.
I love every part of afternoon tea – the sandwiches, the hot savouries, the cakes, the tarts, and especially the scones! Thanks for the recipe, I love the Tea Room’s scones! Just a quick question – how many is this supposed to make? Probably quite a few, judging by the volumes of ingredients. Does this recipe scale down for a smaller number (just in case you aren’t having 2 dozen people over for tea)?
Scones are terribly overlooked in these cupcake obsessed times. My favourites are the savoury sort. These look fabulous!
YUMMMM! I’m attending a picnic on Sunday. I will be making these for everyone!
I have to shamefully admit I have never done high tea in my life!
But I do love scones and these look absolutely fabulous!
My favorite part of high tea? Besides just sitting around, enjoying several cups of tea while watching people??? Everything, from cakes to sandwiches and from scones to chocolates!
These scones are lovely, Lorraine! I’d love to reach right into my computer to take one out and slather itwith strawberry jam right now.
oh my – these look delighftul!! I really do love scones – although I expect that an attempt to make a GF variety would just not be the same *sigh*. A mission for another day perhaps?
Blond Duck said: “I think those who bake bad scones should have them thrown at them.”
Truer words were never spoken!
I have made these, and can recommend – they turn out very tasty, not dough-like but soft at the same time.
Give them a go!
My favourite is scones with jam and plenty of thick cream
Oh wow some of the best looking food I have ever seen! Keep up the sweet work!
I have a scone issue: I make every scone recipe I encounter or so it seems! These look amazing. How fun to have a lesson in their kitchen.
I love the cakes the most. But all things are wonderful. I like lots of dollhouse tiny morsels so you can try everything without getting full.
Lorraine, you are a girl after my own heart – I love afternoon tea with pretty girly china and too cute cakes and sconmes and sandwiches. I love them all, but the cakes are my favourite.
Give me the sandwiches and cakes any day. I’ve never been a fan of scones.
such a fan of the Tea Room! They make the yummiest little bits and pieces!
Those scones are biscuits here in FL USA. A good home made buttermilk biscuit is heaven with some good orange marmalade.
My favourite scones always have buttermilk in them so these are a winner right from the start! I love every aspect of high tea from savoury to sweet, it’s the ritual, the decadence and the sheer bliss of selfish indulgence – shared with a couple of friends of course!
Wow thank you for sharing the recipe. Will most certainly bake these over the weekend and take them out for a picnic!
x
Isn’t buttermilk a fantastic ingredient? That slight acidity adds a lightness to the finished product. I’m also a fan of the foolproof lemonade scones too.
A good afternoon tea has a mixture of sweet and savoury. I don’t discriminate, I eat whatever takes my fancy,in any order, regardless of ‘convention’.
That’s half the fun-pretending to be all grown up while secretly eating like a little kid!
definitely the scones. With liberal dollops of cream and jam of course. Mmmmm, I’m drooling just thinking of it.
If you want to try some other fabulous scones, head off to the Blue Mts and then into Megalong Valley to their tea room. Scones are wonderful, as are the surroundings [and their apple pie is pretty special too]. But eating the scones with the horses about and the thick cream and home made jams = heaven!
I love having afternoon tea. My husband and I went to Brown’s Hotel in London when we lived there.
I’m amazed that they were so receptive to your request for the recipe. I have wanted to ask things like this in restaurants from time to time and rarely have the nerve to do so. I’m impressed by their positive and extremely helpful response. Did you tell them it was for your blog?
love scones. my fvourite thing to have for tea! (: with a cup of hot tea of anykind, just goes so well. cream, jam ; awesome! Thanks for the recipe!
I’m afraid I use a dead simple scone recipe – it’s self-raising flour and ordinary thicked cream. That’s all. Mixed with a light hand (start mixing with a knife) and gently patted out (never use a rolling pin!) they always come out perfectly. I’d have to check the ratio of flour to cream (the back of my head is saying 3 cups flour to 300 ml cream) but I reckon mix to a soft dough and you’ll be fine.
Hi Lorraine,
My favourite neverfail scone recipe is the easiest ever.. just 3 cups Self-Raising Flour (sifted), make a well and add 1 cup of lemonade and 1 cup of Cream…mix with knife then knead for a minute on floured board until they come together (never over knead) brush melted butter onto into 180 degree oven for 12 – 15 mins.. perfect never fail fluffy scones.. Yummy!
