Queen Elizabeth's Drop Scones Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between American scones and British scones? ›

American scones use much more butter than British scones, and they usually have quite a bit more sugar. The extra butter is what makes them so much denser. This is not really a good or bad thing, as British scones pile on plenty of sugar (in the form of preserves/jam) and butter or clotted cream as toppings.

Beat two eggs with 4 tablespoons of sugar and about one teacup (or 3/4 of a cup) of milk. Add 4 teacups of flour and mix in another teacup of milk "as required" Mix in 3 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate soda (baking soda) Fold in 2 tablespoons of melted butter.

Also known as Scotch Pancakes, Drop Scones were classically made on a solid metal griddle on an open fire, back in the day. Now it is more practical to use a large non-stick fry pan or if you have an Aga, on the simmering plate.

Well, according to Darren McGrady, a former chef who worked for the Royal Family for over 10 years, the Queen prefered jam first. He tweeted: “The Queen always had home-made Balmoral jam first with clotted cream on top at Buckingham Palace garden parties in the royal tea tent and all royal tea parties.”

A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)

Both baked goodies use flour, fat, liquid and a leavening agent.

Scones and Gravy: The English Equivalent

In England, the closest counterpart to biscuits and gravy would be scones and gravy. However, it's important to note that the gravy in this context refers to a savory sauce, rather than the creamy, sausage-infused gravy that is synonymous with the American version.

In many English-speaking countries outside North America, including the United Kingdom, the most common word for a crisp cookie is "biscuit". The term "cookie" is normally used to describe chewier ones. However, in many regions both terms are used. The container used to store cookies may be called a cookie jar.

Game Meats and Wild-Caught Fish Dinners

The queen's preference for game meats even extended to more casual meals; she was, reportedly, a big fan of hamburgers made with ground venison. She usually skipped any potatoes, pastas or grains at her evening repast, but almost always had room for dessert.

For breakfast she keeps things simple. Royal biographer, Katie Nicholl, has previously said: "HRH typically starts with a simple cup of tea and biscuits, followed by a bowl of cereal." (The Guardian previously reported she likes to keep it in Tupperware to preserve its freshness.)

What did the queen like in her scrambled eggs? ›

Her special scrambled egg dish involves two unusual ingredients (nutmeg and lemon rind), and they really elevate this breakfast dish. The eggs need to be (brown not white, as Her Majesty preferred the taste) and they were always cooked low and slow to make them super creamy and not clumpy.

According to Doug Windsor, the former national chef of Wales, the two cakes are made in a different way. He explained: "A Welsh cake is made from a dough, while a drop scone is made from a batter and is more of a pancake," he said.

Biscuits and scones have the same British ancestor, but the early Southern colonists' version included butter, lard, buttermilk, and soft wheat, plentiful in the South. Over time, this fluffy and layered bread evolved into a regional commodity: the Southern biscuit.

This act was a fulfillment of a promise made by the Queen a year earlier, as she penned a letter to President Dwight Eisenhower, sharing the recipe for the scones she had served him during his visit to Balmoral Castle.

Scones are a British afternoon tea staple and they're delicious served with jam and clotted cream. Not quite cake, but not really a biscuit or pastry either, scones have a unique texture that's entirely their own. Scones are traditionally made with flour, butter, sugar and milk, but where did the recipe originate from?

Magazine, private chef to the Queen for 11 years, Darren McGrady revealed the late Queen's favourite biscuits: "When I was there… Chocolate Bath Olivers." He also revealed: "She is absolutely a chocoholic. Anything we put on the menu that had chocolate on, she would choose, especially chocolate perfection pie."

It is a thick cream, with a very high fat content (a minimum of 55 percent, but an average of 64 percent). For comparison, the fat content of single cream is only 18 percent. According to the UK Food Standards Agency, clotted cream provides 586 kilocalories (2,450 kJ) per 100 grams (3.5 oz).

How to make scones rise high? Once you've cut out your scone shapes, flip them over and place upside down on the baking tray. This will help them rise evenly and counteract any 'squashing' that happened when you cut out the dough. Perfect scones should rise to about 2 inches high.