I have always loved tea parties.
I remember being a little girl and playing make-believe tea time with my best dolls arranged around a little table. I’d wear a hat, gloves, dress, and high-heeled shoes spirited away from my mom’s closet…and of course I always gracefully (haha!) tripped all over the place because of the shoes and too long dress. I only served water and crackers, but with a very proper (at least to my five year old ears) British accent, it always felt nothing short of elegant.
I still love tea time (here’s the afternoon tea at Disney’s Grand Floridian I posted about earlier this year), and I was excited when Natasha and Laz announced that the 5 Star Makeover theme for this month was Tea Party.
I set out thinking about what I wanted to make, and finger sandwiches came to mind. But really, my favorite part about tea is scones. Steaming hot from the oven, crisp on the outside, tender and soft inside, there is nothing better than splitting a scone in half and spreading it generously with jam and cream (or cream and jam, as the case may be…I won’t get into the cream/jam ordering debate though).
My favorite way to enjoy scones is in the morning for breakfast with tea and fresh fruit. The scone dough can be chilled overnight so the only thing to do in the morning is bake them. Since they’re easy to whip up but really impressive (and make the whole house smell amazing), they are especially lovely to make if you have guests staying over.
These beautiful golden scones are perfectly soft, fluffy, and sweetly scented. I think they may be my favorite scones yet, but my recipe for Olive Oil Scones with Cinnamon Figgie Butter is a pretty close second.
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided (plus a little more to roll out the dough)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- ¼ cup dried cherries, chopped
- 1 egg lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons water, for eggwash
- Jam, for serving
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened slightly
- 6 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- ¼ teaspoon pure almond extract
- For the scones, in a small bowl, whisk together the egg, sour cream, vanilla bean paste, and almond extract; set aside.
- Add the following to the bowl of a food processor: 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar; pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse a few times until it looks like coarse meal and you have a few pieces the size of peas. Gradually stream in the egg mixture while pulsing, being careful not to over-mix (the dough will be a sticky). (Alternatively, you can make the dough by hand; just whisk together the dry ingredients, cut the butter in with a fork, and then stir in the wet ingredients.)
- Turn the dough out into a large bowl and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons flour and the cherries on top; gently knead the dough a couple times to incorporate. Shape the dough into a ball and flatten it slightly into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours (overnight is fine).
- Preheat oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat liner.
- Turn the dough out a lightly floured surface and flatten it into a ¾ inch-thick circle. Use a floured 2½ inch cookie cutter to stamp out the scones, then gather up the dough scraps and repeat (you should get about 8 scones total).
- Transfer the scones to the prepared baking sheet and lightly brush the tops with eggwash. Bake until light golden brown, about 14 to 16 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix together all ingredients for the Vanilla Cream Spread, leaving a few lumps if desired to resemble clotted cream.
- Serve the scones warm with the Vanilla Cream Spread and/or jam.
I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
So pretty! I really like the sour cream, to keep it from being too sweet.
I love anything with cherries, what beautiful scones!
It’s funny how most of us who love to cook and entertain began with our own tea parties. Lovely scones with all the right stuff for a perfect tea party.
It’s been ages since I last made scones, so seeing these photos now is just short of torture! I should really end the suffering and just whip up a new batch, right? I’ve never seen anything quite like your vanilla spread before, so that’s a “must make” for me. I love all things deeply vanilla-flavored so I’m excited to try it.
I so agree scones are a must with tea. And a pairing with cherries is so good. The sour cream adds a nice moist slight tang to the dough I bet.
Even before you mentioned it in your post, I was already remembering your Disney tea experience that you shared with us!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE tea parties as much as you do! When I was little I would have “water” tea parties too :) I guess when you’re that young tea isn’t really allowed, haha. Scones are my favorite too, and these look awesome. Haven’t made mine with sour cream before but if it’s anything like buttercream in the character it gives the scone I’d definitely love to try it!
These look amazing, as usual! I have never made scones…and actually never been to a tea party, but I’m sure I’d love both :-)
I love teh texture of sour cream scones. Yours look wonderful!
The scones look delicious, especially slathered with that vanilla cream and cherry spread.
These scones sound wonderful with cherries! And it’s a great idea to make the dough the night before, saves so much time in the morning!
I do LOVE scones and high tea is certainly one of the favourites with the girls. I was thinking of making currant buns this weekend like my mum used to….I want some!
They look delicious. I’m akways game to try a new scone recipe.
Mimi
I love the story of you dressing up for tea parties with your 5-year-old British accent, haha ;) I’ve recently discovered the awesomeness of sour cream in baked goods, so your scones are going to the top of my list. And with cherries – my favorite!
You took me back many years Faith! I used to play with my little fake china too. Only back then I didn’t know scones but I served the coffee with Greek cookies and cake. If I had known about the ones you made I would have definitely included them in my childhood’s coffee afternoons!!
These scones are fantastic!
Hehe I bet we would have had a great tea time together Faith! I love the whole idea and ritual of tea :D
Ohhhh, I love tea time too, Faith! :-) There’s something so lovely about sitting down with a dear friend with hot tea and a delicious something. :-) These scones sound divine. :-)
Lovely scones & beautiful pictures!!
These look so tender and fluffy! I’m not a huge fan of scones but I’m going to save this to try.
Oh, tea parties, sounds so familiar. We’re hosting at least one party a week, sometimes i let Tiffany enjoy the tea with the dolls while I make dinner.
Your scones look great Faith, I love these little British treats
Just lovely. I love scones too and I loved tea parties as a child. Your scones look comfort good and elegant at the same time.
i used to think a scone wasn’t a scone unless it was triangular. good thing i have people like you to straighten me out. :)
Making scones intimidates me but one day I’ll try. These look so tasty!
Those look awesome Faith. My husband loves fruit based scones – I have to make these for him!
Sweet post and the scones are lovely.
these sound incredible! so gorgeous and tasty, i just love it!
these look fantastic, especially with the jam and cream! i’m off to check out your olive oil scones, sound like another winner :)
This post makes me want to have a tea party with Kay :). And these scones would be present…and we’d both hog them down! What a gorgeous treat
Gorgeous scones and flavors!
Cheers,
Rosa