I’ll be trying this recipe this weekend. I’ve just run out of my last batch of (pumpkin) scones and I’m keen to test another recipe. These look lovely – thanks for the step-by-step pics too.
I am a complete sucker for a great afternoon tea and I love a good scone!
I’ve never been particularly good at them myself – but I keep trying!
I have yet to try it, but my mother-in-law used to make them with either soda water or lemonade – to keep them light!
I’ve not really ever been to or hosted a ‘high-tea’ exactly, but I love scones with a liiitle bit of cream and loads of jam. Or just butter, that’s yummy too. I’ll have to try these soon! When spring hits my friends and I are planning to do loads of picnics!
A good afternoon tea is my all time favourite meal. I especially love the sandwiches. For some reason they taste so much better when cut into manageable little morsels with the crusts cut off lol. I often make scones and have a brilliantly easy, no-fail recipe which uses only SR flour and cream….been making them since I was a nipper and never had a bad batch yet
Sadly, I didn’t grow up with afternoon tea and don’t have a favourite part. Something I’ll have to remedy one day. How fun for you to have them teach you in their kitchen. xoxo Mum
The scones at the Tea Room at the QVB are divine. I am a shocker of a scone concocter! But I’ll try this recipe. If all fails I’ll go to the Tearoom and pay for someone else to make them.
I loved afternoon tea at the Tea Room so much that I decided I wanted a complete set of Old Country Roses Royal Albert China. Then I found out how much it costs so I bought I setting just for myself!
A few months later my (ex)husbands mother passed away and he was telling me how she had this special tea set that I would really like, and he comes over with the entire dinner set for 12 of Royal Albert Old Country Roses. I almost fell over.
He will give it to our daughter one day, but in the mean time I can look at it and he even lets me use it occasionally!
A good scone is by far my favourite part of afternoon tea, closely followed by lemon tart and bubbly!!
You’d think a scone recipe would be the same wouldn’t you? and yet so many people cant make scones…me? I’m all for those little spinach sausage rolls, they look awesome too!
i love all parts of afternoon tea – i was also recently introduced to the recipe that is sr flour, cream and lemondade by a friends mum, who swears by it – i think she does 3parts/2parts/1part and all in the food processor briefly – they were pretty yummy scones
cheers
Oh i’m definitely trying these, i’ve never been able to make a good scone. I eat my afternoon tea in the same order as you – sandwiches, scones, cake. The scones are my favourite but only if they are light, fluffy & delicious
I love the high tea at the QVB, been there a couple of times now. I can’t pick a favourite, I love scones and the cakes but I have a savoury tooth as well.
Thanks for the recipe, might have to try halving it and making some soon!
Hmm… the last time I went to a fancy afternoon tea was years and years ago, back when I would’ve said cakes. Now, probably the scones with jam and cream
Love love love the scones at the tea room. Love them so much that I’m taking my friends there in 2 weeks! Can’t wait.
Also love their sandwiches. Thanks for the recipe.
Great work getting the recipe, will have to try it asap! I think the scones are definitely what make or break a high tea.
Yum, I enjoy a good scone, with cream & jam. It feels so decadent.
you’re killing me!! those look so amazing! how will i ever loose these 6 kilos i’m desperate to loose…hmmm, maybe if i stopped visiting your site? But that would just be wrong. I guess it’s off to the gym and then the store to get some buttermilk
I have yet to go to a proper afternoon tea, but it’s on my list of things to do before leaving this fair city. QVB Tea Room here I come.
lovely! these were the best scones ive ever had as well, thanks for sharing Lorraine
I am extremely jealous, lessons at the Tea Room to make their awesome scones! Did they give you an insider’s tip on how they make their awesome cream too? I could drink that cream… mmm
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Will have to try it out soon. I do love a good scone with clotted cream and jam =)
I’m an afternoon tea girl too. I’m now craving scones with lashings of jam and cream!!! Yummo!!
Lorraine, it sounds like we grew up in the same era,blue eyeshadow and all!! My teenage daughter and I made choc-chip scones last week, they were heavenly, the chocolate chips were at that warm gooey but just intact stage. Thanks for a great afternoon tea post.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve been to the Tea Room. You’re right! Delicious.
Never been to an afternoon tea. In South Africa only the larney hotels do it for about R120.00 (AUDApprox 792.00). A bit rich for my blood unfortunately. However when it comes to scones I love jam and clotted cream. But the next day there is nothing nicer than peanut butter on the scone with a mug of lovely coffee. Don’t ask
!!
Thanks for sharing this, Lorraine. Who doesn’t love a good scone?!
He he, scones as weapons. I’m totes a savoury girl
So glad they were gracious and shared the recipe AND gave a demo! Would love to try these and compare to the old-school CWA scones.
That recipe makes a LOT of scones. Not that I’m complaining, of course; there’s nothing like a fresh scone stuffed to the gills with clotted cream and homemade mango jam!
Yay for great looking scones. Thanks for getting their now not so secret recipe.
This isn’t related to your post, but I know of your healthy and totally normal obsession with bacon. I have just discovered bacon flavoured VODKA!!! called, appropriately, Bakon. It needs to be reviewed! Hope you can get your hands on some. Good luck!
I love the ritual of afternoon tea, brings me back to my youth and my mum serving up tea and small cakes after school…..
I love doing ‘ afternoon teas’ at home – since I bought my own house, I do one every September! It’s a great excuse to use your recipes Lorraine; this year it will now be scones, eclairs and I’m going to attempt those gorgeous fondant Alice in Wonderland Cupcakes! Love your blog. xo
WOOT WOOT…never hurts to ask eh? Great post and lovely recipe.I enjoyed the step by step pictures. I hear you, pink lipstick and blue eye-shadow…& Duran Duran of course! YAY for the 80′s girls!!
My fave tea snack? Scones with clotted cream…nom nom nom!
My favourite part of high tea (apart from beautiful looking food) is the opportunity to dress up in a frock and drink real tea brewed in a teapot. The Windsor in Melbourne does a lovely High Tea but I think my favourite was the one hosted by my best friend Rach using the china she inherrited from her grandmother. One fabulous afternoon!
Hello Lorraine, thank you so much for sharing the recipe, the scones look amazingly delicious. I’ve always wanted to make scones but never get around to do it as there are so many recipes out there I just don’t know which one to trust BUT I know I can always trust your recipes as they are always good if not perfect ;D I’m so going to make them this long weekend! Yeah!! (PS: do we leave the saucepan of water in the oven throughout baking? and is it needed if the oven is not fan-forced? I assume the oven temperature is for a “normal” oven?)
Oh, btw, I love everything about afternoon tea, it’s most relaxing and therapeutic to be enjoyed with mom, sis and lovely girlfriends ;D
My answer to your question about what I like for afternoon tea is a definite vote for scones and jam and cream. Great cheesecake comes in a close second and exceptional fruit cake third. The goodies have to be served with tea made from leaf tea of course (milk in first so you don’t get red haired kids – worked for me and I’m a red head!)
I love scones too and thank you so much for getting and sharing the recipe! I’m definitely going to try this!
The scones are my favorite part of a tea, with.lots and lots of jam and cream. Yum!
I’m a real believer in asking for something, no matter how impossible you think the outcome will be. Hats off to you Lorraine for procuring the QVB Tea Room recipe. I shall be trying it hopefully this weekend.
I love High tea, my two daughters took me to the Sheraton on the Park,Sydney for my Mother’s day treat. We dressed up and lounged for hours as you do. Adored all the little treats and a glass of Bubbly as well.
This is brilliant – proves my theory that it never hurts to be cheeky and ask for things even if they’re a long shot (i’m constantly embarassing my boyfriend this way – but it’s got me lots of amazing things, like front row at fashion weeks, etc.).
And my idea of heaven is a brilliant afternoon tea too. I’m always popping into Liberty for tea and cake, even when I don’t have the time or company for a full affair. I must confess I generally prefer the cakes as I find scones a bit plain and dry, but when they’re fresh and warm, there’s nothing like them!
Hope you had an amazing time in the USA by the way!!
Briony xx
How exciting to get a scone lesson in a kitchen with such a huge oven! The china looks gorgeous, but it’s the scones that matter most.
Beautiful setup for teatime. The scones look really deli! Great food, great company!
Hey Lorraine, I’m with you-a scone can be wonderful or just really not worth the stomach space. These do look beautiful-making me want a hot cup of tea even though it’s sweltering here (smile)!
Mmm. I love scones. Especially with devonshire cream and jam!
Sounds like we would have had fun in the 80′s together! Loved Duran Duran, tea parties & pink frosted lipstick. Congrats to you for scoring this scone recipe!Sounds wonderful.
scones with clotted cream and jam…YUM
These scones are made the proper way – as a CWA member – I personally vouch for them!! As a cooking teacher I always tell my students one of the secrets to making scones is not to roll the dough out too thin. You can make scones with milk, cream, lemonade and my personal favourtie, sour cream. I love the high tea at the QVB tea rooms and my favourite part are the little cakes and pastries although like you I start with sandwiches……..
did you notice the triangular scones while you were in the States? They make a circle, cut into eigths and sometimes top with cruncy sugars. While working there I used to fill them with fresh fruit of the season, such as peaches etc. They are all really yummy and though they dont look like ours,and they dont pronounce them like we do over here, I recommend them.
Wonderful! Must try this next time. How fabulous to be invited into the kitchen of the tearoom!! I have scone envy!!
Nothing beats scones fresh out of the oven. I’m gonna give this one a go!
I noticed that you were in Montreal recently. If you ever happen to land in Victoria, BC, I highly recommend Afternoon Tea at the Empress Hotel. They do amazing scones, as well as fab sandwiches and cakes. It sounds steep at $40, but soooo worth it.
Oh I ADORE scones.
I put a sprinkle of sugar on top of the milk glaze for extra yumminess. And sometimes dates. Cause OMG date scones.
And I fear we cannot be friends anymore now you have come out as a Duran Duran fan. I was a Culture Club groupie and we HATED the Duranites.
I used to like cakes but now it is back to basics and it’s scones.
my bakery makes 8 scones a day. 210? i can’t even fathom.
Oh how I love afternoon tea!! My best friend and I host an afternoon tea for our friends (girls only!) every year – we spend ages deciding the menu and then bake everything – its become an annual event and everyone looks forward to it.
My grandma was a great scone maker – she always mixed the scone mix with a knife and also used lemonade in the mix as well!?? Thanks for the recipe – will have to give it a go!
Oh definitely the sandwiches. So dainty, with delicious fillings and the crusts cut off! This is because I grew up in the country and learned to make scones before I started school. So they are not a treat to me (even though others love them if I make some for them.) But for me, on a decadent high tea out, you can’t beat the sammies, which I would never bother to make myself. And the lovely assortment of teas of course!
When it’s a good scone, it’s good! Been a while since I last had one. Lucky you to have a your own scone masterclass! =D
I love scones – but I must be the hoi polloi as I do occasionally microwave mine to heat them up – life is just too short to put them in the oven sometimes – but best to eat them hot – they are nice to eat out but mostly best at home – must make some soon (apart from potato scones that I have been making too much lately) – maybe should give this recipe a burl though I would have to halve it
love the hand mixing of the huge bowl of flour and butter – and love the china plates you photograph the scones on
as soon as I wrote that I pushed post and thought I hate halving eggs! maybe make the full one and freeze some
Those plates are GORGEOUS. Obviously the scones look damn good too, but ooh those plates!
When I saw the first photo I thought that a scone had been cut in half to show a spinachy inner
I made the scones yesterday to take over to a friends house, they turned out beautifully. Thanks Lorraine, you’re recipes have never let me down
How lucky are you to get the beind-the-scenes view in the making of these little beauties? Thanks for sharing it with us. My most recent scone was fresh out of the oven at morning tea at a permaculture day – not a high heel or even a tablecloth in sight, but absolutely delicious and as always, enhanced by good company.
I love good afternoon tea too:-)
Oh cool, I was planning on making scones next weekend. Maybe I should try this recipe out for a change. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Lorraine
After reading your review I went the QVB Tea Room last Sunday. It was really good and the scones were delicious. We would have been happy just to have the scones. Our little Miss (21 mths) loved the pink macaroons and Opera cake.
Thanks for another great review.
Thanks again for posting this recipe. I made them this morning as my visit to the teamrooms had to be cancelled as my youngest is sick
Great recipe though!!
Nice ^^
I have made scones before and they always end up kore like rock cakes. This recipe was awesome!
Ahhh! I’m making these this weekend. I’ve never made scones at the scones at these tea rooms were the best I have ever tasted mmmm:)
If I want to make raisin scones, do you know how many grams of raisins I will need?
I just made them. Too bad I have a crappy oven! Nothing ever browns, so they don’t look the best, but they taste nice. Also the ones on the top shelf didn’t even brown on the bottom ugh. So next time, use someone else’s oven:)
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